How to Get Into the University of Florida: Admissions Stats + Tips
The University of Florida (UF) is a public research university located in Gainesville, Florida. It is known for its expansive 2,000-acre campus, highly rated engineering programs, and storied football team, the Florida Gators. UF offers more than 300 degree options—ranging from accounting to zoology—across 16 schools and colleges. Read on to learn what the admissions committee looks for, how to strengthen your application, and the key steps required to apply to UF. Getting accepted into the University of Florida requires hard work and a strong application. During the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, only 24% of applicants were admitted. Out of 73,557 students who applied, only 17,804 were accepted. While the University of Florida’s acceptance rate is incredibly low, your personal chances of acceptance may actually be higher or lower, depending on your profile strength. To better understand your chances at UF, we recommend consulting our free admissions calculator. Using your grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more, we’ll estimate your odds of acceptance and give you tips on improving your profile! The average high school GPA of first-time first-year students enrolling at the University of Florida during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle was 3.92. The percentage of students with a 4.0 GPA is 53%. To give you an idea of what standardized test scores to aim for, the middle 50% SAT scores for students enrolling in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle were 1330-1470. The middle 50% for ACT scores was 29-33. Eighty percent of students submitted SAT scores, while 40% submitted ACT scores. Eighty-four percent of students enrolling at UF during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle were ranked within the top 10% of their high school class, while 98% of students accepted were ranked within the top 25% of their class. Since the University of Florida is a competitive school, most candidates will be academically qualified. Even though your stellar grades and standardized test scores are important, you’ll need to have extra elements that can help your application stand out. UF also considers extracurriculars, personality traits, skills, and talents to be an important part of the admissions process. Students who are well-rounded both academically and personally will be more likely to be accepted to UF than those with just strong academics. According to their 2024-2025 Common Data Set, the University of Florida considers the following factors “very important”: These factors are “important”: These are “considered”: And these are “not considered”: [amp-cta id="9459"] The average high school GPA of students enrolling at the University of Florida Class in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle was 3.92. The percentage of students with a 4.0 GPA was 53%. If you’re considering applying to UF, it’s important to ensure your GPA matches or exceeds these statistics. Selective schools like UF use a tool known as the Academic Index to calculate an applicant’s overall scholastic performance and represent it in a numerical score. Only students who meet a school’s threshold Academic Index are seriously considered for admission, so it’s crucial to have a competitive transcript to get your application seen by the admissions committee at the UF. In addition to keeping your GPA high, it’s also important to take the most challenging courses available to you, like honors classes or AP classes. This demonstrates the strength of your course rigor—another factor that’s highly considered by the University of Florida admissions committee. If your GPA is lower, and you’re earlier on in your high school career, you still have time to improve it. If you’re a junior or senior, it will be harder to increase your GPA, so the easiest way to increase your Academic Index is to get a high test score. The middle 50% SAT scores at the University of Florida during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle were 1330-1470, and the middle 50% ACT scores were 29-33. To improve your SAT/ACT score, check out these free CollegeVine resources: Even though all your extracurricular activities are important, some will carry more weight during the admissions process than others. A good way to understand how colleges value your activities outside of the classroom is through the four tiers of extracurriculars. When applying to a competitive school, like the University of Florida, it’s recommended that you’re involved in at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars to stand out to the admissions committee. Since you can choose from tons of impressive extracurriculars for college, it’s crucial to highlight activities that reflect your accomplishments, passions, and personality on your application. Your application is more competitive if you develop a deep interest in one or two extracurriculars (a highly developed interest known as a “spike“) rather than participate in a range of unrelated activities. For example, attending American Legion Auxiliary’s Girls State as the delegate for your school and serving as your school’s student body president would be considered a spike—it demonstrates that you are interested in political leadership! Once you’ve proven your academic excellence, essays are one of the best ways for you to set yourself apart from other applicants. The University of Florida rates essay responses as “important” for admission. UF also values talent, abilities, character, and personal qualities when making admissions decisions. Your essays are an excellent opportunity to showcase your personality and skills so that you can accomplish two goals at the same time. Discover our best tips for writing the University of Florida essays 2025-2026 to get inspired before starting your essay! The University of Florida has two admissions pathways: Early Action (EA) and Regular Decision (RD). EA is non-binding—meaning that if you’re accepted, you’re not required to enroll—and it can offer an advantage over RD. While UF does not publish all of its EA data, the university reports that 10,510 students admitted to the Class of 2029 applied through Early Action, compared with 7,659 admitted through Regular Decision. Application Timeline Deadline Notification Date Early Action November 1 January 23 Regular Decision January 15 March 13 Students can apply to the University of Florida using the Common Application. You’ll need the following:
Want to know your chances at the University of Florida? Calculate your chances for free right now.
What’s Covered:
How Hard Is It to Get Into the University of Florida?
Average Academic Profile of Accepted University of Florida College Students
GPA
SAT/ACT
Class Rank
What is the University of Florida Looking for?
How the University of Florida Evaluates Applications
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into the University Of Florida
1. Achieve at least a 3.92 GPA while taking the most challenging classes available.
2. Aim for a 1450 SAT and 33 ACT.
3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”).
4. Write engaging essays.
5. Apply Early.
How to Apply to the University of Florida
Deadlines
Application Requirements
Learn more about the University of Florida
