University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida · Public · 24.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 92/100 · Exceptional Value
University of Florida scores a 92 (Exceptional Value) -- the top tier on this site -- as Florida's flagship public research university with 35,629 undergraduates in Gainesville, FL. The numbers: 4.5-year payback period, $47,700 median 6-year earnings ($71,588 at 10 years), 91.1% completion rate, and median debt of $15,000. The financial story begins with Florida's in-state tuition: $6,381 -- the lowest of any school in this batch by a wide margin. The net price of $6,541 across all students reflects that Florida's financial aid system, including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, keeps costs exceptionally low for qualifying residents. Out-of-state tuition of $28,659 represents a $22,278 gap, but even out-of-state costs are lower than in-state rates at several peers. For Florida residents, UF delivers outcomes competitive with universities charging three to five times more. The earnings premium raw score (1.398) ties Georgia Tech as the highest in this batch, reflecting how far UF's outcomes exceed expectations for its cost base. Computer and Information Sciences (424 graduates, $90,651 at year one, $126,268 at year four) leads by earnings among high-volume programs. Chemical Engineering (110 graduates, $87,164 at year one), Computer Engineering (90 graduates, $87,949 at year one), Electrical Engineering (122 graduates, $85,243 at year one), and Systems Engineering (124 graduates, $85,698 at year one) form a strong engineering cluster. Business Administration (556 graduates, $52,032 at year one) and Finance (240 graduates, $70,663 at year one) represent the business pipeline. At 35,629 students and a 24.2% admit rate, UF is more accessible than most schools in this batch -- but selective by broad public university standards.
University of Florida scores in the top 10% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,381/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,659/yr |
| Average net price | $6,541/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $26,164 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,588 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 35,629 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Florida is $6,381/year ($28,659/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $6,541/year, or roughly $26,164 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $1,982/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,723/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $15,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $159 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $71,588 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.31 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $1,982 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,768 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,151 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,905 |
| $110,001+ | $16,723 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $1,982 per year net price. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $2,768. UF's combination of Florida Bright Futures, Pell grants, and institutional aid produces near-zero cost for qualifying low-income Florida residents. At $1,982/year and a 4.5-year payback period, UF delivers an ROI that is difficult to replicate anywhere in American higher education for this income tier. Low-income Florida students admitted to engineering or CS programs are accessing $85k-$90k year-one earnings at essentially no cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $7,151 per year; the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $12,905. These numbers are among the lowest in the entire dataset. Total four-year costs of $28,000-$52,000 for middle-income Florida families at a school with a 4.5-year payback and strong technical programs represent straightforward financial value. Bright Futures merit scholarships may further reduce costs for qualifying students in these income brackets.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $16,723 per year -- approximately $67,000 over four years for Florida residents. This is the second-lowest full-pay cost in this batch after the same bracket at UF itself. Out-of-state tuition of $28,659 still produces total costs under $120,000 over four years -- well below Berkeley, UCLA, or any private university peer. For out-of-state families, UF at full out-of-state cost is financially competitive with in-state options at many higher-cost state systems.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Florida with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $57,053 | C |
| Biology | $53,645 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $82,615 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $126,268 | A |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $69,600 | B |
| International Relations | $70,434 | C+ |
| Economics | $89,075 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,113 | A |
| Finance and Financial Management | $106,153 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $79,839 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
UF Computer and Information Sciences (424 graduates, $90,651 at year one, $126,268 at year four, ROI grade A, DTE 0.177) delivers outcomes competitive with flagship engineering programs at significantly higher-cost universities. Median debt of $16,000 against year-one earnings of $90k produces a DTE of 0.177 -- an A-grade ROI. For Florida residents at $6,381 in-state tuition, the total cost of a CS education at UF is roughly $26,000 over four years -- recouped in approximately three months at year-one earnings of $90k. UF's location in Gainesville is not Silicon Valley, but the school's CS and engineering graduates access national recruiting pipelines through career fairs, remote hiring, and alumni networks in major technology markets.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering at UF (110 graduates, $87,164 at year one, $109,607 at year four, ROI grade A, DTE 0.230) feeds into Florida's large petrochemical, agriculture-chemical, and pharmaceutical processing sectors, as well as national chemical engineering employers. Year-one earnings of $87k are competitive with GT chemical engineering ($85,847). Median debt of $20,050 is higher than UF's CS program but still produces an A-grade DTE ratio of 0.230. At Florida in-state tuition, the total cost over four years is roughly $26,000 -- significantly lower than the debt load, meaning most ChE debt at UF comes from living costs rather than tuition.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering at UF (268 graduates, $76,228 at year one, $97,113 at year four, ROI grade A, DTE 0.238) is the highest-enrollment traditional engineering program in the dataset. Florida's aerospace, defense, and manufacturing sectors -- Kennedy Space Center, Lockheed Martin, and a growing defense-tech cluster along the I-4 corridor -- provide direct employment channels. Year-one earnings of $76k with a DTE of 0.238 (ROI grade A) at in-state net prices of ~$6,541 produces one of the most favorable cost-to-earnings ratios in the engineering program set. The four-year figure ($97k) reflects advancement into senior project engineering roles.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance at UF's Warrington College of Business (240 graduates, $70,663 at year one, $106,153 at year four, grade B+, DTE 0.254) places graduates into banking, wealth management, and corporate finance roles primarily in Florida's Miami and Tampa financial markets, with national placement into New York financial services. The four-year trajectory to $106k reflects investment banking analyst-to-associate movement and advancement in corporate treasury roles. Median debt of $17,954 is moderate. For Florida residents at $6,381 tuition, Warrington Finance is among the most cost-efficient finance pathways at a research university in the Southeast.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration at Warrington (556 graduates, $52,032 at year one, $82,615 at year four, grade B+, DTE 0.323) is the highest-enrollment program in the dataset by a significant margin. Year-one earnings of $52k are modest compared to finance or CS, but the four-year trajectory to $82k reflects management and operations advancement. Median debt of $16,811 is reasonable. The volume -- 556 graduates per year -- means UF functions as the primary business-school pipeline for Florida's corporate economy: Publix, Darden Restaurants, and numerous Florida-headquartered corporations recruit directly from Warrington. At in-state costs of ~$26,000 total, the ROI case holds even at lower earnings than the STEM programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 24.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 660-750 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 660-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-33 |
| Enrollment | 35,629 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,581 |
UF admits 24.2% of applicants, placing it in the accessible-but-competitive tier. SAT 660-750 Math and 660-730 Reading are the mid-50% ranges; ACT 29-33. Florida residents have a meaningful advantage; UF's mission is to serve Florida. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship requires a qualifying GPA and SAT/ACT score, so students who want to maximize the financial advantage of UF's low tuition should check Bright Futures eligibility early. For high-achieving Florida students, UF's combination of low cost and strong engineering/CS outcomes makes it a strong primary choice, not just a backup.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UF's Scorecard peers include University of Central Florida, Florida A&M, UC San Diego, UT Austin, and UC Irvine. The credible academic peers are UT Austin and UC San Diego -- comparable flagship publics with significant engineering and research programs. UF's earnings premium raw score (1.398) ties GT as the highest in this batch. UF's payback (4.5 years) is longer than GT (2.8 years) but the cost base is dramatically lower -- Georgia in-state tuition of $12,058 versus Florida's $6,381. UCF is UF's largest in-state competitor and enrolls a much larger population at lower selectivity; UCF's ROI profile is weaker. UT Austin charges higher in-state rates ($11,000+) with broadly comparable outcomes to UF, but Texas's sheer population and employer base give UT a distinct labor market advantage in the Southwest.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida (this school) | 92 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| University of California-San Diego | 96 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| University of California-Irvine | 94 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 90 | $19,857 | $75,121 |
| University of Central Florida | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Who Thrives Here
Admitted students cluster in the SAT 660-750 Math, 660-730 Reading range; ACT 29-33 composite. UF's 21.7% Pell rate reflects the economic diversity of Florida's student population. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship provides merit-based aid to qualifying Florida residents, often covering a significant portion of in-state tuition on top of need-based grants. Students targeting engineering, CS, computer engineering, or business see the strongest outcomes. UF's Warrington College of Business and Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering are the two schools most directly linked to the high-earning programs in the data. At 35,629 students, UF's scale means competition for research positions, professor access, and selective academic programs is real.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
University of Florida is one of the strongest financial investments in higher education. With a total 4-year net cost of $26,164 and median graduate earnings of $71,588 ten years out, the math works decisively in graduates' favor. The estimated payback period of 4.5 years is well below average.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 91.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $15,000 is very manageable against $71,588 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.