University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida · Public · 24.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 92/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Florida scores a 92 (Exceptional Value), the top tier under our methodology, as Florida's flagship public research university with 35,629 undergraduates in Gainesville, FL. The numbers: 4.5-year payback period, $47,700 average 6-year earnings (median $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 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. For Florida residents, UF delivers outcomes competitive with universities charging three to five times more. 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. UF has 35,629 students and a 24.2% admit rate.
University of Florida scores in the top 4% of the schools we score, 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 |
| Average 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $6,381/year ($28,659/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $6,541/year, or roughly $26,164 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $1,982/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,723/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,000, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($47,700) and comes to 0.31, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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. 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. Out-of-state tuition of $28,659 still produces total costs under $120,000 over four years.
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). 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 largest engineering program at UF by graduate count. 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 produce a favorable cost-to-earnings ratio. 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 a cost-efficient finance pathway.
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 third-largest program at UF by graduate count. 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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Florida’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
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.
| 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 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Florida side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
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. 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
If you're asking whether University of Florida is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $26,164 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $71,588 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.5 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 91.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $15,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Florida: Common Questions
Is University of Florida worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Florida pays off. It scores 92/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $6,541 a year after aid ($26,164 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $71,588 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.5 years to earn back.
How much does University of Florida cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $6,541 a year, or roughly $26,164 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Florida graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,588 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,788 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Florida?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.5 years for University of Florida. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Florida graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,000, against average earnings of $47,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Florida?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.