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University of Florida

#1 Colleges With the Highest ROI
Public Gainesville, FL · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
A+ Value A Graduation A Selectivity
Graduation Rate
91% A
Most students who enroll finish their degree here
Earnings (10yr)
$71,588 A
Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$6,541 A-
62% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
24% A
Admits roughly 24% — highly selective
Earnings +76% vs avg
Graduation +60% vs avg
Net Price +-62% vs avg
Mobility Top 98%

Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 74.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $74.6 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Colleges With the Highest ROI.

74.6× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $74.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,925,267.

What The Data Says

  1. A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 76% more than the national college median.

  3. A 91% graduation rate — 60% above the national average.

  4. A top feeder school for 8 major employers.

  5. Every $1 invested returns $74.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.9%
Top 27%
Patents
365
Linked to graduates
World Rank
#125
Times Higher Education
Employer Pipelines
8
Top feeder programs
Patent Citations
416
Downstream influence
Research Score
60/100
Times Higher Education

Why University of Florida Matters

University of Florida is a public research university in Gainesville, FL ranked #125 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions, a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
35,629
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Engineering, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences

Why students choose University of Florida

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Patent powerhouse
365 patents tied to its people
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 7% of colleges
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B
Top 23% overall
A
Earnings
$71,588 median
A+
Value
10.9× net price
A-
Affordability
$6,541/yr net
A
Graduation
91% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.4% climb Q1→Q5
A
Selectivity
24% admit rate
B
Diversity
0.68 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →
1
Can I Get In?

Admissions

Selective
24% admit rate

Selective — admits about 24% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1320–1480. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.

Check your odds →
2
Can I Afford It?

Net price + aid

A-
$6,541/yr net

Students pay about $6,541 a year after grants and scholarships — 62% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.

See cost & aid →
3
What Happens After?

Earnings + debt

A
$71,588 median

Graduates earn a median of $71,588 ten years after enrolling — 76% above the typical college, against $15,000 in median debt.

See outcomes →
4
Does It Change Lives?

Mobility + social capital

F
0.4% climb

Moves 0.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 98% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.56 economic connectedness).

See mobility →

Overview

The University of Florida has a graduation rate of 91%. This high rate reflects the school's commitment to student success and academic support. With nearly 36,000 students enrolled, it stands as a large public institution that excels in helping students complete their degrees.

According to Opportunity Insights data, the University of Florida ranks well for upward mobility, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds. While specific mobility rates are not available, the strong graduation rate suggests that many students are able to advance economically after earning their degrees. Graduates tend to see significant earnings growth, with a median income of $71,588 a decade post-graduation.

The net price for attending the University of Florida is $6,541, making it an affordable option for many students. With a median debt of only $15,000, graduates can enter the workforce without overwhelming financial burdens. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Engineering, Business, Biology, and Health Professions, benefiting from strong career prospects in those fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective University of Florida is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Florida? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Gainesville, Florida, University of Florida sets a competitive bar: about 24% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,403. The graduation rate is roughly 91%.

Acceptance Rate
24%
Retention Rate
98%
SAT Average
1403
ACT Midpoint
31
SAT Range
1320–1480
ACT Range
29–33
Full-Time Faculty
90%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$13,581
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.68
First-Gen Students
31%
Applicants
64,473
Admitted
15,054

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Florida? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Florida is $28,659, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,541. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,982 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$6,381
Out-of-State
$28,659
Avg Net Price
$6,541
Median Debt
$15,000
Pell Grant Rate
22%
Federal Loan Rate
11%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$1,982
Family Income $30K–$48K
$2,768
Family Income $48K–$75K
$7,151
Family Income $110K+
$16,723

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Florida — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is University of Florida Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Florida earn a median of $71,588, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$56,398
8 Years
$65,342
10 Years
$71,588
Debt-to-Earnings
0.21x
Earning > $25K
75%

Earnings Trajectory

$56,398 6yr $65,342 8yr $71,588 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (4,285)
67%
100% (4,285)
67%
100% (4,285)
67%
100% (4,285)
67%

Where Grads Go

University of Florida is a top feeder for:

Rank among programs feeding each employer.

Top employers of University of Florida’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

Explore the Career Destination Guide → Source: University of Florida — Full-Time MBA Employment Report (Class of 2025)

How University Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation91%Earnings 10yr$72KNet Price$7KRetention98%Median Debt$15KPell Grant Rate22%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$2K$0-30K$3K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$17K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%27700.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%1.0%MOBILITY0.38%

College ROI Calculator

Is University of Florida Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, University of Florida delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,541/year ($26,164 total). Graduates earn $71,588 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,951,431 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,925,267 (74.6× your investment). The median debt is $15,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 91% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$26,164
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,951,431
Net Return
$1,925,267
ROI Multiple
74.6×
Cost Per Year
$6,541
Median Debt
$15,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
91%
Explore all University of ROI scenarios

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does University of Florida Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Florida is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.38%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 27700% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder.

Mobility Rate
0.38%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
1.0%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
27700.0%
Share of students

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is University of Florida? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Florida. Its economic connectedness score is 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.56
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
10.9%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Research & Teaching

Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings

How Research-Intensive Is University of Florida? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places University of Florida at #125 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 60/100, teaching at 47/100, and citation impact of 51/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

World Rank
#125
Teaching
46.7
Research
59.9
Citations
50.9
International
25.9

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

University of Florida produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 365 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 60/100 research score.

Inventor Rate
0.85%
Top 27% nationally
Patents Produced
365
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
416
Downstream influence
Research Score
60/100
Times Higher Ed
Academic Influence
51/100
Citation impact (THE)
Inventors From Low-Income
0.59%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-89,741,000

Top Programs

The fields University of Florida awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Florida's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into University of Florida? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Gainesville, Florida, University of Florida sets a competitive bar: about 24% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,403. The graduation rate is roughly 91%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Florida? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at University of Florida is $28,659, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,541. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,982 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $15,000 in federal student loans.

Is University of Florida Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of University of Florida earn a median of $71,588, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does University of Florida Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

University of Florida is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.38%, a more modest figure. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 27700% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder.

How Connected Is University of Florida? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Florida. Its economic connectedness score is 1.56, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is University of Florida? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places University of Florida at #125 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 60/100, teaching at 47/100, and citation impact of 51/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

Compare University of Florida

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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