How To Get Into The University Of Florida: Admissions Data & Strategies

Charging an annual in-state tuition of approximately $6,400, the University of Florida allows residents to get a full year’s education for roughly the same cost of a single course at an elite private institution like Duke, Boston College, Columbia, or Tufts. Accordingly, the University of Florida is one the finest higher education bargains in the United States, and, for Sunshine State residents, is often an easy school for high-achieving Florida teens to place at the top of their college lists. Of course, prospective students and their families have taken note of the absurdly affordable cost and unquestioned quality of the education offered. As a result, applications have doubled in the last decade. The University of Florida presently receives 91,000+ applications each year, and the UF acceptance rate has crept under 25%.

The intent of this article is to give those considering applying to the University of Florida a full understanding of the following topics:

• University of Florida acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances using our free admissions calculator)
• SAT, GPA, and class rank of accepted University of Florida applicants
• Admissions trends
• University of Florida’s system for rating applicants
• A look at the demographics of current UF undergraduates
• The percentage of accepted students who attend the University of Florida (yield rate)
• Tips for applying to the University of Florida
• The University of Florida supplemental essays
• How to assess whether applying to the University of Florida is even worth the $30 application fee (for you)
• Whether UF is transfer-friendly

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University of Florida Acceptance Rate — 2025

For the Class of 2029, the University of Florida received a staggering 91,896 total applications. 18,169 of those applicants were accepted for an overall UF acceptance rate of 19%, significantly lower than the previous year.

Historical University of Florida acceptance rates are as follows (Class of 2028 data is unavailable):

Applicants	Admits	Acceptance Rate
Class of 2027	65,375	15,707	24%
Class of 2026	64,473	15,054	23%
Class of 2025	51,207	15,431	30%
Class of 2024	48,193	15,002	31%
Class of 2023	38,069	13,925	37%

It is important to note that it is far more difficult to gain acceptance to this university if you are not a Florida resident. In the 2023-24 application cycle, in-state students were accepted at a 52% clip. That same cycle, those from out-of-state only gained acceptance at a rate of 14%.

These numbers make sense: across the undergraduate student body, approximately 85% of students hail from in-state while the remaining 15% are non-residents.

What GPA do you need to get into UF?

For Class of 2029 admitted students, the mid-50% GPA was a 4.5-4.7. Among enrolled first-year students (Class of 2027), an impressive 60% earned a 4.0 and above while 35% earned between a 3.75 and 3.99. Only 5% had a GPA below 3.75.

What class rank do you need to get accepted to UF?

Among enrolled 2023-24 first-year students, 84% hailed from the top 10% while 98% earned a place in the top quarter. Accordingly, you’ll need to be near or at the top of your graduating class to have a shot at consideration.

What is the minimum SAT or ACT score for the University of Florida?

According to the most recent statistics available (Class of 2029), the mid-50% SAT range for admitted students (not enrolled) was 1380-1510. ACT taker? To fall in the mid-50th percentile, you’ll need to score between 31 and 34.

Admissions Trends & Notes

• In the year 2000, the acceptance rate was 63%, more than double today’s acceptance rate.
• Seven years ago, the mid-50% SAT range was 1170-1350, meaning that the 75th percentile score then was lower than the mean score for an admitted member of the Gator Class of 2026.
• 90% of each of the last two admitted freshman cohorts participated in community service in high school.
• Unlike the vast majority of prominent schools, the University of Florida did not adopt a temporary test-optional policy during the pandemic and continues to require test scores.
• UF superscores both the ACT and SAT.

How the University of Florida Rates Applicants

In sum, the University of Florida considers four factors as “very important” to the admissions process: rigor of high school course load, GPA, essays, extracurricular activities, and talent/ability. Items that are “important” as part of the admissions process are: standardized test scores, essays, character/personal qualities, first-generation status, volunteer work, and work experience. “Considered” factors are: class rank, and geographical residence (Florida residents are at an advantage). Legacy status is no longer considered.

Straight from the UF admissions office:

• “Few students are admitted purely on academic merit. While the potential for academic success is a primary consideration, UF’s comprehensive holistic application review also considers personal essays, academic awards, extracurricular activities, family background and home community.”
• “All information in the applicant’s file, academic and non-academic, is considered in relation to the size and strength of the applicant pool.”

It is also worth highlighting that recruited athletes enjoy a huge edge. This is because the University of Florida takes great pride in its 21 NCAA Division I sports teams that participate in the vaunted SEC. Overall, more than 600 student-athletes are presently attending the university. For advice about how to stand out on the extracurricular front, check out our previous blog entitled How Many Extracurricular Activities Do I Need for College?

University of Florida Demographics

Let’s look at the demographics of the undergraduate student body:

• Florida: 85%
• Out-of-State/International: 15%

Historically, the greatest number of nonresident students come from the following states:

1. New York
2. New Jersey
3. Georgia
4. Maryland
5. Pennsylvania

In terms of ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2027 is as follows:

• Caucasian/White: 49%
• Asian American: 15%
• Hispanic: 22%
• Black or African American: 5%
• Two or more races: 5%

A look at the gender split of the Class of 2027 reveals that the university enrolls far more women than men:

• Men: 41%
• Women: 57%

Given that they make up just 41% of the population, one might assume that men would be at an advantage in the admissions process at UF, but that would be incorrect. In fact, women are typically accepted at a slightly higher clip than their male counterparts.

Yield Rate

University of Florida’s yield rate is 43%. This figure is comparable to other powerhouse state universities like the University of Michigan, UVA, and UCLA.

Tips for Applying to the University of Florida

If you plan on joining the 90,000+ University of Florida hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• Firstly, the University of Florida does not use interviews as part of their evaluation process.
• The University of Florida does not consider “demonstrated interest” so you will not be judged on whether or not you made a campus visit, contacted an admissions officer, etc.
• You should also save some extra time to complete the Student Self-Reported Academic Record (SSAR) required by the University of Florida. This is essentially a self-reported transcript for grades 9-11.
• Prospective Gators can apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application.
• The University of Florida requires official ACT and SAT score reports. Many other schools will let you self-report.

University of Florida Supplemental Essay

Lastly, make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the short essay required by the University of Florida. In the 2025-26 cycle, it was as follows:

Please provide more details on your most meaningful commitment outside of the classroom while in high school and explain why it was meaningful. This could be related to an extracurricular activity, work, volunteering, an academic activity, family responsibility, or any other non-classroom activity. (250 words)

 College Transitions’ UF Essay advice can be found at: University of Florida Supplemental Essay Prompt and Tips.

Should I apply to the University of Florida?

Those with test scores within the mid-50% mark for the University of Florida and mostly A’s are viable candidates. However, if you live in Florida, your road to acceptance will be much smoother than if you are an out-of-state or international applicant. You will need to bring higher test scores and a very strong academic profile if you do not hail from the Sunshine State.

Do I have a better chance of acceptance as a transfer student?

Yes, you do! The University of Florida’s acceptance rate is much friendlier to transfers than first-year students. In the 2023-24 cycle, 2,666 students were accepted out of 5,579 applicants, meaning that the transfer acceptance rate is 48%. Here is a sampling of past transfer acceptance rates:

Year	Acceptance Rate
2022-23	44%
2021-22	46%
2020-21	43%
2019-20	40%

Read more about the UF Transfer Rate and Requirements here.

UF Acceptance Rate 2025 – Final Thoughts

It goes without saying that all teens applying to a school of the University of Florida’s caliber also need to also have a proper mix of “target” and “safety” schools on their college list. More on creating a balanced college list can be in How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

Additional resources of interest:

• Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
• What is Demonstrated Interest?
• Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
• College Fair Advice for High School Students
• How to Complete the Common App Activities List
• Common App Essay Prompts