How to Get Into the University of Florida: Acceptance Rate & Strategies

University of Florida admissions: introduction

Are you considering applying to the University of Florida? You're in good company! In the last application cycle, more than 64,000 students applied.

Keep reading to learn about acceptance rates, the GPA and standardized test scores that will make you competitive, tips for applying, and more.

It's a lot to keep track of. If you'd like some help navigating the University of Florida admissions process, I'd be delighted to work with your family! You can book a one-on-one consultation here and sign up for online classes here.

Also, I'm going to level with you. This is an SEO post. If you want to see how I write for normal people, not for Google, here's my Substack.

Bottom line up front

In case you're here just to see the numbers, here they are:

Overall acceptance rate: 23%
Transfer acceptance rate: 44%
SAT composite: 1320-1470
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 650-730
SAT Math: 650-760
ACT composite: 28-33
ACT Math: 26-32
ACT English: 27-35

How hard is it to get admitted to the University of Florida?

Fairly tough. The overall acceptance rate is about 23%. To learn more about choosing safety, target, and reach schools, take Clarke College Insight's online course on "making the list." And read on for more specific admission statistics for men, women, and transfer applicants.

University of Florida acceptance rate

For first-year students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall acceptance rate was 23%. The overall acceptance rate for women was 24%, and the overall acceptance rate for men was 23%.

University of Florida early decision acceptance rate

Trick question! UF does not have an early decision or an early action program.

University of Florida acceptance rate for transfers

For transfer students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall transfer acceptance rate was 44%. The transfer acceptance rate for women was 45%. The transfer acceptance rate for men was 43%. These numbers are so high because of students transferring from community colleges.

How hard is it to get off the waitlist at the University of Florida ?

Another trick question! UF doesn't have a waitlist.

What is a good GPA for the University of Florida?

The minimum GPA for the whole Florida system is 2.0, but that GPA won't get you into UF. The average GPA for the last incoming class was 3.93, unweighted. UF also provides class rank information for the last freshman class:

Percent in top 10% of high school class: 84%
Percent in top 25% of high school class: 98%
Percent in top 50% of high school class: 100%
Percent in bottom 50% of high school class: 0%

If you’re in the top quarter of your class, UF is probably a good option. If not, let’s talk about other options.

What is a good SAT/ACT score for the University of Florida?

Comparing your SAT or ACT scores against those of the "middle 50" of colleges you're interested is a crucial step in deciding whether it's worth your time to apply. The middle 50 gives us more information than average scores do.

What is the middle 50? In statistics, another term for this range is the interquartile range: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. That may sound intimidating, but it's an easy concept to grasp once someone explains it to you.

The middle 50 range for test scores tells us what the middle half of freshmen UF students got on the test. That means a quarter of enrolled students got lower scores, and a quarter got higher scores.

Here are the middle 50 ranges for UF.

SAT composite score: 1320-1470
SAT EBRW: 650-730
SAT Math: 650-760
ACT composite score: 28-33
ACT Math: 26-32
ACT English: 27-35

If your SAT score or ACT score are in those ranges, UF could be a good option for you. If your test scores fall below those ranges, it's probably best not to put UF on your list, unless you're a recruited athlete.

Tips for applying to the University of Florida

To get into the University of Florida, you need to meet its academic threshold and stand out in a good way among other applicants.

Demonstrate strong academic performance before fall semester of senior year. Specifically, aim to take as many AP, IB, or community college classes as you can, within reason. Get good grades in those tough classes. Your high school transcript--the classes you take and your high school GPA--are crucial for surviving the first round of cuts. To find out what "within reason" means and strategies to achieve that attractive transcript with minimal stress, take my online class on academics.
Get your best possible SAT or ACT scores. To find out the evidence-based way to achieve the highest score possible on standardized tests--with minimal stress and hassle and without taking time and attention away from schoolwork--take my online class.
Choose extracurriculars that are likely to fill a talent gap in the student body and focus on just a few. Aim to be specialized rather than well-rounded. For the full checklist of traits that will let you choose extracurriculars that you AND the admissions office will like, take my online class on extracurriculars.
Visit campus if you can, ideally some time when classes are in session. Arrange your visit through the admission office, or at least mention it to them by email, and try to meet with a student group and a professor of interest. Take notes and use them to write a compelling essay about why you like the University of Florida in particular. Those college-specific details are a great way for prospective students to show that they're likely to enroll if admitted.
Give your recommendation letter writers plenty of lead time, so no subconscious resentment about a last-minute hassle bleeds into their prose. The end of junior year is best. Equip them with brag sheets that do most of the work for them and show off your best traits.

For personalized guidance for your child's goals and strengths, you can book a one-on-one consultation here. I look forward to working with your family!

More about the University of Florida

The University of Florida is a big school. It has about 31,017 undergraduates.

The University of Florida is one of the top public schools in the country. In the last US News rankings, it ranked 29th, above Tufts, Boston College, and UT Austin, among others.

UF has a decent number of international students, about 150 in each class. If you're interested in going to a college with international students in the student body, UF could be an attractive option. Of course, at such a big school 150 is a fairly small percentage.

Some of the most popular academic programs of study at the University of Florida are engineering, biology, and business.

Many of my clients are interested in studying computer science. At many colleges, computer science is one of the most popular academic programs, so aspiring compsci majors are thrown in a very competitive admission pool. This field is less popular at the University of Florida--just under 4% of students choose this major--so applicants who intend to major in it will probably face less competition in admission.