University of Florida
University of Florida — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Florida at a Glance
The University of Florida is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. The university traces its origins to 1853 and has operated continuously on its Gainesville campus since September 1906.
1853
173 years old
$2.7B
$2.69 billion (2025)
54,814
34,924 undergrad · 19,890 grad
8,231
2,000 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Florida
Official admissions page$30
Fee waiver available
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Is University of Florida Worth It?
University of Florida is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $6,541/year net price and $71,588 median earnings, graduates earn 10.9× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 91% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 24% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Bottom line: University of Florida delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Florida compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 12 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Florida | 100 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| #2 | University of California-Irvine | 100 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| #3 | University of California-San Diego | 100 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| #4 | Florida State University | 100 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| #5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 100 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| #6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 100 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Florida's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in FL.
Best Programs at University of Florida
The highest-earning program at University of Florida is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $74,200/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Dance at $19,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from University of Florida earns $74,200, while a Dance graduate earns $19,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $18,412 in median debt vs. $17,250 for Dance.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,541/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $74,200 | $74,200 | $18,412 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $73,100 | $73,100 | $19,625 |
| Computer Engineering | $72,500 | $72,500 | $16,666 |
| Systems Engineering | $72,100 | $72,100 | $18,883 |
| Chemical Engineering | $70,900 | $70,900 | $18,750 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $67,900 | $67,900 | $18,154 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $64,100 | $64,100 | $20,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $63,700 | $63,700 | $20,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $60,300 | $60,300 | $18,913 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $58,700 | $58,700 | $18,000 |
| Nuclear Engineering | $56,400 | $56,400 | N/A |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $55,900 | $55,900 | $16,585 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $55,800 | $55,800 | $17,609 |
| Marketing | $49,200 | $49,200 | $18,519 |
| Materials Engineering | $49,100 | $49,100 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | $48,600 | $48,600 | $16,891 |
| Economics | $46,600 | $46,600 | $16,041 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $45,900 | $45,900 | $21,643 |
| Statistics | $45,000 | $45,000 | $14,814 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $44,900 | $44,900 | $16,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $43,200 | $43,200 | $16,855 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $42,700 | $42,700 | $18,179 |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | $40,900 | $40,900 | $14,940 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $40,900 | $40,900 | $15,361 |
| Mathematics | $40,700 | $40,700 | $17,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $40,600 | $40,600 | $16,244 |
| Architecture | $38,300 | $38,300 | $17,898 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $37,900 | $37,900 | $19,313 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,600 | $36,600 | $17,870 |
| Criminology | $34,100 | $34,100 | $17,125 |
| Sustainability Studies | $34,000 | $34,000 | $15,806 |
| Physics | $33,700 | $33,700 | $22,110 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $33,600 | $33,600 | $20,868 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management | $33,200 | $33,200 | $17,691 |
| Journalism | $32,200 | $32,200 | $15,302 |
| Sociology | $30,000 | $30,000 | $15,550 |
| Public Health | $29,700 | $29,700 | $15,000 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $29,600 | $29,600 | $17,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $29,500 | $29,500 | $17,125 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,300 | $29,300 | $15,000 |
| Philosophy | $28,600 | $28,600 | $20,065 |
| History | $28,600 | $28,600 | $15,000 |
| Forestry | $27,700 | $27,700 | $14,375 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,700 | $27,700 | $15,000 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $26,900 | $26,900 | $16,723 |
| Animal Sciences | $26,400 | $26,400 | $15,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $25,400 | $25,400 | $18,000 |
| Food Science and Technology | $25,100 | $25,100 | $15,000 |
| International/Global Studies | $25,100 | $25,100 | $15,147 |
| Psychology, General | $25,000 | $25,000 | $17,263 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $24,700 | $24,700 | $16,529 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $23,600 | $23,600 | $23,497 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $23,600 | $23,600 | $15,971 |
| Plant Sciences | $23,200 | $23,200 | $15,772 |
| Anthropology | $23,200 | $23,200 | $20,302 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $23,000 | $23,000 | $16,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,500 | $22,500 | $18,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,200 | $22,200 | $14,262 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $22,000 | $22,000 | $15,000 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $21,900 | $21,900 | $13,250 |
| Biology, General | $21,800 | $21,800 | $16,250 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $21,300 | $21,300 | N/A |
| Chemistry | $21,200 | $21,200 | $16,500 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $20,000 | $20,000 | $20,257 |
| Dance | $19,700 | $19,700 | $17,250 |
Similar Colleges in FL
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Gainesville, FL
- Student Body
- 35,629 students
- Admission Rate
- 24%
- Graduation Rate
- 91%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,541
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $71,588
- Median Student Debt
- $15,000