| The University of Florida is a public college and | | | | freshman had a grade-point average of 3.9, a |
| land-grant institution located in Gainesville, Florida. It | | | | score of 1340 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test |
| is currently the fourth largest university in the | | | | and an American College Test score of 29. |
| United States with 49,693 students accompanied | | | | Undergraduate tuition for Florida residents is |
| by the eighth largest budget. A notable academic | | | | around $120 per credit-hour, while it is $520 per |
| college, University of Florida ranks 1st in the state | | | | credit-hour for out-of-state students, with a |
| and 16th among all public universities nationwide. | | | | typical accumulation of 30 credits per year. The |
| Recognized as one of the Public Ivies and a | | | | Freshman Class of 2005 ranked number one in |
| member of the Association of American | | | | the nation in terms of National Merit enrollment, |
| Universities, the school is ranked 57th among the | | | | enrolling more National Merit Scholars than any |
| world's top 500 universities.Although the university | | | | other university. A full tuition academic scholarship |
| claims to be founded in 1853, the campus that | | | | is awarded to all National Merit Scholars admitted |
| exists today in Gainesville was actually founded in | | | | to university. The University of Florida is also |
| 1905. The Buckman Act created the current | | | | home to an Honors College that offers many |
| University of Florida by removing funding for | | | | honors courses to students who obtained high |
| existing educational institutions, including the | | | | scores on their "SAT" and "ACT" tests. The |
| University of Florida at Lake City, the East Florida | | | | Honors program lasts for a student's first two |
| Seminary in Gainesville, the St. Petersburg Normal | | | | years, but Honors program services and courses |
| and Industrial School at St. Petersburg and the | | | | remain available to upperclassmen. The university |
| South Florida Military College at Bartow. The first | | | | also was 13th among all universities public and |
| classes began on September 26, 1906, on the | | | | private in the number of U.S. Patents awarded in |
| new campus that was built in Gainesville. The | | | | 2000.Florida dedicates about $44 million per year |
| alligator was chosen as the universities mascot in | | | | to its sports teams and facilities. This could be due |
| 1911. The Buckman Act also established the | | | | to having swept, For the sixth time, the overall |
| University of Florida as the only public school in | | | | men's and women's Southeastern Conference |
| Florida for white males. Enrollment for females | | | | All-Sports Trophy in 2002 as well as ranking |
| began in 1947 and the enrollment for | | | | among the nation's top 10 athletic departments |
| African-American students began in | | | | for 19 straight years. The football team won a |
| 1958.University of Florida is divided into 16 | | | | national championship in 1996 and the men's |
| colleges, which offer 100 undergraduate majors | | | | basketball team won their first national |
| and 200 graduate degrees, including the only | | | | championship this year. The Ben Hill Griffin Stadium |
| dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary medicine | | | | is a great place to catch a Florida Gaters football |
| programs offered publicly in the state. The | | | | game if you live in Florida. This school is among |
| acceptance rate at the school has gone | | | | the top in the nation academically as well as |
| downward as a result of the applicants becoming | | | | athletically, therefore being a smart choice for any |
| more competitive. In 2005, the average incoming | | | | high-school graduate. |