The University of Florida continues to be one the top bargains in higher education. Tuition comes out to about $6,400 a year for Floridians, and about 85% of undergraduates get some type of scholarship or grant aid. The estimated net price of a UF degree is roughly $92,000 (not factoring in federal or state aid), which places it in the top 10% of all colleges on Money’s 2025-2026 list.
Sports and Greek life are the biggest players on the campus social scene. The Gators are one of the strongest college sports franchises in the country, with widespread athletic success. Most recently, the men’s basketball team won the 2025 March Madness tournament — the third national championship in the program’s history. UF is home to The Swamp, which regularly packs in over 80,000 football fans for games covered by The Independent Florida Alligator, the nation's largest student-run newspaper. Just make sure to wear your orange and blue.
UF's 2,000-acre campus features live alligators, a 157-foot carillon tower, a butterfly rainforest and a gigantic rock affectionately nicknamed "the Potato." The Gatorade is free-flowing (the famous sports drink was invented there in 1965, after all). Plus, it's all located in the vibrant college town of Gainesville, home to eclectic pizza restaurant Satchel's and The Fest, an annual music festival that takes over the city every October.
