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