Public Graduate Strong 83/100

University of West Florida

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Pensacola, Florida

About University of West Florida

University of West Florida is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Pensacola, Florida. It enrolls 9,330 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
58.2%
Graduation
45.6%
Net Price
$9,364
Median Earnings (10yr)
$49,137
Enrollment
9,330
Student : Faculty
22:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
83/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 70
Value 92
Affordability 72
Selectivity 62

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 58.2%, University of West Florida is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate
58.2%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1020 – 1230
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test Policy Required SAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of West Florida is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective 25.9 pts since 2019
31%201957.6%202052.8%202148%202256.9%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending University of West Florida isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,364 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$9,364
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
25%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,360
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,241
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,432
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,082
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,024
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,024
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,947

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $4,815
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $6,462
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $8,077
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $12,456
  • Over $110,000
    $16,620

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,250
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$16,624
Median percentile
$23,500
75% percentile
$31,921
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,800 ↓ $1,824
No Pell $11,325 ↓ $5,299
Dependent students $12,757 ↓ $3,867
Independent students $13,750 ↓ $2,874
Female students $13,086 ↓ $3,538
Male students $12,646 ↓ $3,978
Pell recipients: 18.9% (3,140 students)No Pell: 14.5% (2,402 students)Dependent students: 16.3% (2,706 students)Independent students: 17.5% (2,917 students)Female students: 16.7% (2,776 students)Male students: 16.1% (2,683 students)Overall Median$16,624
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,466, less than completers ($16,624), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

46% of full-time students who enrolled at University of West Florida graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
46%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of West Florida earn a median of $49,137 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,137
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$41,000$43,000$46,000$48,000$50,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$38,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$50,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$42,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$44,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$44,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,000, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 15.4 pts across 6 years
60.8%1yr65.1%3yr68.5%5yr76.2%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

University of West Florida is home to 9,330 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
9,330
Part-Time
28%
First-Generation
36%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 60.2% 5,615
Hispanic 11.9% 1,113
Black 10.1% 944
Other 6.8% 634
Asian 3.6% 331
International 2.5% 235
White: 60.2% (5,615 students)Hispanic: 11.9% (1,113 students)Black: 10.1% (944 students)Other: 6.8% (634 students)Asian: 3.6% (331 students)International: 2.5% (235 students)Total9,330

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at University of West Florida. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Pensacola, Florida
Housing
Partly residential 1,534 beds available
Adult Learners
26% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

University of West Florida offers an extensive catalog of programs: 85 distinct programs across 23 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

10 Programs
2 Programs
10 Programs
6 Programs
3 Programs
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at University of West Florida is 22:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,640
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$93M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,821
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

322 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 88 27% $122,021
Associate Professors 78 24% $92,505
Assistant Professors 83 26% $81,889
Instructors 41 13% $65,750
Lecturers 32 10% $66,264

Pros & Cons of University of West Florida

A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of West Florida tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Strong first-year retention
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Below-average completion rate
Best for: Based on the data, University of West Florida is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of West Florida

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of West Florida.

Is University of West Florida hard to get into?
Admissions at University of West Florida are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 58.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of West Florida?
University of West Florida has an acceptance rate of 58.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for University of West Florida?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of West Florida scored between 1020 and 1230 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for University of West Florida?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of West Florida scored between 20 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of West Florida cost?
The average net price after aid at University of West Florida is $9,364 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of West Florida worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,137 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,364 per year. That's roughly 5.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of West Florida known for?
University of West Florida is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Special Education. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of West Florida graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of West Florida are $49,137, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of West Florida accredited?
Yes. University of West Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend University of West Florida?
University of West Florida enrolls 9,330 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of West Florida?
University of West Florida graduates 46% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of West Florida a public or private college?
University of West Florida is a Public institution.
Where is University of West Florida located?
University of West Florida is located in Pensacola, Florida.
What programs does University of West Florida offer?
University of West Florida offers 85 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Special Education.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of West Florida?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of West Florida is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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