How to get into University of North Florida
How to get into UNF: a Florida public university with the Honors Program, free tuition for Pell-eligible Floridians via Bright Futures, and strong nursing programs
53.2%
Acceptance rate
$6,389
In-state cost
$20,793
Out-of-state cost
What makes University of North Florida admissions different
The University of North Florida is a mid-large (~13,000 undergrad) public university in Jacksonville, FL. UNF is one of Florida's 12 public universities (the State University System of Florida) and the third-largest by population in the Jacksonville metro area. Programs include Business (the Coggin College of Business), Nursing (the Brooks College of Health), Engineering, Education, and the liberal arts. The Hicks Honors College is the school's honors program and admits separately. For Florida high school graduates, Bright Futures Scholarships (Florida Academic Scholars at 100% tuition, Florida Medallion Scholars at 75% tuition) make UNF among the most affordable four-year university options in the state.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through UNF's institutional online application or the Common App. UNF participates in both.
- 2.
Apply Early Action (Nov 1) for non-binding early decision and merit consideration. Early Action applicants get first crack at Honors and named scholarships.
- 3.
Florida high school students: maintain Bright Futures eligibility through high school (specific GPA, test scores, and community service hours per the Florida Department of Education) — Bright Futures covers a large portion of in-state tuition.
- 4.
Apply for the Hicks Honors College through the separate Honors application — Hicks Honors offers smaller seminars, an Honors thesis track, and dedicated advising.
- 5.
If Nursing is the goal, plan for the BSN secondary admit process at the Brooks College of Health — pre-Nursing students complete prerequisites before applying to the BSN cohort.
- 6.
Maintain a strong GPA in college-prep coursework. UNF has been test-optional in some cycles; verify the current policy and submit if scores reinforce.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the Bright Futures requirements during high school. Eligibility is calculated on specific core coursework, GPA, test scores, and community service hours; verify before senior year.
- ✕
Skipping the Hicks Honors application. The Honors College is the enrichment pipeline and selection is competitive at the time of admission.
- ✕
Treating Nursing as automatic. The BSN at Brooks admits a limited cohort and is competitive.
The specifics for University of North Florida
Application deadlines
- Early Action2025-11-01Non-binding. First decision wave; priority for Honors and scholarships.
- Regular Decision2026-02-15
- FAFSA priority2026-03-01
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Hicks Honors College — separate application ↗
The Hicks Honors College admits competitively from the admit pool and offers smaller seminars, an Honors thesis track, and dedicated advising.
Brooks College of Health and Nursing competitive admit
The BSN program at the Brooks College of Health admits a limited cohort through a secondary admission process after general university admission.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarships ↗
Florida high school graduates who meet Bright Futures GPA, test score, and community-service thresholds receive Florida Academic Scholars (100% tuition) or Florida Medallion Scholars (75% tuition) at UNF.
What graduates actually do
UNF is a regional public university in Jacksonville with strong pipelines into north Florida professional networks. The Coggin College of Business feeds Jacksonville's banking and insurance sector (Bank of America, Citi, Florida Blue), and the Brooks College of Health feeds UF Health Jacksonville and Baptist Health. The Hicks Honors College and the music program (jazz studies in particular) are well-regarded. NCAA Division I athletics.
Notable alumni
- Marcus Gilchrist — NFL safety
- Toney Douglas — NBA guard
Transfer pathway
UNF participates in Florida's statewide 2+2 articulation agreement, guaranteeing junior-status entry for Florida CC AA-degree completers. Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is the immediate-neighbor partner and sends by far the largest transfer cohort under a formal articulation. St. Johns River State College and Santa Fe College are also common feeders.
Articulation partners
Florida State College at Jacksonville · St. Johns River State College · Santa Fe College · Lake-Sumter State College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App (supplements re-verified this pass). Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
UNF is reachable for Florida applicants with college-prep coursework. The Bright Futures + UNF cost structure is among the most affordable four-year options in Florida. Nursing, Honors, and Engineering require additional steps above the headline rate.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.