
UF Online is the University of Florida's online undergraduate pathway, not a separately founded university. It began offering degrees in 2014 after Florida lawmakers directed UF to establish a fully online undergraduate program.
The parent university traces its institutional history to 1853 and moved to Gainesville in 1906. UF Online represents a much later development: it offers selected UF bachelor's degrees to students who can complete their coursework primarily at a distance. That distinction matters when reading about the university's history, facilities, and services. A resource available at UF's Gainesville campus is not necessarily part of an online student's day-to-day experience.
UF Online draws courses and degree programs from University of Florida colleges rather than operating as a separate set of academic faculties. Its undergraduate offerings span fields such as business, computer science, communications, education, health, and the liberal arts, but only selected UF majors are available fully online.
Examples of participating academic areas include the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Warrington College of Business, College of Journalism and Communications, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. UF also offers an online RN-to-BSN pathway through its College of Nursing. Programs can have different prerequisites, course sequences, and requirements for prior credentials; an applicant should use the UF Online degree directory and the catalog entry for the intended major, rather than assuming that every degree offered in Gainesville can be completed online.
These are chiefly bachelor's-degree pathways. UF's separately advertised online graduate and professional programs should not be confused with admission to UF Online as an undergraduate.
UF Online is based at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, but its degree programs are designed for remote study. Students do not need to relocate to Gainesville simply to attend regular online classes.
Gainesville is a college-centered city in north-central Florida. For students who choose to visit, UF's physical campus provides a setting for events and services whose access rules vary by activity. Travel time, transportation, and possible campus-access fees matter more to students planning occasional visits than to those studying entirely from another region. UF Online applicants should check whether their particular major has any in-person component before treating it as location-independent.
UF Online extends the University of Florida's public-university mission by making selected UF undergraduate degrees available to students who need a distance-learning option. UF describes its broader mission in terms of teaching, research, and service; UF Online's emphasis is access to that academic institution through online delivery.
The university is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated college. Its stated aims do not mean that online study will suit every applicant: students still need to meet degree requirements, manage scheduled deadlines, and determine whether their intended field can be studied without the campus experiences they want.
Name of the institution
University of Florida-OnlineLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
2014University of Florida-Online is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.