


Courtesy of University of North Florida
The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public university in Jacksonville. Established in 1969, it opened to students in 1972 as an upper-division institution, initially serving students who had completed earlier college coursework elsewhere.
UNF later expanded into a four-year university that admits first-year students and offers graduate degrees. That history still matters to applicants: alongside its first-year class, the university enrolls a substantial number of transfer students. Its Jacksonville campus remains the center of its academic and student life.
UNF offers bachelor's and graduate study across the liberal arts, business, education, engineering, computing, health professions, and other fields. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts and Sciences, Coggin College of Business, Brooks College of Health, the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, the College of Education and Human Services, and Hicks Honors College.
Examples of undergraduate fields include biology, communication, accounting, computer science, civil engineering, nursing, and teacher education. Graduate options extend into areas such as business, education, and health. Hicks Honors College provides a separate academic community and honors coursework; it is not a substitute for admission to a student's degree program.
Applicants should check the requirements for their intended major, not just university admission. Programs involving clinical placements, professional preparation, or limited enrollment may have additional prerequisites and a separate admission step.
UNF's main campus is in Jacksonville, Florida, in the northeastern part of the city. Its wooded setting gives students access to outdoor campus spaces while placing them within a large metropolitan area.
Jacksonville's size can be useful for internships, clinical experiences, and part-time work, but distances across the city can make transportation an important consideration. Students comparing housing or planning a commute should consider their class locations, work schedule, and access to a car or transit - not just the distance to campus on a map.
UNF describes its purpose as providing accessible public higher education that combines learning, research, and engagement with the surrounding community. Its stated priorities include student learning, scholarly work, and partnerships that address regional needs.
Those statements describe the university's goals rather than measured outcomes for every student. Prospective applicants can assess how the goals translate into their own program by looking at its curriculum, advising structure, opportunities for applied learning, and requirements for internships or clinical work. UNF is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated university.
Name of the institution
University of North FloridaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
10,000 - 19,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1965University of North Florida 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.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData 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.