Applicant FAQs

Is UF Online accredited?

Yes, the University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. Additional information about the University of Florida’s accreditation status can be found here.

Who teaches UF Online courses?

UF Online courses are taught by the same world-renowned faculty who teach on-campus courses.

Can I meet with my professors?

Yes, UF Online students can schedule one-on-one meetings with their professors in-person or virtually during office hours.

Will my diploma and transcripts say “UF Online”?

No, UF Online students earn the same prestigious University of Florida degree as our on-campus students. The diploma and transcripts are indistinguishable – they are the same and read “University of Florida.”

How are UF Online courses structured? Can I complete coursework at my own pace?

UF Online follows the same academic calendar as residential programs. Courses are primarily delivered in an asynchronous, semester-based format. Some courses, however, may have synchronous components such as scheduled exams per the discretion of the professor. Admitted students should review their syllabi and course schedule at the beginning of the semester and discuss any scheduling concerns with their faculty members. UF Online students have the option to enroll full or part time and control how many credits they take each term.

How are UF Online courses different than courses taught on campus?

There is no difference in content or rigor between UF Online courses and courses taught residentially at the University of Florida. In many cases, courses will be the same with a special online section designated for UF Online students.

How are lectures conducted?

All lectures are recorded and archived so students can access them at their convenience. Recorded lectures can be accessed on-demand via Canvas, our online learning platform. Students who wish to meet with their professors can also schedule in-person or virtual meetings during office hours.

How are labs completed online?

If applicable, UF Online labs are completed via synchronous and asynchronous virtual experiments. Home kits, virtual labs, discussions, or other activities supplement the learning experience in UF Online labs.

How are exams proctored in UF Online? What do I need to know about online testing?

UF utilizes online proctoring services to protect the integrity of the testing process and the value of your degree. While instructors proctor exams in face-to-face courses, UF and your instructors use Honorlock to proctor exams in online courses. In both cases, proctoring protects and standardizes the exam process.

Can UF Online students participate in undergraduate research?

Absolutely! Additional information about research opportunities available to UF Online students, can be found on our Research page.

As a UF Online student, can I pursue a double major or dual degree?

UF Online students may be eligible to apply for a double major or dual degree if the second major is offered in UF Online (exception: Nursing students are not eligible to pursue dual degrees). Prospective students do not specify this during the admissions process, rather this is discussed with their academic advisor upon admission to the program.

Can I walk at graduation?

All students graduating from the University of Florida via UF Online are invited to walk at graduation here on our campus in Gainesville, Florida. While this is not required to obtain your diploma, it is an exciting way to celebrate the accomplishment of earning your bachelor’s degree.

Can I get involved with student organizations?

There are several ways UF Online students can get involved and have an engaging student experience. In addition to the opportunity to participate in student organizations, UF Online students can engage with fellow online Gators via the UF Online Student Plaza, opt-in to the Optional Fee Package, attend sporting events, join Gator Clubs to connect nationwide, and much more! Additional information about the UF Online student experience can be found here.

What are the computer requirements for UF Online?

Coursework will require ongoing use of a computer and a broadband connection to the Internet. Additionally, academic advising and registration, official university correspondence, and other services are all handled online via a computer. An overview of the UF Online computer requirements can be found here.

Are financial aid and/or scholarships available to UF Online students?

UF Online students are eligible for consideration for a wide range of federal, state, and institutional aid as administered by the Office for Student Financial Aid and Scholarships (SFA), which also administers a limited number of privately funded scholarships. These include grants, scholarships, student employment, loans and non-SFA administered aid. Descriptions of financial aid options are on the Tuition & Financial Aid page. For more in-depth information as well as how to apply, go to the Student Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

What is my applicant type?

The first step in starting your UF Online application is identifying your applicant type. This will help you determine if you qualify for admission to UF Online. It will also help you know which documents are required with your application. Your applicant type is based off the number of transferable college credits you will have earned prior to your first intended term in our program. For additional information on determining your applicant type, please visit our Applicant Types page.

Can I be admitted to UF Online if I am missing prerequisite courses?

Upper-division transfer applicants (A.A. degree or 60+ transferable college credits) and second bachelor’s degree seeking students must complete all prerequisite courses prior to their first intended term of enrollment with UF. At the time of application, most, if not all, of the prerequisite courses for the applicant’s intended major should be complete. However, applicants may be admitted with certain prerequisite courses in progress at the time of application. We strongly encourage all applicants to speak with an admissions officer to ensure all requirements have been met prior to applying for admission to UF Online. Contact the UF Online Recruitment & Outreach Center at 352-392-4123 or toll-free at 1-855-994-2867 to speak with an admissions officer. Admissions requirements for each major can also be found on our Degrees page.

Can I take the prerequisites at UF?

No, upper-division transfer applicants with an A.A. degree/60+ transferable college credits and second bachelor’s degree seeking students must complete all prerequisite courses at another institution prior to their first intended term of enrollment with UF Online.

Where can I complete the prerequisite courses?

Prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited institution from which the University of Florida awards transfer credit. For more information, please visit the University of Florida Catalog.

If you are missing prerequisite courses, you can complete them in-person at your local college or online. FloridaShines is an excellent resource to find online courses offered at Florida state colleges or universities for non-degree seeking students. Courses from the Florida State College and State University Systems generally adhere to the Statewide Course Numbering System. If the course prefix (first three letters) and the last three digits of the course number are the same, then the course is considered equivalent.

What if I don’t meet the admissions requirements for my applicant type?

If you do not currently meet the admissions requirements outlined on our website, please contact the UF Online Recruitment & Outreach Center to speak with an admissions officer about next steps. Our admissions officers can evaluate your full academic background and help you determine next steps in your academic journey. Contact the UF Online Recruitment & Outreach Center at 352-392-4123 or toll-free at 1-855-994-2867 to discuss the admissions requirements for your program of interest.

How do I apply to UF Online?

To begin your application to UF Online, visit our How to Apply page to get started! Here you will find all the information you need to successfully start and complete the application process. If you have any questions or get stuck, contact the UF Online Recruitment & Outreach Center at 352-392-4123 or toll-free at 1-855-994-2867. You can also contact our office directly here.

When is the deadline to apply?

UF Online admits students three times a year in the spring, summer, and fall terms. Our application and file completion deadlines for each term are published here.

How do I contact the UF Online admissions team if I have questions about my application?

If you’ve submitted an application and have additional questions, please contact the UF Online Student Enrollment Specialist by phone at 352-294-7885 or by email.

Does UF Online have an application fee? If so, how much does it cost?

Each application requires a non-refundable $30 application fee. The payment must be made online during the application submission process.

Please be aware that each application must have an individual fee, which is valid for one decision for UF Online. If you would like to be considered for a second program, then you will need to reapply for the next available term and pay an additional application fee.

How can I review my application status?

Within 24-48 hours of submitting your UF Online application and the associated application fee, you will receive an email with instructions for logging into your application status page. This email will contain a temporary pin and additional login information. If you cannot access the email, simply click “forgot password” on the login screen to generate a new pin.

What documents are required to be considered for an admissions decision?

UF Online requires a complete academic record for admissions review purposes. This includes official transcripts from every institution attended and all applicable test scores. For additional information on completing your admissions file, please visit our File Completion page. Applicants can monitor the receipt of their official documents via their application status page.

Do I need to send my high school transcript?

We require official high school transcripts for all applicants applying with less than 60 transferable semester credits (or 90 quarter hours) (freshmen and lower division transfer applicants). This includes test credit from AP, IB, AICE, and CLEP. Applicants with 60 or more transferable semester credits (or 90 quarter hours), are not required to submit official high school transcripts for admissions review purposes. If admitted, we may request your high school transcript to fulfill a foreign language condition if you have not yet completed two sequential semesters of the same foreign language in college.

Where do I send my transcripts?

We strongly recommend sending your official transcripts and test scores electronically as this is the fastest delivery method. We accept electronic transcripts from Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Credential Solutions, and eScrip-Safe. The University of Florida’s federal school code is 001535 and the College Board code is ATP_5812. When ordering your official documents, be sure to save any order confirmations for future reference.

If you cannot send electronic transcripts or test scores, you’ll want to send or forward your official documents via USPS in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution to the University of Florida’s Office of Admissions at:

Office of Admissions
201 Criser Hall – PO BOX 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
Emailed, uploaded, and faxed documents are not considered official.

I reviewed my application and one of the items missing is my Activities and Locations. How should I submit this information to the UF Online admissions office?

To update your activities and locations, simply click on the form located under the Forms section of your application status page. Here you can enter the time that is missing from your application. In reviewing your activities and locations, we are looking for a short summary (1-3 sentences) indicating your activities/locations during the stated time period and the name of your employer (if you were working). If you were not working, let us know what activity you were doing during that time, such as attending school, raising a family, traveling, and/or unemployed. A resume will suffice if the requested times and locations are covered.

I am currently enrolled in or plan to enroll in additional courses before the term for which I’ve applied. How do I update my application to reflect this information?

If you did not list these courses prior to submitting your application, please email or call the UF Online Onestop at onestop@ufonline.ufl.edu or 352-294-3290 so they can enable you to update your status page with the appropriate information.

Where can I find my UFID?

Your UFID can be found on your application status page. Once logged in, you will see a forms section located directly above the application checklist. Click on “Click here for UFID” to access your 8-digit UFID number.

I have submitted my application but would like to change my major. How do I change that?

Applicants may change their major on a submitted UF Online application if an admissions decision has not been rendered on their file. If an applicant would like to change their major prior to a decision being made, they should contact the UF Online OneStop at 352-294-3290 or by email at onestop@ufonline.ufl.edu with their request.

Can I change the term for which I applied?

Prior to an admissions decision being rendered, applicants may change their term up to one year from the original application term.

If an applicant has already received an admissions decision, he/she will either need to reapply for a different term or submit a deferment of enrollment request if admitted to the program.

Admitted students can request a deferment for up to one year from their original admit term. Please note that additional coursework/changes to the applicant’s academic history are not permitted during the deferment period.

When will I receive my admissions decision?

Admissions decisions for UF Online are rendered on a rolling basis, so the sooner you complete your application file, the sooner you will receive an admissions decision. Please note that decisions for the most immediate term are always prioritized over future terms. Decisions are available as they are made, typically no later than 4 weeks prior to first day of class.

How will I be notified of my admissions decision?

Once an admission decision is available to review, your application status page will display a “View Update” link at the top of the page. If you have not checked your status page within 2 days of the release of your decision, you will receive an email notifying you that there is a status update to your application file.

Will my credits transfer to UF?

Transfer credit can be awarded for coursework completed at an accredited college or university, as determined by the University of Florida. Once admitted, UF will evaluate your transfer credits and you’ll have the opportunity to review this information with your academic advisor. Additional information about our transfer credit policy and how Transferology can be used to check previously earned credit can be found here.

When can I review my transfer credit?

Upon admission to the University of Florida, your transcripts will be reviewed to determine which courses can transfer to the University of Florida. Your assigned academic advisor will then determine how your transfer credit fulfills your specific degree requirements prior to your first term of enrollment. Additional information about this process can be found on our Transfer Credit page.