Pensacola, FL
Located in Pensacola, FL, University of West Florida is a public large school with roughly 9,330 undergraduates. Admissions are moderately selective here -- roughly 58% of applicants get in. Its highest-earning reported major is Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Engineering), where graduates report median earnings of $91,813/year four years out. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Test scores for the Fall 2025 entering class come from University of West Florida's own 2025-26 Common Data Set: 51% submitted SAT scores, 60% submitted ACT scores.
Application deadlines for Fall 2027 entry
- Regular Decision: Apr 1, 2027
Confirm on University of West Florida's own admissions site before you apply.
Cost & outcomes
Out-of-state students pay $12,881 more per year in tuition and fees (3.0x the in-state rate).
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field. Tuition & fees are the sticker price for a full-time first-year undergrad, before financial aid, and don't include room and board.
Paying less as an out-of-state student
University of West Florida takes part in this regional program, which can cut the out-of-state rate for students from nearby states.
Academic Common Market
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia can pay in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in their home state offers. You need admission to that major and approval from your home state's coordinator.
Where do you stand against University of West Florida's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow University of West Florida weighs your application
From University of West Florida's own Common Data Set, 2025-26, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of West Florida weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of West Florida look for in applicants?
Per University of West Florida's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates state residency, rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, standardized test scores as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of West Florida's acceptance rate?
University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL admits approximately 58% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for University of West Florida?
Per University of West Florida's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 970–1160 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
What ACT score do I need for University of West Florida?
Per University of West Florida's own 2025-26 Common Data Set, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 19–25 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile, among students who submitted scores).
How much does University of West Florida cost?
University of West Florida's total cost of attendance is reported at $19,947 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does University of West Florida offer reduced tuition for out-of-state students?
Yes -- University of West Florida takes part in the Academic Common Market, a regional program that lets qualifying out-of-state students pay less than the full out-of-state rate. Eligibility depends on your home state, and the school sets its own requirements.
What is out-of-state tuition at University of West Florida?
For 2024-25, University of West Florida's published tuition and required fees were $19,241 for out-of-state students and $6,360 for in-state students -- $12,881 more per year for out-of-state students. That's before financial aid, and room and board are extra.
When is the application deadline for University of West Florida?
University of West Florida's deadlines are Regular Decision Apr 1, 2027, per its own published admissions calendar.
Does University of West Florida require students to live on campus?
No -- University of West Florida doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
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