University of North Florida Scholarships (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
- Flagship (competitive) and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~53%
- Middle 50% ACT: 19–25
- Middle 50% SAT: 1070–1260
- Average HS GPA: ~3.87 (for those submitting)
Source: UNF Common Data Set 2024–25. Middle 50% = the range where half of admitted students fall.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
University of North Florida at a Glance
Last verified: October 2025
UNF offers a strong merit baseline for Florida residents, automatically awarding President’s Platinum, Gold, Silver, Provost, and Dean scholarships based on GPA and test thresholds. Out-of-state students can benefit from merit-based tuition waivers (First Coast, Atlantic, Sunshine) that significantly reduce nonresident costs—often without a separate application if admitted by January 15.
Use this guide to see exactly what’s possible and what it takes. If you’re comparing offers across Florida publics—or want to layer in donor or departmental awards—start with the state merit and waiver rules, then come back to map UNF’s options line-by-line.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? No — UNF requires SAT or ACT scores for freshman admission (statewide SUS policy).
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 19–25; SAT: 1070–1260 for recent entering classes.
What’s the average net price? ~$10,353 per year after grants/scholarships. Net price varies by income. See our Net Price & SAI guide.
Does this school use reciprocity or nonresident waivers? Yes — UNF offers Non-Florida Resident Merit-Based Tuition Waivers (First Coast, Atlantic, Sunshine) that reduce nonresident charges; priority consideration by Jan 15.
UNF Scholarships – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/
UNF Financial Aid – https://www.unf.edu/financialaid/
UNF Common Data Set 2024–25 – https://www.unf.edu/ir/common-data-set.html
Hicks Honors College – https://www.unf.edu/honors/
Non-Florida Resident Merit Waivers – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/out-of-state.html
UNF Admissions Deadlines – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/dates-deadlines.html
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Average Net Price) – https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?136172-University-of-North-Florida
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of North Florida
| Expense | In-State (FL) | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (30 credits) | $6,390 | $20,790 |
| Housing & Meals (median on-campus) | $11,810 | $11,810 |
| Total (direct-billed) | $18,200 | $32,600 |
Note: Other estimated costs not paid directly to UNF—Books & Supplies (~$1,200), Transportation (~$3,029), Miscellaneous (~$2,368), and average Loan Fees (~$44)—are excluded from the table because they are not billed by the university. Including these indirect expenses brings UNF’s published total estimated COA to approximately $24,841 (in-state) and $39,241 (out-of-state).
- Florida Bright Futures: Covers most or all tuition for Florida residents who meet GPA/test benchmarks.
- Grandparent Waiver: Out-of-state students with a Florida-resident grandparent can get in-state tuition (up to 110% of degree hours).
- Academic Common Market (ACM): UNF participates at the graduate level. Students in certain majors not offered in their home state may qualify for in-state rates at UNF.
Example: A nonresident paying $20,790 in tuition could see that reduced to the in-state rate of $6,390 if they qualify for a waiver—saving over $14,000 per year.
Who qualifies? Florida residents with strong academics may earn Bright Futures. Nonresidents can qualify if they have a Florida grandparent or, at the graduate level, through the Academic Common Market.
How much can you save? Waivers can knock more than $14,000 off the sticker price for nonresidents. Bright Futures can cover nearly all tuition for Florida students.
Is it automatic? Bright Futures requires a state application in high school. The grandparent waiver and ACM require separate documentation and approval.
• University of North Florida Office of Financial Aid — Cost of Attendance 2025–2026 (unf.edu/financialaid/coa)
• University of North Florida Common Data Set 2024–2025 (Section G — Annual Expenses)
• U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard — Average Net Price (2022–2023)
• Florida Department of Education — Bright Futures Scholarship Program Guidelines
• State University System of Florida Board of Governors — Grandparent Waiver Policy and ACM participation list
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
UNF reviews every admitted freshman for certain tuition waivers and scholarships. No extra application is required—apply for admission by the priority date and send updated test scores by January 15, 2026 for freshmen. Florida residents typically combine Bright Futures with UNF merit; nonresidents are considered for automatic tuition-reduction waivers.
Florida Resident Merit (Freshmen)
| Scholarship | Award Amount (per yr) | Eligibility (min GPA + SAT/ACT/CLT) | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President’s Platinum | $5,000 | 4.1 GPA + 1330 SAT / 29 ACT / 95 CLT | No | Yes (renewal criteria) | Top FL admits with very strong GPAs/tests | Jan 15 (priority) |
| President’s Gold | $4,000 | 3.9 GPA + 1260 SAT / 27 ACT / 89 CLT | No | Yes | High-achieving FL admits above state averages | Jan 15 |
| President’s Silver | $3,000 | 3.7 GPA + 1200 SAT / 25 ACT / 83 CLT | No | Yes | Strong academics, solid test profile | Jan 15 |
| Provost’s Award | $2,000 | 4.5 GPA + 1060 SAT / 21 ACT / 67 CLT | No | Yes | Very strong coursework; baseline qualifying tests | Jan 15 |
| Dean’s Award | $1,000 | 4.2 GPA + 1060 SAT / 21 ACT / 67 CLT | No | Yes | Competitive FL admits meeting threshold | Jan 15 |
Freshmen priority: January 15. Awards are fund-available thereafter. UNF reviews superscored results received by 1/15/2026.
Non-Florida Resident Merit-Based Tuition Waivers (Freshmen)
| Waiver Tier | Estimated Value / yr* | Eligibility (min GPA + SAT/ACT/CLT) | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Coast Waiver | $13,718 | 3.9 GPA + 1300 SAT / 28 ACT / 92 CLT | No | Yes (good standing) | Top nonresidents with strong GPA/test | Apr 15 (nonresident), Jan 15 (freshmen priority) |
| Atlantic Waiver | $10,000 | 3.7 GPA + 1230 SAT / 26 ACT / 86 CLT | No | Yes | Strong nonresidents, well above threshold | Apr 15 / Jan 15 |
| Sunshine Waiver | $6,000 | 3.5 GPA + 1160 SAT / 24 ACT / 79 CLT | No | Yes | Nonresidents at minimum academic standard | Apr 15 / Jan 15 |
*Waivers reduce only the out-of-state tuition portion. Apply by Jan 15 (freshmen) or Apr 15 (others) for priority.
National Merit Finalist Package
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Merit Finalist (UNF) | Full cost of attendance for 4 years (FL: ~$29,841/yr; non-FL: ~$39,241/yr) | Finalist+name UNF by May 1 (NMSC). FL: Bright Futures Academic required. | No (NMSC steps only) | Yes (4 years) | National Merit Finalists naming UNF & meeting state rules | May 1 (NMSC step) |
UNF superscores SAT/ACT/CLT; funds and cutoff bands can change. For National Merit, students must also file regular financial aid (FAFSA) and Bright Futures as required.
- No separate app for these scholarships or waivers; UNF pulls from admissions/test file.
- UNF superscores; only best results before Jan 15 (freshmen) or Apr 15 (nonresidents) count for priority awards.
- Waivers only cut out-of-state tuition; can’t exceed total cost.
UNF Scholarship Options – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/
Academic Scholarships – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/academic.html
Tuition Waivers – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/reduced-tuition/
National Merit – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/national-merit.html
Dates and Deadlines – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/dates/
🏆 Competitive Scholarships
Some universities run big-name, highly selective scholarship programs. At UNF, there isn’t a flagship award like that. The main exception is the National Merit Finalist package, which is guaranteed for qualifying students. Beyond that, most selective opportunities are handled as donor-funded, departmental, or Honors-based awards—covered in the Hidden Gems section above.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Merit Finalist (UNF) | Full Cost of Attendance for 4 yrs (FL: up to ~$29,841, Non-FL: up to ~$39,241/yr) |
NMSC National Merit Finalist, name UNF #1 by May 1, (FL must be Bright Futures Academic Scholar) | No (NMSC designation and steps only) | Yes (4 years) | Finalists who complete all NMSC/state requirements | May 1 (list UNF as first-choice by NMSC deadline) |
|
No other university-wide competitive (flagship) scholarships advertised for all freshmen. See Hidden Gems for departmental, donor, and Honors opportunities and deadlines. |
||||||
Does UNF have a university-wide competitive scholarship? No—outside of National Merit, UNF does not advertise a single flagship program with extra essays or interviews for all freshmen.
Where should students look instead? Check Hidden Gems: donor-funded Foundation awards, departmental scholarships, and Honors funding often require extra steps—but don’t rise to the “flagship competitive” level.
Can I still combine these with waivers? Yes. Departmental and donor awards usually stack with Bright Futures or nonresident waivers, as long as your total aid doesn’t exceed the Cost of Attendance.
UNF Scholarships – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/
National Merit – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/scholarships/national-merit.html
Dates and Deadlines – https://www.unf.edu/admissions/dates/
🎖️ Honors College
The Hicks Honors College at UNF gives motivated students a smaller, more personalized academic home inside a mid-sized public university. Admission is by application, and the focus is on high-impact learning—research, internships, study abroad, and a strong community of peers.
High school GPA around 3.8 or higher*, rigorous coursework, leadership roles in service or activities, and a clear interest in research or global engagement.
*Based on published examples and Honors admissions notes; exact GPA/test ranges not fixed.
- Priority access to the brand-new Honors Residence Hall (opening Fall 2025)
- Special funding for research, conferences, internships, and study abroad
- Small, discussion-driven seminars and direct faculty mentorship
- Dedicated advising and early registration each semester
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hicks Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship | Varies; covers substantial costs; up to two trips | Honors; ≥3.20 GPA; in good standing; UNF-led trip | Yes—ScholarshipUniverse + Honors | Yes (can win twice) | Active, high-performing Honors students planning global study | Feb 15 (most years, varies by trip) |
| Hicks Honors College Fellows Awards | Up to $1,000/yr (typically $500/term) | Honors; ≥3.20 GPA; must propose research, conference, or internship | Yes—ScholarshipUniverse + Symposium | Yes, up to 4 years | Honors students with strong faculty-backed projects | Feb 15 |
| Marnie Jones Scholarship | $1,000–$2,000 (one-time) | Honors with community service; preference to Arts & Sciences | Yes—ScholarshipUniverse | No (single year) | Service-driven Honors majors | Feb 15 |
Is admission automatic? No. You must apply to Hicks Honors separately after UNF admission.
Does Honors add time? No. All seminars and projects fit a standard degree plan.
What are the deadlines? The 2025–26 cycle closed May 1; future awards generally use February 15.
Are there extra scholarships? Yes—Honors students can access special research, travel, and project funds.
Hicks Honors College Scholarships – https://www.unf.edu/hicks/honors-scholarships.html
ScholarshipUniverse – https://unf.scholarshipuniverse.com/
Application/awards – https://www.unf.edu/hicks/apply-to-the-honors-college.html
⭐ College Specialty
Every university has a few areas where it really shines. At the University of North Florida, those strengths line up closely with Jacksonville’s industries and Florida’s natural environment—giving students both hands-on experience and a clear path into careers after graduation.
- Coastal & Marine Biology: Field-based courses in dolphin biology, coral reef ecology, and coastal systems; considered one of Florida’s strongest regional marine biology options.
- Nursing & Health (Brooks College of Health): Well-regarded statewide for Nursing and Health Administration; strong clinical placement network in Northeast Florida.
- Business (Coggin College of Business): AACSB-accredited, included in Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools list multiple years.
- Music (School of Music): The UNF Jazz Studies program is nationally known, with Grammy-winning faculty and alumni.