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University of Florida

Professional Communication WHy UF

The University of Florida is a top-5 public research university, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Proud of its award-winning student body and faculty, CJC boasts the diversity made possible by one of the largest enrollments in the country. More than 150 students engage in graduate and advanced studies on campus, joining more than 700 online master’s students and more than 2,300 undergraduates total. More than 50 graduate faculty members in the college teach, conduct research, and provide service.

The University of Florida, with 16 colleges on a single campus, ranks as one of the nation’s most comprehensive research institutions. The university enrolls more than 55,000, including more than 17,000 graduate/professional students. They come to the university from every state in the union and more than 130 foreign countries.

Research Funding

External funding for research support is approaching a billion dollars per year. In 2021, UF research faculty members attracted $938 million in funding from government agencies, industry and private foundations.

UF Rankings

U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of UF as a top 5 public university, also parallels UF’s rise in other rankings including No. 9, tied with Stanford and Brown, for the best student outcomes among all public and private institutions. US. News also:

  • Ranked UF on a prestigious list of the nation’s most innovative universities
  • Among the top schools on lists for undergraduate research and for veterans.
  • Recognized UF Online as the No. 3 best online undergraduate program in the country. 

In August 2022, Forbes ranked UF No. 2 nationally among public universities and No. 4 among publics and privates for the economic return students get from attending college and leading students to greater financial security.

More broadly, UF’s sweep of national accolades underscores its prominence nationally and internationally and reflects a rapid — and sustained — growth in the quality of the university, including measures such as student/faculty ratio, graduation and retention rates and the value of each student’s degree after graduation. With more than 80% of students at the top 10% of their high school class, UF has a retention rate of 97% and a six-year graduation rate of 89%, both among the highest in the country.

UF also offers an extraordinary return on investment, with more than two-thirds of its graduates entering the workforce with no debt. Overall, UF has reduced student debt by nearly 15% in the past four years and is consistently recognized as a top performer in the nation for social mobility. Taken together, the rankings represent an increasingly high value for students as well as a university impact that reverberates throughout Florida and around the country and globe.

The College of Journalism and Communications

The College is considered one of the nation’s best. The strength of its programs, faculty, students and alumni throughout its history has earned the college ongoing recognition as one of the best journalism and communication programs  in the United States.  It has developed its reputation for excellence by creating curricula that combine conceptual and theoretical instruction with skills training so students have the opportunity to apply what they are learning in professional settings.

Professional and practical opportunities are key components of a productive learning experience for students in journalism and communication fields and contribute to the College’s national rankings. Renowned faculty members in the College provide a balance of academic background and practical experience related to their specialties.

GAINESVILLE, FLA.

Gainesville is home to excellent museums, performing arts, craft breweries, restaurants, and live music. Yet it remains small enough at a population of 134,000 to provide a suitable environment for concentrated study. 

 Alachua County’s K-12 schools offer many options, including magnet programs at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. 

 For recreation, Alachua County residents enjoy eight state parks with more than 100 miles of trails for biking, birding and hiking, and cooling off in crystal-blue freshwater springs. Surf and sandy beaches of the Atlantic may be reached in an hour-and-a-half drive, while the top-rated fishing and seafood of the Gulf Coast lie only an hour west. The major theme parks and metropolitan areas of Orlando and Tampa are only two hours away.

For more on Gainesville, browse this Guide to Greater Gainesville.