FAU vs. The University of West Florida

Should I go to Florida Atlantic University or The University of West Florida? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if FAU or The University of West Florida is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Florida Atlantic University vs. The University of West Florida comparison
Florida Atlantic University The University of West Florida College 3 College 4
Florida Atlantic University The University of West Florida
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Overview

FAU The University of West Florida
Location Boca Raton, FL Pensacola, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 29,592 13,521
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #738 #727
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fau.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

FAU The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $2,522 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $14,374 $16,587
Room & Board $12,536 $11,268
Avg Net Price $9,711 $8,609
Avg Grant Aid $10,334 $11,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 84%

Admission

FAU The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,268 9,113
Admitted 19,734 4,377
Acceptance Rate 81.3% 48%
Enrolled % 22.1% 27%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Easy Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/25 21/27
SAT Range 1020/1200 1050/1230
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

FAU The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

FAU The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate 43% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,861 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $174 $193

Diversity

FAU The University of West Florida
% Men 42% 38%
% Women 58% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 43% 65%
% Black 20% 13%
% Hispanic 26% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

FAU The University of West Florida
% In-State 72% 66%
% Out-of-State 22% 11%

Campus

FAU The University of West Florida
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida Atlantic University is larger than than The University of West Florida based on total student enrollment (29,592 students vs. 13,521 students)

FAU vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or The University of West Florida?

  • The University of West Florida is 71.3% more expensive to attend than FAU for in-state tuition ($4,319.00 vs. $2,522.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.4% higher at The University of West Florida than Florida Atlantic University ($16,587.00 vs. $14,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than FAU ($8,609 vs. $9,711)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of West Florida are 11.3% lower than costs at Florida Atlantic University ($11,268 vs. $12,536)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Florida Atlantic University than The University of West Florida (85% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 11.4% larger than aid received Florida Atlantic University ($11,515 vs. $10,334)

FAU vs. The University of West Florida Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or The University of West Florida? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between The University of West Florida or FAU .

  • The average SAT score at The University of West Florida (1053) is 6 points higher than at FAU (1047)
  • Incoming FAU students have at the same average ACT score (23) as students at The University of West Florida (23)
  • Accepted freshman FAU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at The University of West Florida (3.6)
  • FAU has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

FAU vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FAU or The University of West Florida? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between The University of West Florida and FAU.

  • The graduation rate at The University of West Florida is higher than Florida Atlantic University (48% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Florida Atlantic University earn on average $5,000 more per year than The University of West Florida graduates after ten years. ($46,200 vs. $41,200)
  • Florida Atlantic University students graduate with a $1,889 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of West Florida graduates. ($16,861 vs. $18,750)
  • FAU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than The University of West Florida graduates. ($174 vs. $193)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FAU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/