FAU vs. UNF

Deciding between Florida Atlantic University and University of North Florida? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Florida Atlantic University
University of North Florida

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FAU Boca Raton, FL
  • UNF Jacksonville, FL
  • Setting
  • FAU Small City
  • UNF Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • FAU 31,607
  • UNF 16,154
  • Type
  • FAU Public 4 Year
  • UNF Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FAU #657
  • UNF #539
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FAU -
  • UNF -
  • Status
  • FAU Non-profit
  • UNF Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FAU
  • UNF
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FAU $4,879
  • UNF $6,389
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FAU $17,324
  • UNF $20,793
  • Room & Board
  • FAU $15,860
  • UNF $11,810
  • Average Net Price
  • FAU $10,225
  • UNF $11,135
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FAU $10,857
  • UNF $9,377
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FAU 86%
  • UNF 78%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FAU 31,511
  • UNF 21,778
  • Admitted
  • FAU 20,838
  • UNF 11,594
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FAU 66.1%
  • UNF 53.2%
  • Enrolled
  • FAU 20.3%
  • UNF 16.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FAU 1120
  • UNF 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • FAU 23
  • UNF 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • FAU 3.74
  • UNF 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FAU A-
  • UNF A
  • Admissions Standards
  • FAU Moderate
  • UNF Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • FAU Low
  • UNF Low
  • ACT Range
  • FAU 21/26
  • UNF 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • FAU 1040/1200
  • UNF 1070/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FAU Required
  • UNF Required
  • Application Deadline
  • FAU May 1, 2027
  • UNF
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FAU 24:1
  • UNF 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FAU
    • Business (27%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • UNF
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FAU 43%
  • UNF 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FAU $46,200
  • UNF $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FAU 54%
  • UNF 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FAU $16,861
  • UNF $16,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FAU $174
  • UNF $165
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FAU 43%
  • UNF 40%
  • % Women
  • FAU 57%
  • UNF 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FAU High
  • UNF Medium
  • HBCU
  • FAU No
  • UNF No
  • % White
  • FAU 43%
  • UNF 69%
  • % Asian
  • FAU 4%
  • UNF 4%
  • % Black
  • FAU 20%
  • UNF 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • FAU 26%
  • UNF 10%
  • % Native American
  • FAU 0%
  • UNF 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FAU 0%
  • UNF 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FAU 4%
  • UNF 5%
  • % International
  • FAU 2%
  • UNF 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FAU 1%
  • UNF 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FAU 78%
  • UNF 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FAU 19%
  • UNF 5%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FAU Yes
  • UNF Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FAU No
  • UNF No
  • Meal Plan
  • FAU Yes
  • UNF Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FAU Yes
  • UNF Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • FAU No
  • UNF Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL with University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Atlantic University is larger than UNF based on total student enrollment (31,607 students vs. 16,154 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, FL (Small City setting); University of North Florida is in Jacksonville, FL (Large City setting).
  • Florida Atlantic University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Atlantic University 24:1; University of North Florida 19:1.

FAU vs. UNF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or UNF? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Atlantic University than UNF ($10,225 vs. $11,135).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Florida are 25.5% lower than at Florida Atlantic University ($11,810 vs. $15,860).
  • University of North Florida is 30.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than FAU (about $1,510 more per year; $6,389.00 vs. $4,879.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at UNF than at Florida Atlantic University (about $3,469 more per year; $20,793.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Atlantic University than at University of North Florida (86% vs. 78%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Atlantic University students is 15.8% larger than aid received by University of North Florida students ($10,857 vs. $9,377).

FAU vs. UNF Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or UNF? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UNF and FAU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Florida (1170) is 50 points higher than at FAU (1120).
  • Incoming FAU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at UNF).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 1040/1200; University of North Florida 1070/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Atlantic University 21/26; University of North Florida 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FAU - Required; UNF - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FAU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNF students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at FAU (3.74).
  • FAU has a higher acceptance rate (66.1%) than UNF (53.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at FAU vs. 16.5% at UNF.

FAU vs. UNF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FAU and UNF? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of North Florida's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Florida Atlantic University's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of North Florida earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than FAU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Florida graduates have a $861 lower median loan debt than FAU graduates ($16,000 vs. $16,861).
  • Among borrowers, UNF graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FAU graduates ($165 vs. $174).
  • More UNF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FAU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.