Pensacola State vs. The University of West Florida

Should I go to Pensacola State College or The University of West Florida? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Pensacola State 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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Pensacola State College vs. The University of West Florida comparison
Pensacola State College The University of West Florida College 3 College 4
The University of West Florida
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Overview

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
Location Pensacola, FL Pensacola, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 8,518 14,371
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #735
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website pensacolastate.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $1,871 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $7,483 $16,587
Room & Board $10,226 $12,432
Avg Net Price $3,436 $8,908
Avg Grant Aid $6,614 $11,018
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 84%

Admission

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 9,831
Admitted - 5,591
Acceptance Rate Open 56.9%
Enrolled % Open 26.9%
Avg High School GPA 2.54 3.6
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/27
SAT Range 1020/1230
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 30, 2026 Jun 1, 2026

Academics

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 23:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (53%)
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
  • Work and Family Studies (3%)
  • Engineering Technology (3%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate - 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $30,300 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $3,500 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $36 $193

Diversity

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
% Men 9% 11%
% Women 12% 21%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 65%
% Black 16% 13%
% Hispanic 6% 9%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Pensacola State The University of West Florida
% In-State 91% 88%
% Out-of-State 4% 10%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than Pensacola State based on total student enrollment (14,371 students vs. 8,518 students)

Pensacola State vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

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

  • The University of West Florida is 130.8% more expensive to attend than Pensacola State for in-state tuition ($4,319.00 vs. $1,871.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 121.7% higher at The University of West Florida than Pensacola State College ($16,587.00 vs. $7,483.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pensacola State College than The University of West Florida ($3,436 vs. $8,908)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pensacola State College are 21.6% lower than costs at The University of West Florida ($10,226 vs. $12,432)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of West Florida than Pensacola State College (84% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of West Florida students is 66.6% larger than aid received Pensacola State College ($11,018 vs. $6,614)

Which college is harder to get into, Pensacola State 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 Pensacola State .

  • Accepted freshman The University of West Florida students have a 1.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Pensacola State (2.54)

Pensacola State vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Pensacola State 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 Pensacola State.

  • Graduates from The University of West Florida earn on average $10,900 more per year than Pensacola State graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $30,300)
  • Pensacola State College students graduate with a $15,250 lower median federal student loan debt than The University of West Florida graduates. ($3,500 vs. $18,750)
  • Pensacola State graduates are paying $157 less per month on federal student loans than The University of West Florida graduates. ($36 vs. $193)
  • More The University of West Florida graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pensacola State students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 46%)

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