The U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center has created College Scorecard, recognizing UF with top marks.
Promoting students to pursue higher education, College Scorecard was created to make it easier for students to find a college that fits their needs. It allows future students to search by factors like region, major and environment.
The scorecard lets students see how expensive the school is, how many students pay off their loans and what kind of jobs students land after graduation.
UF was recognized by the White House with having comparatively low costs at $11,579 a year, a high, 83.7 percent gradation rate and a low median borrowing of $161.11 per month. UF was also recognized as having a low, 3 percent student loan default rate.
UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes said the scorecard verifies what the university has said for years.
“The University of Florida is of incredible value,” she said. “We have very bright students, 90 percent of whom receive some sort of Bright Futures or other scholarships. They get a fabulous education, and they leave for great careers with far less debt than their student peers in other states.”
Veronica Mingrone, an 18-year-old UF public relations freshman, said she was happy to hear about UF’s high standing.
“It makes me feel like I made the right choice in coming here,” she said. ”I think it’s pretty great to go to a university acknowledged for its excellence.”
Contact Alexa Volland at avolland@alligator.org.