Background
uwf.edu
The University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola is situated on a 1,600-acre wildlife refuge along the Escambia River.
In addition to the main campus, UWF serves students in Fort Walton Beach, Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and at shared facilities at regional community colleges.
The university offers undergraduate degrees in 51 areas, masters degrees in 25 areas, two specialist degrees and a doctorate in education. UWF’s most popular majors include: psychology, communication arts, marine biology, computer science, teacher education and business.
UWF was originally an upper-level institution enrolling juniors, seniors, and graduate students. The first students began classes in the fall of 1967. Following authorization by the Florida Legislature, a lower division was established and freshmen attended the university for the first time in the fall of 1983.
- Known for: UWF researchers continue to gather data from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which impacted the white, sandy beaches nearby. UWF faculty will provide much of the data used to determine the length of the Gulf Coast recovery. The university says the spill has become a fantastic source of professional-grade, undergraduate research.
- Cost: 2011/2012 tuition per credit hour – $180.84 in state, $285.84 Alabama residents, $610.23 out-of-state.
- Class size: Average class size for all courses at UWF is 24. Average class size for freshman courses is 34 students. 83 percent of classrooms have 60 or fewer seats. Only 8 percent of classrooms hold more than 100 seats.
- Student facts: UWF’s total enrollment crossed 12,000 for the first time in school history in 2011. Minorities represent about one-third of the student body. Ratio of women to men is 59:41.
- Fun fact: Sports teams are known as the West Florida Argonauts. The mascot was chosen in 1967, named for the courageous Greek sailors who ventured across treacherous seas in search of the Golden Fleece.
