FYI: UF’s application fee is $30, plus a $5 processing fee. All 12 Florida public universities charge $30, with UF and FSU each charging the additional Coalition App $5 processing fee…
The $25 non-refundable housing fee is used to secure your place line for room selection. However, if you have a roommate, they can make the selection and then “pull” you into the room. Also, since UF reduced the number of accepted Freshman in 2017-2018, they had more than enough rooms available, so most late applications where able to select a room.
I think the current “Housing advance rent payment” is $225 (up from $175) and is partially refundable. It’s due a few weeks after admissions acceptances go out (which is the 2nd Friday in February).This payment is used to secure a room. You can miss the due date, but then there is no guarantee of a room. When I did this, back in the 80’s I ended up in a temporary triple. This year they had available rooms, so it wasn’t too much of an issue. Of course, there is no guarantee that UF will not raise the number of incoming freshman again, in which case space would be much more limited.
Of the 12 Florida public universities, 10 require a “prepayment” and/or fee for housing. In some cases the fee goes toward your rent (prepayment) in others it’s just a fee. For example, FAU has a $100 nonfundable application fee, while UNF has a $200 pre-payment + $100 processing fee.
Bottom line, UF is in line with the other 11 public universities in Florida. With some minor variation (like the $5 coalition app fee).
Same goes for yearly tuition. With the exception of Florida Poly (which charges $4,940 for 30 credits), the other 11 schools charge from $5,844 (FAMU) up to $6,570 (FIU) with UF at $6,380 and FSU at $6,516.
Off campus housing is plentiful in Gainesville (UF). In many cases cheaper options are available off campus. That includes “dorm like” housing that’s next to the campus (a popular choice for a lot of incoming freshman).
Now, don’t get me started about parking…