University of Miami

Private · Highly Selective · FL

Photo: Harrison Photo Laboratories (Public domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationFL · South

SettingSuburban

Undergrads12,913

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate72.7%

6-yr grad rate83.7%

Drop-out rate6.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$63k

Out-of-state tuition$63k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity51.5%

Gender diversity54.5%

International7.6%

Identity—

Overview

The University of Miami is a private research university in suburban Coral Gables, shaped heavily by its position as a gateway between the United States and Latin America. It is known for genuine strength in marine and atmospheric science, a well-regarded music program, and business, and Hurricanes athletics, especially the football program's storied history, carry real weight in the university's identity and campus culture. The student body is notably international, with a substantial share of students from Latin America.

Academics

The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, including its hurricane and tropical weather research, is a genuine, not marketing, national strength given the university's coastal Florida location, and the Frost School of Music, particularly in studio and popular music, draws serious talent. A strong premed pipeline runs through the university's own Miller School of Medicine in downtown Miami, giving undergraduates real research and clinical exposure well before applying to medical school, and the business school benefits from Miami's role as a genuine hub for Latin American commerce.

Campus & student life

Coral Gables is a manicured, palm-lined suburb built around the campus, with Lake Osceola running through its center, and campus life reflects the city's international character, with a large share of students from Latin America and abroad shaping social life. Athletics, particularly football, are central to campus identity, drawing on the program's storied history, and Greek life and a warm, year-round outdoor social culture are both prominent parts of student life.

Getting in

Admissions is holistic, and the university has built a real reputation for generous merit scholarships that shape its applicant pool alongside need-based aid, drawing many strong students who might otherwise choose a more expensive private school. Essays that reflect genuine interest in the university's distinctive programs, such as marine science, hurricane research, or the Frost School of Music, help applicants stand out beyond generic interest in Miami as a city.

After graduation

Graduates go into business, medicine, media, and international commerce, aided by the university's position in a major global business hub with deep ties to Latin America, and a large alumni presence throughout Florida and across Latin America specifically. Premed placement into medical school is a genuine strength, reflecting the pipeline through the university's own medical school.

Worth knowing

The university's Miami location and genuinely international student body give it a different flavor from peer research universities elsewhere in the country, and its hurricane-research specialty is a real, not marketing, distinction tied directly to its coastal location and history. The football program's storied past is a real part of campus identity that shapes school spirit even during less successful seasons.

miami.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate18.9%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1320–1480 · ACT 30–33

Test policyoptional

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Early actionNov 1

Early decisionNov 1

Regular decisionJan 5

Verified from the school’s admissions page ↗

Applying (2026-27 cycle)

Apply through Common App.

Early decision IIJan 5

Financial aid formsJan 5

Early Decision I and II are binding commitments to enroll if admitted, while Early Action and Regular Decision are not binding.

Verified from the school’s admissions pages ↗