University of Miami

About University of Miami

The University of Miami is an independent, private, not-for-profit institution chartered in Florida. Founded in 1925 by Miami-area citizens, it has developed into a multicampus university offering undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical education. Its accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges covers baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral awards. The university’s accreditation was most recently affirmed in 2018, with its next review scheduled for 2028. The main undergraduate campus is in Coral Gables, while marine, atmospheric, and earth science activity is centered at the Rosenstiel School on Virginia Key. The Miller School of Medicine and associated health programs operate in Miami’s Health District. This structure can be useful for students seeking access to a major metropolitan area, marine environments, or clinical and biomedical settings, but applicants should confirm where their intended program is taught and whether regular travel between campuses is expected. The university’s 2026–2027 bulletin lists active undergraduate, graduate, law, MD, and special programs. Its breadth makes it suitable for students who want a comprehensive university rather than a narrowly specialized college. Prospective students should compare school-specific curricula, additional admission requirements, tuition arrangements, and campus location because these can differ significantly across architecture, music, marine science, health, law, and other professional fields.

For 2026–2027 first-year admission, the university lists Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Early Action, and Regular Decision. Early Decision I and Early Action applications are due November 1; Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications are due January 5. Early Decision is binding, and admitted Early Decision applicants must withdraw applications to other institutions after paying their enrollment deposit. Regular Decision applicants are scheduled to receive decisions by April 1 and, if admitted, generally confirm enrollment by May 1. Applicants should verify these dates again in the admission portal before submission because policies can change. First-year applicants apply through the Common Application and must provide an official secondary-school transcript, school report, at least one recommendation, and the application fee or an approved alternative. The university does not mandate a particular secondary-school curriculum, but recommends 20 units across English, mathematics, science, social science, and foreign language, with competitive applicants generally taking the strongest work available. The current bulletin permits test-optional applications only in specified areas, including performance programs in the Frost School of Music, the School of Architecture, and certain BFA programs. Auditions or portfolios may still be compulsory, depending on the program. Other applicants should not assume a university-wide test-optional policy. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results unless an applicable waiver is confirmed. Graduate, law, medical, transfer, and international applicants should follow their own application instructions rather than these first-year undergraduate rules.

The 2026–2027 academic bulletin organizes the university’s offerings into undergraduate, graduate, law, MD, and special-program divisions. Undergraduate options span the College of Arts and Sciences and schools or colleges focused on architecture, business, communication, education and human development, engineering, marine, atmospheric and earth science, music, and nursing and health studies. Graduate study also includes programs connected to medicine, law, and specialized research fields. Applicants should use the current program index rather than older promotional lists, since the university reserves the right to revise programs, courses, and requirements. Undergraduates complete their degree within the requirements of their school or college. The university’s general graduation policy requires at least 120 credit hours for a bachelor’s degree, although some programs require more, as well as the applicable university and school-level academic standards. Advising resources include degree-progress reports, a degree planner, academic advisers, and school or college dean’s offices. The multicampus structure shapes some academic choices. Most traditional undergraduate fields are associated with Coral Gables, while Rosenstiel students may use facilities on Virginia Key. Biomedical and medical graduate education is connected to the Miller School of Medicine in the Health District. University Libraries operates six libraries across the three campuses, including specialist architecture, business, music, marine science, and health-sciences collections. Students comparing majors should examine required sequencing, accreditation or licensure implications, access to laboratories or studios, and whether courses or research require travel away from Coral Gables.

Key Highlights

• Private, not-for-profit university chartered in Florida
• Founded in 1925
• Accredited to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees
• Academic activity spans Coral Gables, Virginia Key, and Miami’s Health District

Student Life & Environment

Undergraduate residential life includes six residential colleges, University Village, and Lakeside Village. Residential areas have student and professional staff living alongside residents, while the residential colleges also include faculty residents. Available accommodation includes multiple room types, although single rooms are limited. Housing is coeducational, and gender-inclusive housing is available on request. Admitted undergraduates may apply for housing through CaneLink after accepting admission and paying the enrollment deposit. The 2026–2027 bulletin lists a nonrefundable housing application fee and warns that room-type and roommate preferences are not guaranteed. Students should review the current housing agreement, deadlines, cancellation rules, and room rates before committing. An official off-campus housing portal is also available for students who plan to commute or cannot secure their preferred university accommodation. Beyond housing, the university supports more than 300 registered student organizations through advising, leadership development, and organizational services. Activities cover academic and professional interests, community engagement, cultural and identity groups, publications, wellness, and recreational or competitive club sports. Participation rules can depend on full-time status, payment of the student activity fee, and good academic standing. Campus programming, Division I athletics, recreation, performances, and events add further options, but students based away from Coral Gables should consider travel time when planning regular involvement.

Location & Surroundings

The main campus is in Coral Gables, a municipality within the Miami metropolitan area. It is served by the nearby University Metrorail station, giving students a public-transit connection to other parts of Miami-Dade County. The setting provides access to the region’s businesses, arts and cultural institutions, health organizations, coastal environments, and international communities. Students should still budget carefully for transportation and housing in the wider Miami area rather than assuming all daily needs will be within walking distance. The university also operates major academic locations outside Coral Gables. The Rosenstiel School’s campus is on Virginia Key, where marine and environmental facilities support teaching and research. During the regular academic semester, shuttle and transit connections serve Virginia Key, including links through Vizcaya Metrorail station. The medical campus is in Miami’s Health District near downtown and is accessible through Civic Center Metrorail station and several bus routes. Campus location therefore depends on the program. Applicants in marine, medical, and some graduate fields should check where required courses, laboratories, clinical work, or advising take place. Travel arrangements may be a meaningful practical consideration for students combining activities across Coral Gables, Virginia Key, and the Health District.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, full-time undergraduate tuition is $33,156 per semester for 12–20 credits. The bulletin separately lists mandatory full-time undergraduate fees totaling $1,460 per fall or spring semester. Overloads, intersession study, private music instruction, housing, meal plans, books, transportation, personal expenses, and health insurance can add substantially to the amount billed or budgeted. The university-sponsored health insurance rate is listed as $4,483 for 2026–2027, although eligible students may have different coverage or waiver arrangements. Graduate, law, medical, and special programs use different pricing, so those students should consult their program-specific schedules. These figures should not be treated as a complete net price. A student’s actual cost depends on housing, meals, insurance, enrollment pattern, aid, and personal circumstances. Applicants should compare the official financial-aid offer with the full cost-of-attendance budget and review whether grants and scholarships renew under specific academic or enrollment conditions. International students should also account for insurance, travel, and any financial-certification requirements. Career support is provided through the Toppel Career Center, which offers career coaching, workshops, practice interviews, networking, employer presentations, career fairs, and access to Handshake for jobs and internships. Its internship program can add a one-credit transcript notation for an internship a student has already secured. The university also maintains a graduation-outcomes dashboard that can be filtered by school, college, or major. Prospective students should use those program-level results instead of relying on an institution-wide salary claim, since outcomes vary considerably by degree and field.