Private riverfront university in Jacksonville offering 100+ majors with Division I athletics and hands-on learning.
Jacksonville University offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, minors, and programs, plus 23 master's and doctorate degrees including M.S., M.A., M.A.T., MBA, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The university is organized into five colleges and three institutes, including the Marine Science Research Institute, Public Policy Institute, and STEAM Institute. The Davis College of Business & Technology holds AACSB accreditation and is the only private AACSB-accredited business school in North Florida. The College of Law opened in August 2022 with provisional ABA accreditation granted in February 2024. In November 2022, JU announced a partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to open a medical school branch by 2026.
In 2024, Jacksonville University accepted 57.3% of undergraduate applicants. Enrolled students had an average high school GPA of 3.61. The university does not require standardized test scores but considers them if submitted; those who submitted averaged 1190 SAT or 26 ACT. The student body represents more than 40 U.S. states and approximately 45 countries. Demographic composition includes 49% White, 20% Black, 14% Hispanic, 7% foreign national, 7% other, and 2% Asian students, with 38% low-income and 62% affluent students.
The 235–260 acre campus sits on Jacksonville's historic Arlington riverfront with scenic oak-lined pathways and a half-mile stretch along the St. Johns River. Students live in residence halls and on-campus apartments, with facilities including the Kinne University Center and Davis Student Commons. Campus life features Greek organizations, numerous clubs, Division I NCAA athletics, and intramural sports. The Carl S. Swisher Library spans 52,000 square feet and holds over 350,000 volumes plus digital resources. Jacksonville offers 22 miles of beaches, a thriving arts community, and is ranked #2 best city for young professionals and #1 in Florida for recent college graduates.
Jacksonville University competes in NCAA Division I, primarily in the ASUN Conference, with rowing in the MAAC. The university fields 18 varsity teams known as the Dolphins. In 1970, the men's basketball team became the second-smallest school to reach the NCAA Final Four and national championship game. The rowing program won the FIRA Cup in 2007 and 2014 and the women's team won the MAAC Championship in 2014. The Flight Team is the third-largest collegiate aviation program in the nation and won the Loening Trophy in 2008, now displayed in the Smithsonian. Baseball coach Terry Alexander has 631 wins and led the program to nine NCAA regional appearances and six conference championships.
In April 2025, Jacksonville University announced significant restructuring that eliminated 40 faculty positions and reduced undergraduate programs from 60 to 37. The faculty responded with a no-confidence vote against President Tim Cost, citing abrupt termination of tenured professors, lack of financial transparency, and governance violations. The administration faced scrutiny for breaching a debt covenant. While the university offered 18 full-ride scholarships to displaced students, the board of trustees reaffirmed confidence in Cost's leadership.