In 1963, the Florida Legislature authorized funds to establish the University of West Florida. The University of West Florida's Pensacola location, located ten miles north of downtown, sits on 1,600 acres of rolling hills and natural woodland along the Escambia River. Our facilities were designed to complement the natural forest and waterways. In addition, UWF has waterfront property on Santa Rosa Island that is available for recreational, academic, and research pursuits. The University operates an Emerald Coast instructional site that includes the North West Florida State College Campus.

University of West Florida Historic Trust, a corporation serving as a Direct Support Organization of UWF, manages 30 historic museums and properties in downtown Pensacola as well as the Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site in Milton, Florida. The downtown Historic Pensacola properties serve as a living laboratory providing University students the opportunity to live, work, and study in a National Register Historic District.

Dr. Martha Saunders became UWF’s sixth president on January 1, 2017. She is preceded by Dr. Judith A. Bense (2008-2016), Dr. John C. Cavanaugh (2002-2007), Dr. Morris Marx (1988-2001), Dr. James A. Robinson (1974-1987), and the first president, Dr. Harold B. Crosby, who assumed office in July 1964. Ground was broken on April 16, 1965, and the first students began classes in the fall of 1967. A 13-member Board of Trustees governs the University.

Currently, UWF enrolls more than 14,300 students in its College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, School of Education, Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. Since its beginning, UWF has conferred more than 121,000 associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

The UWF Welcome Center provides maps, parking permits, and information about facilities and campus events. Located at the east entrance to the Pensacola location, it has a drive-through window for automotive traffic and a lobby for walk-in visitors. Information concerning the Pensacola location tours may be obtained from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 850-474-2230 or 1-800-263-1074. Information about the Emerald Coast location can be obtained by calling UWF Emerald Coast at 850-863-6565.

More information about the University of West Florida and its programs is available at uwf.edu.