The University of Florida (UF) on Wednesday announced that it secured the necessary land and financial support to move forward with construction of its new graduate campus in downtown Jacksonville, following a unanimous vote by the Jacksonville City Council approving the transfer of more than 20 acres in the LaVilla neighborhood and an additional $50 million in city funding.
The council’s action brings the city’s total investment in the project to $100 million and allows UF to begin closing on the property later this summer. The campus, first proposed in 2022, has now reached $300 million in total public and private support, including state funding and local philanthropic contributions. It will also house the Florida Semiconductor Institute.
UF officials said the new campus will offer graduate-level academic programs aligned with Jacksonville’s economic priorities, including degrees in business, engineering, law, health sciences, and architecture. An existing building will host the initial slate of programs beginning in 2026, with new construction expected to begin later that year.
“The City Council’s vote today is a testament to a shared vision for the future for both UF and for Jacksonville,” said Mori Hosseini, UF Board of Trustees chair. “This investment will create a world-class campus that serves Jacksonville’s workforce, fuels innovation and expands opportunity for generations to come.”
UF and the City of Jacksonville announced a partnership in 2023 to “explore the creation of a new graduate campus in the city” after plans to construct a satellite location in West Palm Beach were scrapped. While details have been relatively sparse, the Jacksonville campus plans to focus on Master’s and Doctoral programs in medicine, engineering, and business.
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