The University of Florida is a public research university located in Gainesville, Florida.

The University of Florida offers a more traditional style of dorms. Mostly freshman live in the dorms, and the dorms are typically shared rooms with communal showers. The floors are often separated based on gender. There are some exceptions like keys complex, springs complex, and hume hall. Additionally, there are a few options for graduate or family style housing that is further from campus.

Simpson Hall is a recently renovated dorm known for its modern appeal and excellent amenities, providing students with a comfortable and updated living experience. It features hardwood floors and individual room-controlled cooling systems, making it one of the cleanest and freshly maintained dorms on campus. The rooms are spacious, and ample built-in storage means students can comfortably organize their belongings. Though it's a bit of a walk from the campus center, its proximity to several bus stops ensures convenient transportation options. Students appreciate the scenic outdoor spaces, including a pond and plenty of hammock areas, perfect for relaxation. Simpson Hall also benefits from having a mini dining center known as Chomp It, offering late-night food options. While the communal bathrooms can get untidy over the weekends, they're cleaned daily during the week, maintaining hygiene standards. The dorm is also close to dining halls and the Reitz Union, making it a strategically good choice for incoming freshmen.

Beaty Towers, one of the unique dorms at the University of Florida, offers an apartment-style living experience with some welcome amenities. Each unit houses four students, sharing a common area, a relatively compact fully-equipped kitchenette featuring a stove, oven, and fridge, as well as a private bathroom for convenience and weekly cleaning services, albeit minimally. The spaciousness of the bedrooms is a point of contention, but creative bed arrangements like bunking or L-shaped setups can optimize the limited space. While Beaty Towers isn't the most social dorm due to its layout and lack of communal floor spaces, the nearby Beaty Commons offers opportunities for socializing and occasional events. The location is slightly distant from the campus center, about a 10-15 minute walk to most classes. Despite its older infrastructure and occasional elevator issues, it stands out for catering to those seeking privacy and the comforts of home cooking without a meal plan. Overall, Beaty Towers offers a balanced blend of privacy and affordability, making it a favorable choice for many students.

Hume Hall is a unique residence experience primarily for honors students, offering suite-style, co-ed living arrangements with private bathrooms shared by only four people. Although the amenities are minimal, the weekly cleaning service ensures cleanliness, making the bathroom situation preferable to communal setups. While the dorm provides updated rooms, they are relatively small with little flexibility for furniture rearrangement. Social opportunities are limited due to honors students preferring to study in their rooms and minimal activity in the common areas. However, the co-ed floors provide a social atmosphere where shared interests can lead to friendships. Located on the edge of campus, it can be a bit of a trek to classes, but nearby student parking and convenient bus routes mitigate the distance. Hume Hall is particularly suitable for students who appreciate quiet study environments and do not mind its lack of vibrant social scenes.

Rawlings Hall is a conveniently located dorm that offers proximity to classes, libraries, the bus stop, and dining options such as Broward Dining and a connected Subway and POD Market. While it boasts an excellent social atmosphere, it's not known for being luxurious. The dorm's double suites—offering private bathrooms shared between adjoining rooms—are highly coveted for their spaciousness. However, the regular rooms suffer from issues such as dust, weird smells, and occasional mold, making air purifiers highly recommended. Despite the regular cleaning of communal bathrooms, their quality is viewed as subpar. The lack of elevators makes high-floor living a leg workout with laundry located in the basement. Rawlings' air conditioning systems are often too cold and sometimes malfunctioning. Overall, Rawlings Hall is best suited for those seeking a vibrant social life and a great location, but it may not satisfy those in search of comfort or modern amenities.

Broward Hall is a prominent and highly recommended dorm for freshmen at UF, known for its unbeatable location at the heart of campus. It is conveniently located near popular dining options like Chic-fil-a and Broward Dining, and is just a short walk to Marston Library, making it ideal for students who prioritize accessibility to campus amenities. The dorm is praised for its updated rooms featuring laminate flooring and modern renovations, especially in the West wing. The layouts typically consist of one room shared by two people, with clean conditions overall. While the social nature of Broward Hall is a highlight, with a lively and open community, it might feel overwhelming for quieter, introverted students due to frequent noise and partying. An important consideration is controlling the room temperature to prevent humidity and mold, with many noting the rooms can be quite cold. Overall, Broward Hall is a quintessential freshman dorm experience, offering a vibrant and central living environment.

Murphree Hall is an appealing choice for students at UF, offering a blend of historical charm and modern convenience. Its location is one of its standout features, being situated near the historic part of campus, the stadium, and key amenities such as gyms and libraries. Students frequently praise the two-room double configurations, which provide an increased sense of privacy compared to traditional dorm layouts. Each resident enjoys their own semi-private space, sometimes separated by a door—a setup adored by many for its spaciousness and functionality.

The communal bathrooms serve a small group of about 6-8 residents, ensuring they are never too crowded and are maintained well, with cleaning services available on weekdays. Although the building itself is somewhat dated, and residents must walk to a nearby building for laundry, the compelling advantages such as the effective air conditioning, thick walls for noise reduction, and cleanliness make Murphree Hall highly rated among students. Despite minor inconveniences like the absence of elevators and occasional noisy AC, many express they would happily reside in Murphree Hall again, thanks to its prime location and functional living spaces.

Riker Hall Reviews

University of Florida

Browse dorms on campus

Simpson Hall

Beaty Towers

Hume Hall

Rawlings Hall

Broward Hall