Shaping Florida’s future, UF’s Master of Business Administration program expands into Jacksonville
As the University of Florida’s plan for a downtown Jacksonville campus comes to fruition, a new program will allow business students to fold directly into the state’s workforce, growing local companies and strengthening the state’s economy.
The University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business part-time Master of Business Administration, or MBA, program is shifting some of its locations to Jacksonville in Spring 2026, close to many of the city’s leading companies – from the UF Health campus and the Naval Station Mayport to the freight transportation company CSX, Florida Blue insurance and Johnson & Johnson Vision. The program, which consistently ranks among the top 20 publics, will also offer a master’s degree in management with a focus on AI in Fall 2026.
“The future of business education is where the companies are, and we’ll have prime real estate to participate in conversations as a member of these communities while also expanding opportunities for our students,” said John Gresley, associate dean for master’s programs and executive director of MBA programs at UF. “We are going to where the people are to play a role in developing these hubs.”
Building a stronger Florida presence
Warrington is also expanding its program offerings throughout South Florida, offering a part-time MBA program in Miami in Spring 2026. The college has hosted graduate programs in Miramar and Sunrise since 2004, but it is now moving those programs to the heart of Miami’s downtown financial district.
Additionally, Warrington offers programming around the state to bring students into Florida’s expanding economic areas through three opportunities: the MBA Summit Series, the MBA Insights Series and the MBA Global Immersion Experiences.
“We’re increasing the benefits and effectiveness of the academic experience,” Gresley said. “It’s important to connect students with experiential learning to apply concepts they learn in class. We’re continuing to invest in things we know work well and expanding them to be more frequent and offer more opportunity.”
The MBA Summit Series, for example, is a two-day experience that pairs students with established UF MBA alumni, facilitates company visits and provides networking opportunities. During a recent summit in Orlando, students learned about personal and corporate branding from UF alumni who are currently working for Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering.
The MBA Insights Series is a conference series built around a specific theme and hosted in major U.S. cities, making it easier for students from Gainesville to make the trip. And the MBA Global Immersion Experiences have, for more than 20 years, helped bring Florida students to areas like New York City and San Francisco to immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations of local business industries.
No matter where UF students live, there is a program nearby. Warrington’s top-ranked online MBA program also serves students’ needs from anywhere in the world.
“You’re never that far from a physical campus right now to engage face-to-face with our team,” Gresley said. “We’re always looking for ways to leverage that throughout the state.”