The university's intercollegiate athletics teams are known as the Ospreys, and are members of the ASUN Conference in NCAA Division I.

[11] Until this time, the only publicly funded institution of higher learning in the city was Florida Junior College.

Construction on classrooms and buildings began in 1971 and UNF opened in the fall of 1972 with an initial enrollment of 2,027 juniors, seniors and graduate students, supported by 117 faculty and more than 150 staff.

[12] Originally, like the other Florida state institutions opened around this time, UNF was designated as a "senior" college, meaning it would enroll only upperclassmen and graduate students.

In 1980, there was a legislative effort to merge UNF with the University of Florida but a bill proposing this was vetoed by Governor Bob Graham.

[16] UNF's campus is near the intersection of I-295 (East Beltway) and SR-202 (J. Turner Butler Boulevard), two major expressways in the Jacksonville area.

The Social Sciences building, which opened in the fall of 2006, became the first Northeast Florida facility to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

[17] There is also a state-protected wildlife and bird sanctuary featuring miles of nature trails and numerous lakes and ponds on and around campus.

[21] The John A. Delaney Student Union, which opened in 2009, contains a two-story bookstore, restaurants, game-room, auditorium, art gallery, ballroom, bank, and amphitheater.

It is also used for other events, such as concerts and graduation ceremonies, and has served as the site of the Orlando Magic franchise's training camp.

On March 8, 2015, the UNF Arena attendance record was set as 6,155 fans watched North Florida defeat USC Upstate in the 2015 Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball Tournament championship game.

[25] The previous record was set earlier that year as 5,102 fans watched the Ospreys defeat crosstown rival Jacksonville, 77–50 on February 6, 2015.

The faculty of the Jazz Studies program includes other musicians such as Danny Gottlieb, Dennis Marks, Dave Steinmeyer, Todd DelGiudice, and Lynne Arriale.

This series, along with other opportunities, has enabled students to perform in concert with more than 100 esteemed artists, such as Herbie Hancock, the Count Basie Orchestra, Joe Henderson, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Joe Williams, Dianne Reeves, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, Christian McBride, Louie Bellson, Billy Taylor, Arturo Sandoval, Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Green, Russell Malone, and Branford Marsalis.

The free events they put on for students include concerts, comedy shows, movies, games, karaoke, and open mic nights.

[57] The UNF Eco-Adventure Program allows students to use the miles of nature trails and multiple lakes on campus.

Hall offers more of a traditional, dorm-like environment with double-occupancy rooms and communal bathrooms and showers.

It includes a convenience store, grill and common area, kitchens, a recreational facility, laundry rooms, a swimming pool, and a lazy river.

The University of North Florida operates ten dining facilities on campus, plus three convenience stores called "Outtakes."

The "Osprey Cafe" is the main buffet style restaurant on campus, and is popular for students with meal plans.

Other on campus choices include Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Chop'd and Wrap'd, and Jamba Juice.

The Student Union has a food court with extra options like Einstein Bros. Bagels, Panda Express, and Qdoba.

Overlooking a lake, the Boathouse is an eat-in or take out restaurant that offers wine and beer and often has live entertainment.

The restaurant is a UNF tradition that first opened on campus in 1973 and has been rebuilt or renovated multiple times.

The UNF Journal is the official publication for university alumni,[67] and Inside is an electronic newsletter published monthly for faculty and staff.

UNF began intercollegiate sports in 1983 as a member of the NAIA, then later moved the NCAA Division II, and is a member of the ASUN Conference in NCAA Division I. UNF competes in 17 sports and won the Sunshine State Conference's all-sports title four times.

In 2005, the Men's baseball team competed for the Division II world series, capturing second place overall.

UNF has captured the Peach Belt Conference Commissioner's Cup five consecutive times.

UNF's first Division I conference title came in 2008 when the men's golf team captured the Atlantic Sun crown.

The A-Sun championship game was played at UNF Arena in front of a record crowd of 6,155 who watched the Ospreys defeat USC Upstate 63–57.