Acceptance Rate
40%
Avg. SAT
1350
75th percentile
“Florida's enrollment giant, blending massive scale with Orlando's tourism and tech energy on a lake-dotted campus.”
Orlando, FL
Location
Large Suburb
Campus Setting
University of Central Florida opened in 1963 as Florida Technological University, built to train engineers for NASA's nearby space program amid Cape Canaveral's boom. It evolved into a comprehensive research powerhouse by 1978, now anchoring Orlando's explosive growth as the region's biggest university with over 69,000 undergraduates. Students who thrive here chase practical careers, embrace hustle in a commuter-heavy environment, and navigate the school's no-nonsense, opportunity-rich personality amid palm trees and theme park skylines.
Orlando wraps around UCF like a bustling neighbor, delivering internships at Disney and Universal just minutes away while exposing you to year-round tourism crowds and subtropical heat. Ambitious types drawn to hospitality, tech, or aerospace fit right in, but those seeking intimate seminars or walkable historic towns might feel lost in the sprawl. Tradeoffs include a spread-out campus that demands biking or shuttles, housing shortages beyond freshman year, and a higher cost of living fueled by Florida's influx of newcomers.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
UCF shines in hospitality through its Rosen College, computer science, engineering, and optics at CREOL, where undergrads tackle real-world projects tied to Orlando's entertainment and simulation industries. Classrooms mix small upper-level seminars with packed intro lectures holding hundreds, reflecting the school's scale; professors prioritize hands-on labs over pure theory, and motivated students snag research spots in booming fields like photonics and modeling. You'll collaborate on simulations for theme parks or aerospace, but competitive majors fill fast, and the sheer size means building advisor relationships takes effort.
The intellectual vibe rewards self-starters who dive into interdisciplinary work, like combining business with entertainment design, amid Florida's innovation corridor.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
59,552 undergrad • 10,161 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
43%
Black / African American
9%
Hispanic / Latino
29%
Asian
8%
Other / Multi-racial
11%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Orlando, FL
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus pulses with Knight spirit through football tailgates and Spirit Splash, where crowds cannonball into Lake Claire before home games, blending school pride with Orlando's fun-loving edge. A typical week mixes lectures, club meetings from over 700 groups, and nights at Memory Mall food trucks or off-campus bars; Greek life draws big crowds, but the social scene skews practical over intense partying. Residential towers house freshmen in air-conditioned comfort, though upperclassmen often apartment hunt amid limited on-campus spots.
Hot, humid weather dominates ten months a year, pushing activities indoors or poolside, while the suburban-city blend offers easy escapes to beaches or parks but traffic-clogged commutes.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Big 12 Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
92%
4 Years Graduation Rate
56%
6 Years Graduation Rate
72%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$58,308
92% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of Central Florida and return in the fall. 56% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 72% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
56%
4-5 years
16%
6-8 years
2%
Non-grad
26%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$4,478
Acceptance
40%
Undergrads
59,552
4-Year Grad Rate
56%
Endowment
$186M
Orlando, FL 32816
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