University of Central Florida
#1 Best Education Colleges in Florida- Graduation Rate
- 77% B+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,308 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $10,411 B
- 39% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 40% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 36.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $36.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Florida.
Every $1 spent returns $36.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,485,614.
What The Data Says
-
A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 43% above the national college median.
-
A 77% graduation rate — 34% above the national average.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.60% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $36.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 43%
- Patents
- 190
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 669
- Downstream influence
Why University of Central Florida Matters
University of Central Florida is a public research university in Orlando, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, a strong record of moving students up the income ladder, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 59,146
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose University of Central Florida
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 40% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1200–1350. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,411 a year after grants and scholarships — 39% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,308 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $18,190 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 16% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.51 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With over 59,000 students enrolled, the University of Central Florida is one of the largest public universities in the nation. This scale translates into a rich diversity of academic programs and campus life, making it a vibrant community for students seeking both education and social engagement.
Data from Opportunity Insights shows that UCF graduates see a median earnings increase to $58,308 ten years after enrolling. This reflects a solid return on investment, especially when considering the university’s net price of $10,411 and median debt of $18,190. While specific mobility metrics are not available, the university serves a significant number of Pell Grant recipients, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income students.
Students who thrive at UCF often pursue degrees in popular fields like Business, Health Professions, and Engineering. The moderate acceptance rate of 40% suggests that the university seeks students who show potential for success. With a graduation rate of 77%, many students are able to complete their degrees and enter the workforce prepared and skilled.
Rankings
- #1 Best Education Colleges in Florida
- #1 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Florida
- #2 Best Colleges in Florida
- #2 Best Bachelor's Programs in Florida
- #2 Best Master's Programs in Florida
- #2 Best Online Colleges in Florida
- #2 Best ROI Colleges for Criminal Justice
- #2 Best Computer Science Colleges in Florida
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Central Florida is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Central Florida? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Orlando, Florida, University of Central Florida reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 40%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,269. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Retention Rate
- 92%
- SAT Average
- 1269
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1200–1350
- ACT Range
- 25–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,575
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 29:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 54,977
- Admitted
- 22,560
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Central Florida is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 30% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 30%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 4%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 28%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 32% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Central Florida? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Central Florida is $22,467, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,411. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,816 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,190 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,368
- Out-of-State
- $22,467
- Avg Net Price
- $10,411
- Median Debt
- $18,190
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,816
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,174
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,128
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,681
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Central Florida — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Central Florida Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Central Florida earn a median of $58,308, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,137
- 8 Years
- $52,921
- 10 Years
- $58,308
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 71%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,832)
- 46%
- 100% (2,832)
- 46%
- 100% (2,832)
- 46%
- 100% (2,832)
- 46%
Where Grads Go
Top employers of University of Central Florida’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Central Florida Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Central Florida delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,411/year ($41,644 total). Graduates earn $58,308 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,527,258 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,485,614 (36.7× your investment). The median debt is $18,190, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 77% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $41,644
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,527,258
- Net Return
- $1,485,614
- ROI Multiple
- 36.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,411
- Median Debt
- $18,190
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 77%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Central Florida Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Central Florida is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.60%, among the highest in the country. About 7.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 36% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.60%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 36.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $123,909
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
University of Central Florida produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 190 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.53%
- Top 43% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 190
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 669
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.42%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of Central Florida awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 14% $55,123 early-career
- Health Professions 13% $68,329 early-career
- Psychology 10% $32,287 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $34,329 early-career
- Engineering 8% $75,827 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $67,569 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $23,739 early-career
- Communications 4% $39,826 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Central Florida's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Central Florida? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Orlando, Florida, University of Central Florida reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 40%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,269. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Central Florida? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Central Florida is $22,467, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $10,411. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,816 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,190 in federal student loans.
Is University of Central Florida Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Central Florida earn a median of $58,308, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does University of Central Florida Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Central Florida is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.60%, among the highest in the country. About 7.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 36% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $91,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Central Florida? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Central Florida. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Is University of Central Florida really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 32% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Central Florida (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Central Florida?
About 30% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Central Florida — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Central Florida.
- University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Close peer76% grad $57,743 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Close peer69% grad $64,403 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Florida International UniversityMiami, FL · Close peer74% grad $60,249 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL · Close peer84% grad $61,675 earn 24% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · Close peer74% grad $60,249 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · Close peer77% grad $64,909 earn 36% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Central Florida? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Central Florida. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note