University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida, United States · Est. 1963 · Research University

America's Space University: 70,000+ students pursuing 250+ degrees across 12 colleges in Orlando.

  • Founded June 10, 1963; opened 1968 as Florida Technological University
  • Public research university; second-largest on-campus student body among US public universities (70,674 students, Fall 2025)
  • Main campus in unincorporated Orange County, Florida, 13 miles east of downtown Orlando
  • R1: Doctoral Universities classification; $237.4M funded research (FY2025)
  • 12 colleges offering 250+ degree programs; 452,386 degrees conferred as of Aug 2025
  • Strengths: space/aerospace, modeling & simulation, optics & lasers, hospitality management, computer science, game design

Academics

UCF offers 253 bachelor's, 235 master's, and 84 doctorate degrees across 12 colleges, including the Burnett Honors College, College of Medicine at Lake Nona, and Rosen College of Hospitality Management. The university is recognized for top-ranked programs in national security and emergency management (No. 1 nationally 2024–2026), game design (top 2 globally), and computer science. With an incoming freshman class GPA of 4.26 (weighted, Fall 2025), UCF emphasizes academic excellence and interdisciplinary learning. Over 100 fully online programs provide flexibility for distance learners.

Campus & Student Life

The main campus spans 1,415 acres with a distinctive pedestrian-oriented concentric-circle design (one of only two in the nation). Additional campuses include the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona (50 acres), Downtown Orlando campus (15 acres, opened 2019), and Rosen College in south Orlando. Students enjoy 650+ clubs and organizations, NCAA Division I athletics in the Big 12 Conference, and traditions like Spirit Splash. Housing, dining, recreation facilities, and the John C. Hitt Library support residential and commuter students.

Admissions

UCF welcomes students from 142 countries and all 50 states. The Fall 2025 freshman class had a 4.26 weighted high school GPA. Seventy percent of first-time-in-college students graduate without educational debt. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, transfer, and international admission pathways. Applicants can explore 250+ degree programs across multiple campus locations and online formats.

Research & Innovation

As a space-grant institution, UCF develops and oversees the Florida Space Institute, manages the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, and leads the NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium. The university is home to the Institute for Simulation and Training, Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, and the Central Florida Research Park (seventh-largest in the nation, housing 116+ corporations). FY2025 funded research totaled $237.4 million.

Founded
1963
Type
Research University
Courses
14
Total intake
Not yet verified
AffiliationState University System of Florida
Websitehttps://www.ucf.edu/
HousingAvailable
Some details are still being verified.

Quick stats

Courses offered
14
Avg career outcomes
$58.3K
Total intake
Not yet verified
Housing
Yes
Data last verified June 2026 · compiled from official sources