University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida is a large public research university in Orlando and one of the biggest universities in the country, enrolling roughly 60,000 undergraduates. Admission is moderately selective — about 43% of applicants are admitted, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 4.18 with a middle-50% SAT range of 1220–1350. UCF is known for its programs in business, health professions, engineering, and computer science, and for deep ties to Orlando's aerospace, defense, and digital-simulation industries. As a Florida public university it requires SAT or ACT scores, and its low in-state tuition of about $6,400 makes it one of the more affordable major research universities in the Southeast.
See how UCF compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
UCF admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Action
UCF offers non-binding Early Action — an earlier decision with no commitment to enroll.
Standardized Tests
UCF requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where UCF's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 76% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. UCF does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions Factors
How UCF weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UCF's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $17,708 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
Writing your UCF application essay?
Esslo gives you line-by-line feedback on your Common App and supplemental essays — so your application stands out at UCF and beyond.
Frequently asked questions about UCF admissions
What GPA do you need to get into UCF?＋
Admitted first-year students at UCF carry an average high school GPA of about 4.18 on a weighted scale. There is no hard cutoff, but the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA are both weighed as very important factors, so a strong college-prep course load matters as much as the number.
What SAT or ACT score do you need for UCF?＋
UCF requires an SAT or ACT score from all first-year applicants — it is not test-optional. The middle 50% of enrolled students scored between 1220 and 1350 on the SAT and 25 to 30 on the ACT, and standardized test scores are weighed as a very important admission factor.
Is a 1300 SAT good enough for UCF?＋
Yes — a 1300 is competitive for UCF. It sits above the median of 1280 and within the 1220–1350 middle-50% range of enrolled first-years, and roughly 69% of admitted students scored in the 1200–1399 band. Since UCF requires test scores, a 1300 paired with a strong GPA and rigorous courses makes for a solid application.
Is it hard to get into UCF?＋
UCF is moderately selective, admitting about 42.8% of first-year applicants — roughly 25,500 offers out of nearly 59,600 applications. The overall rate is approachable, but some programs are limited or restricted-access and can be tougher than the headline number suggests, and the academic profile (a ~4.18 GPA and 1220–1350 SAT) is the part that drives most decisions.
What are my chances of getting into UCF from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants face a meaningfully narrower path at UCF. According to Fall 2024 CDS data, Florida residents were admitted at 49.1%, while out-of-state applicants were admitted at 28.9% and international applicants at 23.4%. That roughly 20-point gap reflects both enrollment-mix targets and program capacity. Out-of-state students should aim solidly at or above the enrolled academic profile — a ~4.18 GPA and a 1220–1350 SAT — to be competitive.
How much does UCF cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $6,368 for Florida residents and $24,076 for out-of-state students, making UCF one of the more affordable major research universities in the Southeast. About 34% of first-years receive need-based grant or scholarship aid, with an average need-based package near $14,588 and roughly 72% of demonstrated need met on average.
What are the most popular majors at UCF?＋
Business is the single most popular area at about 15% of bachelor's degrees, followed closely by engineering and computing (around 14%) and the health professions (around 14%). Psychology and the social sciences round out the top fields, reflecting UCF's breadth across roughly 60,000 undergraduates and its ties to Orlando's aerospace, defense, and simulation industries.
Does the application essay matter at UCF?＋
Yes. UCF rates the application essay as an important factor in its review — below academics and test scores, but above extracurriculars and character, which are only considered. With test scores required and admission decisions weighing heavily on the academic profile, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest places a borderline applicant can stand out.
Source: University of Central Florida Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-07. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UCF. Banner photo by elisfkc, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).