A Thriving Research University, Known for Innovation
Located in Orlando, Florida, the University of Central Florida is a thriving metropolitan research university with more than 70,000 students. The university confers more than 18,000 degrees per year. UCF is ranked as a best-value university by Kiplinger, as well as one of the nation’s most affordable colleges by Forbes.
UCF comprises 13 colleges and offers more than 230 degrees from its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, health sciences campus, online and through its multiple regional locations. The 1,415-acre main campus is 13 miles east of downtown Orlando and adjacent to one of the top research parks in the nation. Regional campuses are located throughout Central Florida and include a fully accredited College of Medicine in the Medical City at Lake Nona.
In fall 2021, the freshman class had an average SAT combined score of 1325, the Burnett Honors College enrolled 491 new students, and the number of incoming National Merit Scholars ranked UCF among the top 25 colleges and universities. Our intercollegiate athletics program is competitive not just on the field and court, but also in the classroom, with a Graduation Success Rate that is consistently among the highest of all NCAA Division I public FBS institutions.
UCF has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report for several years as among the nation’s most innovative schools, ahead of Duke, Johns Hopkins, Harvard and all other Florida schools. The Washington Post has said UCF is in “the vanguard of an insurgency that aims to demolish the popular belief that exclusivity is a virtue in higher education.”
And that’s not all. UCF programs are ranked highly in many other areas, including:
No. 1 graduate game design program in North America in 2020 (The Princeton Review and PC Gamer)
No. 2 emergency and crisis management graduate program in the nation in 2020 (U.S. News & World Report)
No. 4 hospitality school in the world (CEOWORLD magazine)
No. 5 nonprofit management graduate program in the nation in 2020 (U.S. News & World Report)
Ranked among the top 30 cybersecurity programs in the nation (cyberdegreesedu.org)
UCF is also one of Central Florida’s largest and most inclusive employers, with more than 12,000 faculty and staff representing 36 countries. With an operating budget of $2.1 billion, the university adds nearly $8 billion in value to the economy.
The Power of Potential
We believe success can only happen when we expand opportunity and demand excellence. We believe if there’s a better way, we should do it. We believe innovation comes from the meeting of diverse viewpoints. And when more people unleash their full potential, anything is possible.
A Dynamic and Diverse Place to Live and Work
A dynamic and diverse place to work and live, Orlando has been described by Forbes magazine as one of “the next big boom towns in the U.S.” The city proper is home to approximately 280,000, while the metropolitan area’s population is around 2.5 million. Much more than a worldwide tourist destination, the city is a center for the life sciences, medical innovation, and the creative, technology and hospitality industries. All that, combined with the year-round warm climate (236 days of sunshine a year) and no state income tax, creates a perfect environment to live, work and explore.
Central Florida Perks
ORLANDO ARTS Cultural venues such as the Orlando Museum of Art, the Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts and the Morse Museum
ORLANDO ATTRACTIONS More than 100 theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld
FLORIDA’S SPACE COAST Kennedy Space Center, Canaveral National Seashore and beautiful beaches a short drive away
ORLANDO’S GREAT OUTDOORS Hundreds of lakes, rivers and estuaries, plus thousands of miles of bike and hiking trails to explore
ORLANDO SPORTS Home to the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the Orlando City Soccer Club, one of the newest teams in MLS
