University of Central Florida: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Orlando, Florida · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
University of Central Florida is a public university in Orlando, Florida that admits about 40% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $10,650 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 78% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Central Florida is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Central Florida admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 40%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1277 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $10,650 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Central Florida is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Central Florida?
Admitted students at University of Central Florida typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Central Florida weight in admissions?
University of Central Florida reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Class rank
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Recommendations
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores University of Central Florida typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–29. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1220 |
| 50th percentile | 1280 |
| 75th percentile | 1350 |
| % submitting SAT | 73.9% |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 28 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 25.8% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • Policy detail: Required
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 33% |
| Top 25% of class | 68% |
| Top 50% of class | 94% |
| % submitting class rank | 76% |
How much does University of Central Florida actually cost?
Published tuition is $6,368 for in-state students and $22,467 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,070 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $10,650 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 33% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $6,368 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $24,076 |
| Room and board | $11,532 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $10,650 |
| Application fee | $30 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Central Florida
| Regular deadline | 5/1 |
| Notification date | Rolling, beginning 1/15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 (or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter) |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | 10/15 |
Will my child graduate from University of Central Florida?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Most popular majors at University of Central Florida
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Central Florida, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Biology, General. Across all programs, University of Central Florida confers roughly 6,675 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $46,522 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 1,456 | $46,522 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 887 | $58,955 |
| Biology, General | 827 | $55,579 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 773 | $82,872 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 765 | $89,759 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | 699 | $50,442 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 671 | $49,679 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 597 | $66,733 |
Is University of Central Florida safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Central Florida disclosed 122 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 14 violent offenses and 23 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.
What is campus life like at University of Central Florida?
About 12% of undergraduates at University of Central Florida live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 4% of men join a fraternity and 6% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Florida parents ask about
- University of Florida24% acceptance
- University of Miami25% acceptance
- Florida State University59% acceptance
- University of South Florida-Main Campus41% acceptance
- Florida International University59% acceptance
- University of North Florida57% acceptance
- Florida Atlantic University41% acceptance
- Florida Gulf Coast University86% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Central Florida
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Central Florida recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Central Florida
What GPA do I need for University of Central Florida?
Admitted students at University of Central Florida typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Central Florida typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 580–670, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–29.
How much does University of Central Florida actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Central Florida after grants and scholarships is $10,650 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Central Florida realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Central Florida is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Central Florida?
University of Central Florida accepts about 40% of applicants out of roughly 59,629 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is University of Central Florida test-optional?
No. University of Central Florida requires SAT or ACT scores as part of a standard application.
What is the graduation rate at University of Central Florida?
About 78% of students at University of Central Florida graduate within six years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Central Florida look for in applicants?
University of Central Florida rates course rigor, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Central Florida a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Central Florida is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida.
What are the most popular majors at University of Central Florida?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Central Florida by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Biology, General. The school awards about 6,675 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Central Florida safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Central Florida reported 122 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Central Florida?
At University of Central Florida, 12% of undergraduates live on campus, 4% of men are in fraternities, 6% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Data sourced from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Central Florida, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.