The University of Central Florida is a public research university located in metropolitan Orlando. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges guide, UCF ranks among the nation’s 20 most innovative universities. UCF is also ranked as a best-value university by Kiplinger and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation’s most affordable colleges by Forbes.
4.4 out of 5 (17 ratings / 13 reviews) Orlando, Florida, United States
Master's Programmes
Education & Training (18)
- M.Ed. Educational Leadership
- M.A. Elementary Education
- M.Ed. Elementary Education
- M.Ed. Reading Education
- M.Ed. Secondary Education
Engineering & Technology (17)
- M.Sc. Aerospace Engineering
- M.Sc. Civil Engineering
- M.Sc. Electrical Engineering
- M.Sc. Engineering Management
- M.Sc. Industrial Engineering
- M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering
- M.Sc. Modeling and Simulation
- M.Sc. Nanotechnology
- M.Sc. Optics and Photonics
Social Sciences (11)
- M.A. Anthropology
- M.A. Applied Sociology
- M.A. Clinical Psychology
- M.A. Communication
- M.Sc. Criminal Justice
- M.Sc. Economics
- M.A. Political Science
Natural Sciences & Mathematics (8)
- M.Sc. Biology
- M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences
- M.Sc. Biotechnology
- M.Sc. Chemistry
- M.Sc. Forensic Science
- M.Sc. Mathematical Science
- M.Sc. Physics
- M.Sc. Statistical Computing
Arts, Design & Architecture (7)
Business & Management (7)
- M.Sc. Accounting
- M.B.A. Business Administration
- M.Sc. Management
- M.Sc. Mathematical Science
Humanities (7)
- MFA Creative Writing
- M.A. History
- M.A. Spanish
Medicine & Health (7)
- M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences
- M.A. Clinical Psychology
Computer Science & IT (5)
- MSPE Computer Engineering
- M.Sc. Computer Science
- M.Sc. Data Analytics
- M.A. Digital Media
Applied Sciences & Professions (4)
- M.Sc. Forensic Science
- M.Sc. Real Estate
- MSW Social Work
Hospitality, Leisure & Sports (3)
- M.Sc. Kinesiology
Journalism & Media (1)
- M.A. Digital Media
About
History
Founded in 1963 to provide talent for Central Florida and the growing U.S. space program, UCF has been making an impact on the state, the nation — and outer space — ever since.
Education
UCF offers 99 bachelor’s, 89 master’s, 34 doctoral and three specialist degree programs, and it leads all universities in Florida by conferring almost 17,000 degrees a year. In Fall 2019, the freshman class had an average SAT two-score of 1332, The Burnett Honors College enrolled 1,872 students and the number of incoming National Merit Scholars ranked UCF among the top 40 colleges and universities.
Research
UCF researchers drive intellectual capital and innovation to solve today’s most pressing problems. As an emerging preeminent university, we promote economic development in the region by aiding in the transfer of technology and other discoveries between university and industry to create next-generation ideas and products. From nanoscience to optics, from simulation to forensic science, UCF researchers work together to have real-world impact, improving the lives of our students and community.
UCF researchers attract nearly $200 million annually in grants, gifts and sponsored awards. In addition to supporting innovative research, these financial resources help strengthen and diversify our local and state economy.
Career
Career Services has numerous resources and services to offer as you search for the right major or prepare for your job search. It’s never too early or too late to work on your professional development plan. The more time you invest in this process, the more likely you are to achieve your goals.
UCF Career Services contributes to the university’s goal of offering high quality undergraduate and graduate education and student development by providing centralized, comprehensive and coordinated career development, experiential learning and employer relations programs.
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2019
GSSA 2019
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2019. By rating institutions on a scale from 1 to 5, on multiple studies-related questions, we found the top educators in the world.
Learn more about the Global Student Satisfaction AwardsUniversity Ranking
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2020
301
2019
301
2018
301
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2021
701
2020
701 50
2019
751
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2021
-
2020
601
2019
601
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2021
-
2020
477 9
2019
486
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Services
Student services
Known as the “Heart of Campus,” the Student Union sits at the center of the UCF’s Orlando Campus. We provide space for members of the UCF community to study, socialize, eat, host events, attend meetings, celebrate traditions, and engage in campus life.
Housing services
All UCF Housing communities come with the security and convenience of 24-hour staff support, furnished rooms, all utilities included (no utility caps!), high-speed Wi-Fi, individual leases, and unbeatable locations.
First-year students are given preference for housing on the Orlando main campus. Students of all classifications, from first-year to graduate students, may apply for student housing located at the Rosen College Apartments, UnionWest, and NorthView.
There are many types of available floorplans. These range from traditional shared suites to 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom, luxury apartments and include a wide variety of price points. A shared suite typically accommodates two students to a bedroom.Library services
The John C. Hitt Library is under the leadership of Director of Libraries Barry B. Baker and offers a variety of space options for students: individual and faculty/graduate student study rooms; a presentation practice room; two library classrooms; quiet study floors; Infusion Café; Knowledge Commons and many more.
ICT services
Information Technology & Digital Initiatives provides information technology and digital scholarship services and support to the Libraries and its users.
Student Life
Campus life
As UCF’s home since 1968, our 1,415-acre main campus in east Orlando is impressive in size and even bigger in potential. Modern facilities and state-of-the-art technology keep you connected to classwork and social communities, while 800 acres of woodlands, lakes and an arboretum help you reconnect with nature. Whether you’re inside a classroom or outside exploring, our campus is an exciting place to learn — and an easy place to love.
Sports facilities
Home to Spectrum Stadium and the Addition Financial Arena, UCF hosts a variety of concerts and shows, plus NCAA sports and cultural events.
- Baseball
- Men’s Basketball
- Women’s Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Women’s Cross Country
- Football
- Men’s Golf
- Women’s Golf
- Women’s Rowing
- Men’s Soccer
- Women’s Soccer
- Softball
- Men’s Tennis
- Women’s Tennis
- Women’s Track & Field
- Women’s Volleyball
Student clubs
UCF offers an array of student services, more than 650 student clubs and organizations, plus dedicated academic resources to help students succeed in school and as alumni.
- 3D Printing and Design
- 4EVER Knights
- Ad Club at UCF
- Alpha Epsilon Pi
- Amateur Radio Club
- Bhakti Yoga Club
- Black Student Union
- Bowling Club
- CEO Knights
and many more
Accreditation
The University of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels.
Student Reviews
University of Central Florida is just...ok
Anonymous rated 3 out of 5 stars
UCF has been an interesting experience thus far. Although I have enjoyed the large campus and many student activities and involvement opportunities, the courses are sufficiently lacking in structure. Academics are sub-par, as professors are generally not very eager to communicate with students regarding questions and concerns.
Wonderful learning environment
Anonymous rated 4 out of 5 stars
I developed great relationships with my professors, gained many professional skills through extracurricular activities, and expand my creativity. However, the cost of living in Orlando made it difficult to balance academics with work, and I always felt as if I could have gone further if I just managed to have more time for my studies.
UCF is very average
Anonymous rated 4 out of 5 stars
My current University gets the job done. Classes are fun, and I have a great group of friends. However, It is nothing special. I am excited to study abroad so I can spend time somewhere new.
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