University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida · Public · 40.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Central Florida scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, with 59,146 undergraduates. UCF has $6,368 in-state tuition and a $10,411 net price. Average 6-year earnings of $39,900 and a 7.8-year payback period are solid at this price base. The repayment rate of 67.1% is the weakest sub-score and is a concern - it suggests a meaningful share of graduates struggle with loan repayment despite the low cost base, likely reflecting UCF's large volume of lower-earning programs (arts, social sciences, hospitality) that depress the aggregate. Computer Engineering (158 graduates, $76,819 year-one, B+ grade) and Registered Nursing (734 graduates, $73,765 year-one, B+ grade) are the high-volume standouts. The total cost over four years at net price is only $41,644.
University of Central Florida scores in the top 14% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Central Florida
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,368/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,467/yr |
| Average net price | $10,411/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $41,644 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,308 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,190 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $193 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 78.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 59,146 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $6,368/year ($22,467/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,411/year, or roughly $41,644 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $5,816/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,681/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,190, which works out to about $193 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,900) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,816 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,174 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,128 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,902 |
| $110,001+ | $17,681 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $5,816 per year - under $23,300 over four years. At this cost level, nearly every program at UCF produces positive ROI for graduating students. Nursing at $73,765 year-one recovers four-year investment in four months.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,128 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $14,902 per year. Four-year costs of $40,000-$60,000. At these price levels, even the moderate-earnings programs produce acceptable ROI over a reasonable time horizon. Middle-income families should specifically target UCF's high-volume, high-outcome programs (nursing, engineering, CS) for the strongest returns.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $17,681 per year - about $71,000 over four years. The repayment rate concern (67.1%) deserves attention but reflects program-mix drag across a massive and diverse student body.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Central Florida with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $49,760 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $56,148 | D |
| Biology | $51,313 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $98,526 | B+ |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $51,959 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $83,737 | B+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $66,912 | C+ |
| Hospitality Administration | $54,921 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,447 | C |
| Teacher Education | $51,784 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (734 graduates, the second-largest program) earns $73,765 year-one and $83,737 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.285, median debt $21,000). Very strong year-one earnings for Florida nursing at very low debt - $21,000 is below the national nursing median. The B+ grade at public pricing represents excellent ROI.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (158 graduates) earns $76,819 year-one and $106,680 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.299, median debt $23,000). Strong outcomes at public cost. Year-one of $76k and four-year figure of $107k reflect placement in Central Florida's defense technology and simulation industry, plus national technology employers. Debt-to-earnings of 0.299 is efficient.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (812 graduates) earns $68,793 year-one and $98,526 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.331, median debt $22,751). Very high volume with solid outcomes. The four-year trajectory to $98k reflects career advancement in Central Florida's technology sector and national employers. At $22,751 median debt against $68,793 year-one earnings, the debt-to-earnings ratio is workable.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (370 graduates) earns $56,415 year-one and $82,007 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.334, median debt $18,843). Year-one earnings of $56k are solid for a Florida public business school. Low median debt of $18,843 produces a clean debt ratio. The four-year trajectory to $82k reflects career progression into financial services and corporate finance roles in the Orlando and South Florida markets.
Psychology
Psychology (1,510 graduates) is UCF's largest single program: $31,013 year-one and $49,760 at year four (C grade, debt-to-earnings 0.627, median debt $19,432). Year-one earnings are low but the low debt base (under $20,000) limits the damage. The C grade reflects modest earnings against manageable debt. Students must plan for graduate school or accept the four-year earning ceiling of $49,760.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 61.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Central Florida’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 40.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-29 |
| Enrollment | 59,146 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,575 |
UCF's admission rate is 40.1%. SAT Math 590-670 and Reading 610-680 (ACT 25-29) describe a solid mid-range academic profile. Admission to specific programs (Burnett Honors, engineering, nursing) is more competitive than the overall rate suggests. Students should target their application to specific program pathways rather than treating UCF as a guaranteed safety school.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UCF's Orlando location and defense industry ties are distinctive strengths for engineering and simulation-related programs that are not fully captured in aggregate Scorecard data.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Central Florida (this school) | 79 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| San Diego State University | 84 | $15,364 | $64,909 |
| Florida Atlantic University | 75 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 73 | $18,976 | $60,249 |
| University of Maryland Global Campus | 63 | $22,063 | $65,287 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 28 | $13,739 | $44,349 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Central Florida side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UCF admits 40.1% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 590-670 Math and 610-680 Reading (ACT 25-29). UCF has 59,146 undergraduates. Scale is the defining characteristic: students who thrive in large research university environments will find extensive programs and resources; students who need smaller classes and high-touch advising may struggle. The 32.3% Pell grant rate reflects meaningful socioeconomic diversity. Orlando's economy (tourism, defense, technology) shapes the labor market context for graduates.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Central Florida pays off. You'd pay about $10,411 a year after aid ($41,644 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $58,308 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 78.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 67.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $18,190 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Central Florida: Common Questions
Is University of Central Florida worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Central Florida pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $10,411 a year after aid ($41,644 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $58,308 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 7.8 years to earn back.
How much does University of Central Florida cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,411 a year, or roughly $41,644 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Central Florida graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,308 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,508 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Central Florida?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.8 years for University of Central Florida. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Central Florida graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,190, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Central Florida?
The six-year graduation rate is 78.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.