Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Central Florida #20 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,355, placing University of Central Florida in the 51.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Central Florida sits in the 29.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduate outcomes that consistently outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. --- Students at University of Central Florida earn meaningfully more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that holds across the university's broad program mix anchored by business, engineering, and technology fields. Azimuth ranks University of Central Florida #928 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with earnings beyond expectations and strong median 4-year earnings reinforcing the university's position as one of Florida's highest-value public options.
Azimuth ranks University of Central Florida #20 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Orlando, FL, University of Central Florida enrolls roughly 59,146 undergraduates. Retention stands at 92.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 78.0%, reflecting the university's ability to move a large, mixed enrollment toward degree completion at scale. The composite is anchored by strong return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Central Florida #928 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $61,355, and earn about $6,881 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Central Florida in the 29.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the dominant program family, but the university's breadth across engineering, health, and computing fields contributes meaningfully to that earnings performance. Mobility and affordability reinforce the composite — University of Central Florida sits in the 99.5 percentile for mobility and the 91.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access sits in the 96.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by an admission rate of 40.1% and a student body where 32.3% receive Pell Grants and 35.3% are first-generation college students. For a university of this size, the combination of broad access, competitive pricing, and strong post-graduation earnings makes University of Central Florida one of the stronger overall performers in .
University of Central Florida's published cost of attendance is $23,133, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $5,816, middle-income families pay around $10,128, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,681. Azimuth ranks University of Central Florida #116 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. UCF participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Program provides meaningful additional support for qualifying in-state students. The gap between sticker price and net price is real — families who engage the financial aid process early often find that the published cost overstates what they will pay. Aid eligibility is determined through the FAFSA, and UCF's broad enrollment base means the university processes a high volume of need-based and merit-based awards each year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,190, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,036; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at University of Central Florida's median four-year earnings of $61,355, median federal debt of $18,190 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Central Florida is a strong fit for students drawn to business, technology, and applied professional fields who want a large public research university in Orlando, FL, with a track record of delivering solid post-graduation earnings relative to what similar students earn elsewhere. Graduates earn median $61,355 four years after enrollment, placing University of Central Florida in the 51.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $6,881 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Central Florida in the 29.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 32.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.3% are first-generation students, and University of Central Florida sits in the 72.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — meaning students from lower-income backgrounds have historically converted enrollment here into meaningful long-run earnings. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the large campus scale suits students comfortable navigating a high-enrollment university environment.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Central Florida hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Engineering
192 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
187 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
765 graduates
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering
204 graduates
Industrial Engineering
131 graduates
University of Central Florida's program mix is anchored in Business, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 9% and Arts at 7%. That business-heavy concentration shapes the institution's earnings profile: applied fields like accounting, finance, and management feed directly into Orlando's service-economy and tourism-adjacent corporate sectors, while engineering and health programs provide additional high-earning pathways.
Across 67 programs serving roughly 15,088 students annually, 52 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-evaluate-programs/). The highest aggregate return comes from Artificial Intelligence, which combines large cohort scale with solid median earnings.
Among the most popular programs, Psychology, General graduates 1,456 students with median 4-year earnings of $49,760, and Azimuth ranks it #75 among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General program graduates 887 students with median earnings of $56,148, while The Biology, General program graduates 827 students with median earnings of $51,313.
Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #28 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings, with 765 graduates earning $98,526, and Nursing ranks #89 with 773 graduates earning $83,737. Several of University of Central Florida's strongest programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly — particularly Business/Commerce, General, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, and Hospitality Administration/Management.
Programs like Nursing and Artificial Intelligence serve large cohorts and connect to regional demand in Central Florida's health and professional-services sectors. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Central Florida's published cost of attendance is $23,133, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $5,816, middle-income families pay around $10,128, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,681.
Azimuth ranks University of Central Florida #116 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
UCF participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Program provides meaningful additional support for qualifying in-state students. The gap between sticker price and net price is real — families who engage the financial aid process early often find that [the published cost overstates what they will pay](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/).
Aid eligibility is determined through the FAFSA, and UCF's broad enrollment base means the university processes a high volume of need-based and merit-based awards each year. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,190, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,036; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at University of Central Florida's median four-year earnings of $61,355, median federal debt of $18,190 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of Central Florida earn median 4-year earnings of $61,355, placing University of Central Florida in the 51.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,881 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 29.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Central Florida #928 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Psychology, General reports 1456 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $49,760, ranked #117 nationally in its major. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General reports 887 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $56,148, ranked #31 nationally in its major.
Biology, General reports 827 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $51,313, ranked #227 nationally in its major. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing reports 773 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $83,737, ranked #134 nationally in its major.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Southern College Higher acceptance rate (19.6 percentage points higher) and located 60 miles away; similar graduate earnings | FL | 59% | $55,294 | Compare |
Stetson University Higher acceptance rate (46.9 percentage points higher) and located 31 miles away; similar graduate earnings | FL | 86% | $51,642 | Compare |
Samford University Higher acceptance rate (42.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | AL | 82% | $58,469 | Compare |
Nova Southeastern University Higher acceptance rate (33.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | FL | 73% | $59,209 | Compare |
University Of South Florida Same state (83 miles away) with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | FL | 41% | $57,743 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Similar quality tier (#35 ranked) | IL | 42% | $81,054 | #35 | Compare |
Arizona State University Digital Immersion Similar quality tier (#38 ranked) | AZ | 67% | $62,668 | #38 | Compare |
Kennesaw State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#39 ranked) | GA | 69% | $57,552 | #39 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At San Antonio Similar quality tier (#34 ranked) | TX | 87% | $57,131 | #34 | Compare |
San Diego State University Similar quality tier (#41 ranked) | CA | 36% | $64,909 | #41 | Compare |
