About UCF

Overview

The University of Central Florida has come a long way since its inception in 1963. It is now a thriving, multi-campus university, with more than 68,500 students and more than 200 graduate degree programs. In addition to its physical growth, UCF has become a prominent player in graduate education nationwide, offering innovative corporate partnerships, world-renowned faculty, and cutting-edge research. “About UCF” describes the University and its mission. In addition, this section describes the people and offices that make up UCF—including university, college, and school administration.

Mission Statement

The University of Central Florida is a public multi-campus, metropolitan research university that stands for opportunity. The university anchors the Central Florida city-state in meeting its economic, cultural, intellectual, environmental and societal needs by providing high-quality, broad-based education and experienced-based learning; pioneering scholarship and impactful research; enriched student development and leadership growth; and highly relevant continuing education and public service initiatives that address pressing local, state, national, and international issues in support of the global community.

UCF Story

Graduate Education that Creates Opportunities

The University of Central Florida is one of the largest pre-eminent research universities in the country. Located in Orlando, one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in the United States, UCF benefits from a diverse faculty and staff who create a welcoming environment. UCF is a university that creates and provides opportunities for students to grow, learn and succeed.

As central Florida’s higher-education partner, UCF plays a major role in the region’s fast-paced growth through its community and corporate partnerships, its research programs, and the talents of its more than 300,000 alumni, over 69,500 students, and nearly 13,650 faculty and staff. As a metropolitan research university, UCF is committed to innovative community partnerships, world-class research with local impact, and the integration of technology and learning.

Centers of Excellence

UCF’s colleges include Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Business Administration, Community Innovation and Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate Studies, Health Professions and Sciences, Hospitality Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Optics and Photonics.

The university’s internationally renowned colleges, centers and institutes include the College of Optics and Photonics/CREOL (Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers), Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC), the Biomolecular Science Center, the School of Modeling, Simulation and Training, Center for Research in Computer Vision, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), the NanoScience Technology Center, the National Center for Forensic Science, the Florida Space Institute, National Center for Integrated Coastal Research, The Townes Laser Institute, and the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence. For additional information regarding these centers and institutes and other research programs, visit www.research.ucf.edu/centers.html.

Pride in Accomplishments

The reputation of any educational institution is best reflected in the accomplishments of its students, faculty, and alumni—and for a university that’s now more than 50 years old, UCF has moved rapidly from promise to academic prominence.

Campus Accomplishments

• For the third year in a row, UCF has been recognized as one of the Most Innovative Schools by U.S. News & World Report (2020 Best Colleges).
• Twenty-seven UCF graduate programs were ranked in the top 100 in their respective fields by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools of 2021. Among these are Homeland Security (2), Nonprofit Management (5), Optical - Physics (12), Student Counseling (13), Public Management (23), Criminal Justice (26), Public Affairs (38), Industrial Engineering (41), Healthcare Management (46), Aerospace Engineering (53), Materials Engineering (54), Speech-Language Pathology (55), Physical Therapy (57), Electrical Engineering (58), and Nursing (61), to name a few.
• UCF ranks 29th among public U.S. universities and 65th in the world for public and private universities in securing patents. 
• UCF Downtown, UCF Lake Nona Medical Center and UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center provided new spaces for students to learn while gaining real-world experience.
• UCF is 1st in Florida and 3rd nationally for coveted National Science Foundation CAREER Grants.
• UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy was named the No. 1 graduate-level video game design school in North America by The Princeton Review and PC Gamer magazine. 
• The Rosen College of Hospitality Management is ranked No. 4 in the world among hospitality schools by CEOWorld magazine.

Notable Research

• UCF researchers have developed a way to control the speed of light. Not only can they speed up a pulse of light and slow it down, but they can also make it travel backward.
• A $20 million NASA grant was awarded to continue work in the area of asteroids at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. UCF took over the operation in 2018 with a $20 million NSF grant.
• UCF’s RESTORES Clinic has become known nationally for its innovative PTSD treatment for veterans, active-duty military members, first responders, and other victims of trauma such as sexual assault and mass shootings.
• A team of University of Central Florida researchers by using the principle of supersymmetry, have developed the first supersymmetric laser array. Their findings could have applications in surgery, drilling, and 3D laser mapping.
• Sudipta Seal, an engineering professor and chair of UCF’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, received the prestigious Materials Research Society Fellow award and the Lee Hsun Lecture Award from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Metal Research for his contributions to materials science research.

Degrees of Distinction

With 1,949 full-time faculty, the university offers 99 bachelor’s degrees, 89 master’s and MFA degrees, three specialist degrees, and 35 doctoral degrees as well as 99 graduate certificate programs and the Doctor of Medicine program.

The list of prominent alumni gets longer with each graduation ceremony. A sampler of notable alumni includes Jim Atchison, President and CEO, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment; Michelle Akers, World Cup Soccer Athlete,  Kevin Beary, former Sheriff, Orange County, Florida; Juanita Black, president, Mental Health Association of Central Florida; Fernando Calderiro, former NASA astronaut; Phil Dalhausser, Olympic Gold Medalist, volleyball; Ericka Dunlap, Miss America 2004; Alan Eustance, Google Senior Vice President of Engineering and Knowledge; Shaqueem Griffin, Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks; Shaquill Griffin, Cornerback, Seattle Seahawks; Cheryl Hines, actress; R. Glenn Hubbard, Dean, Columbia University Graduate School of Business; George Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort; Mark Miller, country music singer/songwriter, Sawyer Brown band; William W. Parsons, Jr., former Director, NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center; Angel Ruiz, president and CEO, Ericsson North America; Nicole Stott, space shuttle astronaut; Daniel Tosh, standup comedian/television host, Blake Bortles, NFL Quarterback, Robert Damron, American Professional Golfer and Diplo, American DJ and record producer.

International Impact

UCF’s growing cadre of international students adds both diversity and global connections to the Central Florida community. More than 130 countries—most notably China, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Venezuela, and Colombia—are represented in the student body, and faculty research is taking place in areas ranging from South America to the Arctic polar ice cap.

UCF has 200+ study and research agreements with institutions in over 60 countries—providing learning and research opportunities for students and faculty in countries ranging from the Udmurt Republic to South Africa. The university’s Eastern Europe Linkage Institute alone maintains educational and research partnerships with 20 institutions in nine countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, and the United States. The student experience abroad does not stop in the classroom with opportunities available for students to travel internationally.

Strength in Diversity and Inclusiveness

Increasing diversity and inclusiveness is one of the central goals of UCF. The university is particularly proud of an aggressive minority recruitment plan, and minorities now account for OVER 30 percent of the faculty.

The student community includes Hispanic/Latino (18%), African-American (11%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (5%) students and represents 64 of Florida’s 67 counties, all 50 states, and 145 countries.

Partnerships and Community Service

One of UCF’s main objectives is to be America’s partnership university. Hundreds of joint projects are in place with community organizations and government agencies at all levels and corporations—ranging from collaborative research in nanoscience to neighborhood nursing clinics.

Two major partnerships target the region’s most prominent business sectors. The Rosen College of Hospitality Management will increase the university’s already significant commitment to the area’s tourism and hospitality sector. High-tech interests are being well-served by the Florida High Tech Corridor partnership—an initiative of UCF, University of South Florida, and the University of Florida drive progress in the region.

Orlando and Beyond

In addition to its 1,415-acre main campus in Orlando, UCF has area campuses in Lake Nona, Southwest Orlando, and Downtown Orlando; centers in Altamonte Springs, Cocoa, Daytona Beach, Leesburg, Ocala, Palm Bay, Sanford/Lake Mary, South Lake, Valencia East, Valencia Osceola and Valencia West giving students throughout central Florida the chance to take classes, pursue degrees, and interact with faculty and staff.

Pardon Our Dust

• The Downtown Orlando Campus opened in Fall 2019.
• Student Union Expansions will be completed by Fall 2021 with increase space and seating from 315 to 750.
• Phase 1A of the John C. Hitt Library opened in Spring 2020. Phase 1 consists of a stand-alone Automatic Retrieval Center (ARC) which can store up to 750,000 volumes of library materials. 
• The UCF Hotel on the main campus will include 179 rooms and suites, 10,000 square feet for conferences, meetings, and events; it is privately funded and almost completed.

Virtual Campus

UCF’s virtual campus UCF Online is leading the way in the integration of technology, teaching, and learning. Forty-five graduate degrees and tracks and 34 certificate programs are available online, in addition to many individual graduate-level courses. Essential student services, such as parking, course registration, and textbook purchases are also available online.

For more information on UCF’s online programs, visit www.ucf.edu/online.

UCF Athletics

UCF Knights cheer team win the 2020 Division 1A National Championship.

UCF student-athletes compiled a 3.2 GPA for the spring of 2020, continuing a streak of 25 consecutive semesters with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

UCF has an overall success rate of 94 percent - the highest among US public institutions and the highest in the state of Florida.

UCF’s football team ranked ninth academically out of 78 bowl-bound teams.

Ranked at No. 24 for 2019, the Knights are the only football team out of the Sunshine State to have finished the year ranked in each of the last three seasons.

UCF women’s volleyball repeats as 2019 AAC champs.

Central Florida—A great place to be

UCF is located 13 miles east of downtown Orlando, 45 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Canaveral, and 100 miles from Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico. The area boasts world-class shopping and dining, amusement parks, lakes, golf courses, jogging and biking trails, and nature preserves.

UCF—A Time of Opportunity

The time is now for UCF—one of the fastest-growing, metropolitan research universities in the country and a catalyst for economic development in central Florida. Significant in size, excellent in academics, and prominent in accomplishments, the University of Central Florida is one of Florida’s leading educational assets.

The University’s culture of opportunity is driven by the diverse people it attracts, its Orlando location, its history of entrepreneurship, and its youth, relevance, and energy.

Facts

About the University

• Status: One of 12 of Florida’s public universities
• Location: In metropolitan Orlando area, 13 miles east of downtown Orlando
• Carnegie Classification: Comprehensive Doctoral; Research Universities - Very High Research Activity
• Number of Graduate Programs: 35 Doctoral, 89 Master’s, 99 Graduate Certificates, 3 Specialist Programs, and 1 Professional Program (Medicine)
• Overall Student Enrollment in Fall 2019: 69,525
• Graduate Enrollment in Fall 2019: 9,545, including 2,286 doctoral, 6,518 master’s, 396 certificate, 48 specialist, and 297 nondegree-seeking students
• Class Offerings: Courses offered in Arts and Humanities, Business Administration, Communications, Community Innovation and Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate Studies, Health Professions and Sciences, Hospitality Management, Medicine, Nursing, Optics and Photonics, and Sciences are offered at night, online and at UCF’s regional campuses.

About UCF Graduate Students

• Graduate Student Characteristics, Fall 2019
  • Doctoral - 78 percent full-time students, 22 percent part-time students 
  • Master’s - 38 percent full-time students, 62 percent part-time students
  • Gender - 59 percent female, 41 percent male
  • Location - 76 percent in state, 24 percent out of state
• Average Age of Graduate Students. Fall 2019: 31 years old
• Ethnicity of Graduate Student Population, Fall 2019
  • White, Non-Hispanic - 53.1 percent
  • African American, Non-Hispanic - 11.4 percent
  • American Indian or Alaskan Native - Less than 1 percent
  • Asian - 12.1 percent
  • Hispanic/Latino - 18.7 percent
  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander - Less than 1 percent
  • Multi-racial - 2.7 percent
  • Not specified - 1.7 percent

Financial Support for Graduate Students

• Assistantships - Each year over 1,500 graduate students are awarded graduate assistantships that provide financial support for their graduate education. 
• Fellowships - Over 2 million dollars in support was awarded to doctoral and master’s students.
• Tuition Remission - University fellows and graduate students appointed on full-time assistantships (20 hours per week) receive full resident (in-state) tuition remission. Students appointed on half-time assistantship appointments (10 hours per week) receive remission of one-half of the resident (in-state) tuition. All nonresident university fellow and graduate assistants with appointments totaling 20 hours per week are charged a “differential out-of-state fee” of $0.00.
• Health Insurance - The College of Graduate Studies provides health insurance coverage for all university fellows and graduate assistants with appointments totaling 20 hours per week.

Research Activities 2019

Academic research fuels the innovation economy and UCF is an integral part of statewide efforts to attract, retain, and grow high technology companies in Florida. UCF’s programs in engineering, optics, and photonics, and simulation and training, biomedical science, computer science and nanoscience are among the best in the nation. In 2019 UCF researchers received $192 million in contracts and grants, the largest percentage of funds coming from the federal government, which has a vested interest in advancing knowledge and fueling America’s innovation pipeline.

Research faculty are the strength behind the development of new technologies. UCF’s incubation and entrepreneurship programs help turn those technologies into companies, which in turn help those companies put products on the market.

• Total Research Awards - $192.14 million
• Total Federal Awards - $104.89 million
• Total State Awards - $21.22 million
• Total Industry Awards - $66.04 million
• Patents - UCF holds more than 925 U.S. Patents

UCF Centers and Institutes Research

• Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC) - $2.90 million
• Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) - $6.01 million
• Nanoscience Technology Center - $6.98 million
• Florida Space Institute - $9.13 million
• Center for Research in Computer Vision - $1.94 million
• Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) - $17.52 million

College Research

• Arts and Humanities - $1.65 million
• Education - $14.17 million
• Engineering and Computer Science - $42.71 million
• Health Professions and Sciences - $3.53 million
• Medicine - $15.56 million
• Optics and Photonics (CREOL) - $15.96 million
• Sciences - $27.38 million

State of Florida Board of Governors

University of Central Florida Board of Trustees

University of Central Florida Administration

Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Office of the Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES)

Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies

Office of the Vice Provost for Division Student Learning and Academic Success and Dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies

Office of Vice President for Government Relations