University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Central Florida at a Glance
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university with its main campus in unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States, near Orlando. It is part of the State University System of Florida. With 70,674 students as of the fall 2025 semester, UCF has the second largest on-campus student body of any public university in the United States. UCF is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending and doctorate production" and is accredited by the Co…
1963
63 years old
$267M
$266.7 million ( FY 2025)
69,818
59,649 undergrad · 10,169 grad
1,963
1,415 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Central Florida
Official admissions page$30
Is University of Central Florida Worth It?
University of Central Florida is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,411/year net price and $58,308 median earnings, graduates earn 5.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 77% graduation rate means roughly 23% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of Central Florida delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of Central Florida compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 9 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Central Florida | 100 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| #2 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #3 | University of South Florida | 100 | $9,812 | $57,743 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | San Diego State University | 82 | $15,364 | $64,909 |
| #6 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 59 | $18,976 | $60,249 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Central Florida's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in FL.
Best Programs at University of Central Florida
The highest-earning program at University of Central Florida is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $63,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $19,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from University of Central Florida earns $63,300, while a Anthropology graduate earns $19,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $22,714 in median debt vs. $17,750 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,411/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $63,300 | $63,300 | $22,714 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $59,800 | $59,800 | $22,639 |
| Civil Engineering | $56,500 | $56,500 | $22,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $55,700 | $55,700 | $14,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $55,600 | $55,600 | $20,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $53,600 | $53,600 | $20,510 |
| Industrial Engineering | $49,000 | $49,000 | $18,250 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $45,200 | $45,200 | $16,999 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $44,900 | $44,900 | $18,375 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $40,600 | $40,600 | $18,750 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $39,400 | $39,400 | $16,500 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $38,100 | $38,100 | $21,144 |
| Marketing | $37,700 | $37,700 | $17,656 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $34,400 | $34,400 | $18,750 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $34,000 | $34,000 | $19,477 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $33,500 | $33,500 | $16,992 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $31,800 | $31,800 | $18,750 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $31,000 | $31,000 | $17,503 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $30,800 | $30,800 | $14,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $29,800 | $29,800 | $18,750 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $29,500 | $29,500 | $16,750 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,500 | $29,500 | $20,400 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $29,300 | $29,300 | $17,937 |
| Social Work | $29,200 | $29,200 | $21,367 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $28,700 | $28,700 | $19,825 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $27,800 | $27,800 | $16,969 |
| Psychology, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $17,500 |
| International/Global Studies | $27,100 | $27,100 | $18,000 |
| Sociology | $27,000 | $27,000 | $18,750 |
| History | $25,500 | $25,500 | $20,000 |
| Legal Support Services | $25,100 | $25,100 | $20,013 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $24,800 | $24,800 | $20,210 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,700 | $24,700 | $23,464 |
| Biology, General | $23,700 | $23,700 | $18,750 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $21,000 | $21,000 | $22,474 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $20,500 | $20,500 | $18,807 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $20,500 | $20,500 | $21,750 |
| Anthropology | $19,500 | $19,500 | $17,750 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Orlando, FL
- Student Body
- 59,146 students
- Admission Rate
- 40%
- Graduation Rate
- 77%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,411
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $58,308
- Median Student Debt
- $18,190