How to Get Into the University of Central Florida: Acceptance Rate & Strategies
University of Central Florida admissions: introduction
Are you considering applying to the University of Central Florida, or UCF? You're in good company! In the last application cycle, about students applied.
Keep reading to learn about acceptance rates, UCF ACT requirements, UCF SAT requirements, the GPA and standardized test scores that will make you competitive, tips for applying, and more.
It's a lot to keep track of. If you'd like some help navigating the admission process, I'd be delighted to work with your family! You can book a one-on-one consultation here and sign up for online classes here.
Also, I'm going to level with you. This is an SEO post. If you want to see how I write for normal people, not for Google, here's my Substack.
Bottom line up front
In case you're here just to see the numbers, here they are:
UCF acceptance rate: 41%
Transfer acceptance rate: 62%
SAT composite score: 1200-1360
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 610-680
SAT Math: 590-680
ACT composite: 25-29
ACT Math: 23-27
ACT English: 24-30
How hard is it to get admitted to UCF?
Not too tough. The overall acceptance rate is about 41%. To learn more about choosing safety, target, and reach schools, take Clarke College Insight's online course on "making the list." And read on for more specific admission statistics for men, women, and transfer applicants.
UCF admission rate
For first-year students entering in the fall of 2022, the acceptance rate was 41%. The overall acceptance rate for women was 41%, and the overall acceptance rate for men was also 41%.
UCF transfer acceptance rate
For transfer students entering in the fall of 2022, the transfer acceptance rate was 62%. The transfer acceptance rate for women was 63%. The transfer acceptance rate for men was 61%.
How hard is it to get off the waitlist at UCF?
Here at Clarke College Insight, we advise students to consider getting off the waitlist in the same way they might think of winning the lottery. It would be nice if it happened, but it isn't something to count on.
The waitlist admission statistics at the University of Central Florida demonstrate the wisdom of this advice. Of the applicants who accepted places on the waitlist, 0.48% were admitted.
What is a good high school GPA for UCF?
The average GPA for the most recent class was 4.19. UCF does not publish an official minimum GPA, but it does provide class rank information for the incoming freshman class:
Percent in top 10% of high school class: 35%
Percent in top 25% of high school class: 72%
Percent in top 50% of high school class: 96%
Percent in bottom 50% of high school class: 4%
Class rank is more immune to grade inflation, so this is handy to know. If you’re in the top quarter of your class, UCF is probably a good option. If you're in the lower half of your class, it's probably prudent to leave UCF off your list. In between the top quarter and the bottom half? Let’s talk about it.
Also, UCF only considers your grades in academic core courses: English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. That recalculated academic core GPA won't include grades in classes like religion, art, or psychology.
What is a good SAT score or ACT score for UCF?
Comparing your SAT score or ACT score against those of the "middle 50" of colleges you're interested is a crucial step in deciding whether it's worth your time to apply. That score range middle 50 gives us more information than just the average SAT score or the average ACT score.
What is the middle 50? In statistics, another term for this range is the interquartile range: the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. That may sound intimidating, but it's an easy concept to grasp once someone explains it to you.
The middle 50 range for test scores tells us what the middle half of freshmen UCF students got on the test. That means a quarter of enrolled students got lower scores, and a quarter got higher scores.
Here are the middle 50 ranges for UCF.
SAT composite score range: 1270-1420
SAT EBRW: 640-720
SAT Math: 620-710
ACT composite: 28-32
ACT Math: 25-30
ACT English: 28-34
If your scores are in that range, UCF could be a good option for you. If your test scores fall below those ranges, it's probably best not to put UCF on your list, unless you're a recruited athlete.
Tips for applying to UCF
Strong candidates for UCF meet its academic threshold and stand out in a good way among other applicants. To present the strongest college application you can, aim to:
Earn an appealing high school transcript ready before fall semester of senior year. Specifically, aim to take as many AP, IB, or community college classes as you can, within reason, and get good grades in them. Your transcript--the classes you take and your high school GPA--are crucial for surviving the first round of cuts. To find out what "within reason" means and strategies to achieve that attractive transcript with minimal stress, take my online class on academics.
Get your best possible ACT score or SAT score. UCF requires that all applicants submit test scores. To find out the evidence-based way to achieve the highest score possible on standardized tests--with minimal stress and hassle and without taking time and attention away from schoolwork--take my online class.
Choose extracurriculars that are likely to fill a talent gap in the student body and focus on just a few. Aim to be specialized rather than well-rounded. For the full checklist of traits that will let you choose extracurriculars that you AND admissions officers will like, take my online class on extracurriculars.
Write a personal statement that stands out from the pack. Every year, thousands of applicants write about winning the big game and their volunteering trips to Mexico. Choose a different topic so you stand out in the mind of an overworked admission officer.
Visit campus if you can, ideally some time when classes are in session. Arrange your visit through the admission office, or at least mention it to them by email, and try to meet with a student group and a professor of interest. Take notes and use them to write a compelling essay about why you like UCF in particular. Those college-specific details are a great way for prospective students to show that they're likely to enroll if admitted.
Give your recommendation letter writers plenty of lead time, so no subconscious resentment about a last-minute hassle bleeds into their prose. The end of junior year is best. Equip them with brag sheets that do most of the work for them and show off your best traits.
For personalized guidance for your child's goals and strengths, you can book a one-on-one consultation here. I look forward to working with your family!
More about the University of Central Florida
UCF is a big school. The total undergraduate enrollment is 58,749.
If you're considering the University of Central Florida, make sure you want to live in Central Florida! Maybe visit Orlando to see how you like the city.
International students make up a small share of the student body: about 3%, or 1,972 students. If you're looking to have lots of international students as classmates, there are probably better options for you.
UCF's yield isn't too high at about 33%. Yield is the share of admitted students who go on to enroll. Yield enrollment rates tell us how desirable a college is. If lots of the accepted students choose to go elsewhere, that's a little unflattering.
UCF is an NCAA Division I school.
UCF allows students to begin at several points in the academic year: summer, fall, or spring. Some applicants, rather than joining the fall entering class, will be asked to start in the spring semester.
