UCF Admission Requirements 2023 (2023)

Ethan Sawyer

Student Resources

Ethan Sawyer

Student Resources

UCF Admission Requirements 2023 (1)

The University of Central Florida is a respected public research university in the heart of Orlando, Florida, a world-renowned tourist destination. But the 68,000 students who successfully navigated the UCF admissions process enjoy much more than proximity to Disney World. With a strong research focus and standout programs in everything from Psychology to Hospitality Management, the school offers a vast array of opportunities to prospective students.

If you’re planning to apply, then this guide to the UCF admission requirements will help you understand how to craft a standout UCF application.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(click to skip ahead)
  • How hard is it to get into UCF?
  • UCF Acceptance Rate
    • UCF Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate
  • UCF GPA Requirements
  • UCF SAT Requirements
  • UCF ACT Requirements
  • What does UCF look for in students?
  • UCF Application Deadlines
  • UCF Supplemental Essay Prompts

How hard is it to get into UCF?

It is moderately difficult to get accepted to the University of Central Florida. The grade point average of people who get accepted to UCF are in the top quarter of their class. People who successfully get into UCF also tend to have moderately strong extracurricular activities and college applications essays (the essay is optional, though we generally recommend submitting).

UCF Acceptance Rate

The UCF acceptance rate is 44%, making it a moderately competitive school. Acceptance rate is an indication of how competitive a school is, but it is also an indication of how popular a school is. To get into a school like the University of Central Florida, you will need to perform well in most areas of your college application.

UCF Admission Requirements 2023 (2)

UCF Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Transfer Acceptance Rate

UCF doesn’t offer early action or early decision admissions, but it does offer rolling admissions. This means that while you can apply anytime between September 1 and May 1, the earlier you apply, the more quickly you’ll get your admissions decision. As we said above, UCF’s regular decision acceptance rate is 44%. This is because it received roughly 48,000 applications and accepted 21,661 students. UCF is a widely popular school to apply to, and is getting more popular with each passing year.

The Transfer acceptance rate is 62% because it received 14,489 applications and accepted 8,994 students.

UCF GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for the University of Central Florida are between 3.5 and 4.0. You will need a very high GPA and will likely be graduating near the top of your class in order to get into UCF. It’s important to note that UCF recalculates your GPA based on your core academic classes, which may be different from how your high school calculates your GPA. If your GPA is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your standardized tests. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

What GPA is required for UCF?

Applicants’ GPA when applying to UCF should be between 3.5 and 4.0 to be strong candidates. Having less than this likely will require compensating by increasing your SAT or ACT score.

Unweighted GPAPercent Accepted
4.0 72.0%
3.75-3.9916.3%
3.50-3.7410.0%
3.25-3.491.2%
3.00-3.240.2%
2.5-2.990.3%
2.0-2.490%
1.0-1.990%
Below 1.00%

UCF SAT Requirements

The SAT requirements for UCF are a 1170 to 1340 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need a fairly high SAT score in order to get into the University of Central Florida. If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

UCF Admission Requirements 2023 (3)

UCF Average SAT Composite Score: 1259

UCF SAT DistributionReading | Math
700-80020.2% | 17.8%
600-69960.4% | 51.5%
500-59919.0% | 29.5%
400-4990.4% | 1.2%
300-3990% | 0%
200-2990% | 0%

What SAT score is required for UCF?

Applicants should score between 1170 to 1340 on their SAT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.

UCF ACT Requirements

The ACT requirements for UCF are a 27 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need a fairly high ACT score in order to get into UCF. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

UCF Average ACT: 27

UCF ACT DistributionComposite Score
30-3622.6%
24-2964.1%
18-2312.7%
12-170.6%
6-110%
Below 60%

What ACT score is required for UCF?

Applicants should score between 27 and 32 on their ACT to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute SAT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is required for application to this school.

What does UCF look for in students?

UCF has stated itself that these are the three most important factors it considers when looking over applications: Rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. The application essay is listed as being “important,” but not quite as important as those three academic components. So while making a strong case in other parts of your application for your UCF admission, understand that a strong academic background will be the most important factor admissions officers are looking for.

But as we said, the application essay is an important component, too, even if it is technically optional. So if you’re interested in applying to the University of Central Florida, you might consider checking out our step by step guide to the college essay to ensure you’re writing a strong personal statement. We think a key component of an effective application essay stems from a clear communication of your values. One way to make sure your personal statement stands out to schools you’re interested in applying to (and maybe more importantly, to be sure that you think you’re a good fit for the school), is to convey how your values overlap. How do you learn about a school’s values? Any number of ways, but one easy way is to look at the school’s mission statement. In the case of UCF, each undergraduate school within the University has its own mission statement, but UCF’s board of trustees did publish one for the school as a whole. Here it is:

UCF is a public research university invested in unleashing the potential within every individual; enriching the human experience through inclusion, discovery, and innovation; and propelling broad-based prosperity for the many communities we serve.

Things that immediately jump out from that mission statement are “inclusion,” “innovation,” and “communities.” You might consider if these are values that you hold yourself, and what specific examples from your life could demonstrate this alignment to a reader. You may consider utilizing some of those examples as you craft your essays.

How else can you demonstrate that you and UCF fit together? Think about your answers to these questions:

  • What communities have you served in the past? Maybe even through your extracurricular activities?

  • Where have you demonstrated innovation in your education? Have you ever made an academic decision that was a bit of a risk, or outside the norm?

  • Where have you demonstrated your intrinsic interest in learning? What’s sparked your curiosity and made you want to discover more?

UCF Application Deadlines

The UCF application deadline for regular decision for the fall semester is May 1. It’s important to note, though, that UCF offers rolling admissions, meaning that you can apply well before May 1, and hear back about your admissions decision more quickly. Below is a table showing the deadlines for each of the steps of the UCF admissions process.

Notification PlanApplication MaterialApplication Deadline
Regular DecisionSubmit Test ScoresMay 1
Submit ApplicationMay 1
Submit Financial Aid Application (if still pending)May 30 (though priority date for UCF’s FAFSA is December 1)
Admissions Decisions ReleasedMay 31 (or within one month of application, if you applied earlier than May 1)

UCF Early Decision, Early Action Policy

UT Austin does not have an Early Decision or an Early Action admissions process. It does, however, offer a priority deadline. Applying by the priority deadline enables applicants to receive their admissions decision one month sooner than those who applied by the regular decision deadline.

UCF Supplemental Essay Prompts

To complete UCF’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must respond to two of four questions in a response no longer than 500 words. It’s important to note that although UCF accepts the Common Application, it does not require you to complete the Common App Personal Statement. That being said, they strongly advise that you complete this optional essay when compiling your UCF application. Here are the prompts:

  1. If there has been some obstacle or bump in the road in your academic or personal life, please explain the circumstances.

  2. How has your family history, culture or environment influenced who you are?

  3. Why did you choose to apply to UCF?

  4. What qualities or unique characteristics do you possess that will allow you to contribute to the UCF community?

UCF Essay Tips

Here’s some good news: although UCF doesn’t require you to complete the Common App’s personal statement, their four essay prompts are fairly similar to prompts for many other schools. For example, you may have already written a challenges based for your personal statement. That sounds like it would be a perfect fit for UCF’s prompt #1 (though you’ll need to be sure you reduce your word count to below 500 words). #2 is a prime candidate for a Diversity Essay approach, while #3 is a classic “Why Us?” prompt and #4 is a tried and true “Community” prompt.

Special thanks to Nick for writing this blog post.

UCF Admission Requirements 2023 (4)

FAQs

UCF Admission Requirements 2023? ›

The requirements include being in the top 10% of your high school class, getting a minimum SAT score of 1010 (Math and Critical Reading) or 1500 (Math, Critical Reading, and Writing) or an ACT composite score of 21, submitting your application by December 31, and taking 4 core math classes.

Is UCF requiring SAT for class of 2023? ›

Does UCF require standardized tests? Yes. All freshmen must submit an official SAT [code: 5233] or ACT [code: 0735] score — they must be reported directly to the university electronically or via U.S. mail.

What are UCF admission requirements? ›

Rank in the top 10 percent of your high school class or have a recalculated GPA of 3.9 or above (if your high school does not provide rankings) Complete and submit a SPARK Form indicating your class rank and class size. Complete at least four units of approved academic core math by the end of your senior year.

When can I apply to UCF for fall 2023? ›

Nondegree or Transient
Application DeadlineSpringFall
Domestic ApplicantsDecember 1July 1
International Applicants

When can I apply for UCF Spring 2023? ›

Application Deadlines
For Graduate International Students graduateTuesday, November 1, 2022
For New Undergraduate International Students undergraduateSunday, January 1, 2023
For All New Undergraduate Freshman Applicants and Transfers undergraduateWednesday, March 1, 2023
For ReadmissionSaturday, April 1, 2023
1 more row

Will SAT be required for class of 2023? ›

But for now, the short answer is that most colleges are not requiring SAT or ACT test scores for the class of 2023.

When should class of 2023 take the SAT? ›

2022–23 School Year Test Dates
SAT Test Date*Registration Deadline
Mar 11, 2023Feb 10, 2023
May 6, 2023Apr 7, 2023
June 3, 2023May 4, 2023
*Your registration options will be limited if you aren't taking the SAT for one of its main purposes. **United States and U.S. territories only.

What is the lowest GPA UCF will accept? ›

With a GPA of 4.05, UCF requires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

Does UCF accept 3.5 GPA? ›

UCF has a minimum requirement of 2.5 GPA for applicants to be eligible to apply. However, a cursory look at the academic profile of their most recently admitted students reveals that candidates will need an average GPA of about 3.5 to be considered for admissions.

What GPA do you need to stay at UCF? ›

The minimum UCF GPA required to be considered a student “in good standing” is 2.0. If a student's UCF grade point average falls below a 2.0, the student is placed on Academic Probation.

What is the best time to apply for fall 2023? ›

Most students apply to college in the fall for admission the following fall.
...
College Application Deadlines for Fall 2023.
Application DeadlineAdmission Decision
Early DecisionNovember 2022December 2022
Regular DecisionJanuary/February 2023March/April 2023
2 more rows

What is the minimum SAT score for UCF? ›

There's no absolute SAT requirement at UCF, but they really want to see at least a 1170 to have a chance at being considered.

What is UCF acceptance rate 2023? ›

As we said above, UCF's regular decision acceptance rate is 44%. This is because it received roughly 48,000 applications and accepted 21,661 students. UCF is a widely popular school to apply to, and is getting more popular with each passing year.

Does UCF require an essay? ›

The essay is an optional component of the application for admission. If you elect to submit an essay, please select a topic within the application form and submit it within your completed application.

When should I start applying for UCF? ›

Admission to UCF is competitive, so we encourage you to apply early. As an incoming first-year student, you should apply between September and November of your high school senior year if you plan to enroll the following summer or fall semester.

When to apply for college 2023 2024? ›

Many campuses and majors still accept applicants after the priority period.
...
Application Dates & Deadlines.
​TermPriority Application Filing Period*
​Fall 2023October 1, 2022- November 30, 2022
​​​Summer 2023February 1, 2023 - February 28, 2023
​Spring 2024​​August 1, 2023 – August 31, 2023
Winter 2024June 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023 +

Will it be easier to get into college 2023? ›

Admission rates for 2022-2023 have not been announced but are expected to remain just as low. Given this competitive environment, admission experts say students shouldn't assume they'll be a 'shoe-in' at any school.

What is a good SAT score in 2023? ›

If you get a composite SAT score of 1083 or more, you are above average. The 75th percentile composite SAT test score is 1215, the 90th percentile is 1340, and the 95th percentile is 1410. This table, which is based on College Board data, lists the percentile ranking for various composite SAT scores.

Will not submitting SAT scores hurt 2023? ›

There is no greater impact to the college admissions process than the test optional policy that many colleges adopted. If you're a high school junior or high school senior, you may find that you no longer need to submit an SAT or ACT score to the colleges you plan to apply to.

How many times are the SAT tests given in 2023? ›

2023 SAT Test Dates Complete Guide. The SAT is only offered seven times per year: once each in March, May, June, August, October, November and December.

How many times can you retake the SAT? ›

How Many Times Can You Take the SAT? You can retake the SAT as many times as you want.

How many times should a student take the SAT? ›

Students can take the SAT as many times as they want. We recommend that they take it at least twice—in the spring of their junior year and the fall of their senior year. Most students get a higher score the second time, and most colleges consider a student's highest SAT score when making admission decisions.

What GPA is a C+ UCF? ›

A grade of S will result in credit for the course, but it will not be used in the calculation of your GPA. A grade of U will reflect attempted credit that was not earned in the course, but it will not affect the GPA.
...
GRADING SYSTEM AND GPAs.
GradesGrading Points Per Semester Hour of Credit
B3.00
B-2.75
C+2.25
C2.00
11 more rows
Apr 3, 2020

Do top 10% get into UCF? ›

Top 10 Knights

Admission is not guaranteed for a specific semester, but it will be granted to one of our term options: summer, fall or spring. If you qualify for Top 10 Knights and apply for admission by the January 15 deadline, you will be notified of your admission to UCF by March 1.

Is 3.4 GPA good for UCF? ›

Is your high school GPA good enough for UCF? The average high school GPA for admitted students at UCF is 4.12 on a 4.0 scale.

Is FSU or UCF harder to get into? ›

Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of Central Florida (UCF) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.

Does UCF look at weighted GPA? ›

How is my high school GPA calculated for admission? Your GPA is recalculated based on the academic core courses (including English, math, science, social studies and foreign language). UCF uses a 4.0 grading scale, and also awards additional quality points for any weighted courses within the academic core.

How long does it take for UCF to accept you? ›

Admission is offered on a space-available basis, so apply early. UCF operates on a rolling admissions basis. Students are typically notified of a decision within two to four weeks from the completion of their application.

What GPA do you need to get into Harvard? ›

The average high school GPA of admitted students at Harvard is around 4.2. 73% of students had a GPA of at least 4.0, indicating that admitted students typically mostly earned A grades in high school. If you're studying the IB, this translates to scoring mostly 7s and achieving a minimum score of at least 42.

What GPA do you need for FSU? ›

The minimum requirements for consideration include a 3.0 weighted academic GPA as recalculated by the Office of Admissions and either an ACT composite score of 19 or SAT total score of 990.

What GPA is required for UF? ›

The state minimum requirements for Freshmen applicants can be found here; however, UF's standards for admissions are significantly higher than the state minimums. Applicants who are admitted typically have at least (and usually higher than) a 3.7 High School GPA.

Can I still apply for fafsa for fall 2023? ›

Applications are accepted through April 1, 2023, by midnight Central time. For priority consideration, submit your application by Dec. 1, 2022. Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional forms may be required.

How long does it take for a college to accept or reject you? ›

It's not unusual for a college's application process to take four to six weeks. Colleges that have an application portal allow students to go online to check the status of their applications at any time.

Which fafsa do i need for fall 2023? ›

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form you fill out should correspond with the school year you're seeking aid for. For example, if you're applying for financial aid for the 2023‒24 school year, submit the 2023‒24 FAFSA form.

How much is UCF tuition? ›

Should I apply to UCF with a 1070 SAT? ›

Minimum SAT score requirement

The lowest SAT score accepted is not reported by UCF but we estimate it to be around a 1080 total composite SAT score.

Why is UCF acceptance rate so low? ›

The UCF acceptance rate is low because of high competition to get into the school. Even if your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are lower than the average it's still worth applying. After all, 49% of students who get into UCF have below average scores.

What is the hardest college to get into in 2023? ›

Harvard, Stanford and Princeton, unsurprisingly, are America's toughest colleges to get into in 2023, according to Niche's most recent rankings.

What majors are UCF known for? ›

Top 10 Majors*
  • Psychology.
  • Health Sciences.
  • Computer Science.
  • Biology.
  • Nursing.
  • Mechanical Engineering.
  • Biomedical Sciences.
  • Finance.

How many essays does UCF require? ›

UCF has four essay prompts to choose from and instructs students to respond to two. According to previous applicants, UCF accepts those responses in one combined essay or in two separate statements.

Does UCF require SAT or ACT? ›

Yes. All freshmen must submit an official SAT [code: 5233] or ACT [code: 0735] score — they must be reported directly to the university electronically or via U.S. mail. For international students, the TOEFL or the IELTS exam may also be required.

What is so special about UCF? ›

The university offers 104 bachelor's, 97 master's, 33 research doctorates, 3 professional doctorates and 3 specialist degree programs, and it leads all universities in Florida in conferring more than 18,000 degrees a year.

Do you have to take math at UCF? ›

Every major at UCF requires at least one college-level math course; therefore, all students must take the Math Placement Test (MPT). The MPT is an assessment of math skills that students have acquired and is designed to determine proficiency level and placement for math courses.

Do parents need to attend UCF orientation? ›

Family & Guest Orientation is optional, but highly encouraged! Due to physical space capacities, there is a limit to the number of reserved spots for families and guests at each Orientation date. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis according to when payment is received.

Does UCF require freshman to stay in dorms? ›

Are freshmen required to live on campus? No, first-year students are not required to live on campus. Most first-year students do live on campus because of the ease of transition from home to campus life, access to university resources and the ability to make lifelong friends.

Is it better to apply to UCF through common app? ›

If you are a high school senior (international or domestic), or enrolling in college for the first time, you can apply using either the UCF institutional application or the Common App. UCF has no preference in application and you only need to complete and submit one. The information collected by each is the same.

Is 2023 2024 test optional? ›

All colleges are test optional now.”

In the past year or two, some universities that were previously test-optional (like MIT and Georgia State) have announced that they will return to requiring standardized testing. For a complete list of test-optional schools for the Class of 2023, see below.

Do colleges look at senior year grades? ›

The important thing to know is that colleges do look at your senior year grades. So, a weaker performance in senior year than in previous grades can impact your application and college admissions decisions.

How many colleges should I apply to 2023? ›

Every year, prospective college students wonder, "How many colleges should I apply to?" As a general rule of thumb, some admissions experts recommend submitting applications to 4-12 schools.

Is SAT waived for 2023? ›

As the college application process picks up steam for the upcoming academic year, a new survey shows that more than 80% of U.S. bachelor-degree granting institutions will not require students seeking fall 2023 admission to submit either ACT or SAT standardized exam scores.

Does UNC require SAT for 2023? ›

SAT or ACT Scores

Because of disruptions related to COVID-19, the UNC System has extended its waiver of the SAT or ACT requirement for candidates who are applying for fall 2023 or fall 2024 admission.

Which US universities don't require SAT 2023? ›

Top 100 Colleges That Don't Require The SAT/ACT
  • Brown University.
  • Columbia University.
  • Cornell University.
  • Dartmouth College.
  • Harvard University.
  • University of Pennsylvania.
  • Princeton University.
  • Yale University.
Mar 15, 2023

Is USF test optional for 2023? ›

USF requires freshman applicants to submit official results of at least one college entrance exam (SAT or ACT).
...
Freshman Requirements and Deadlines.
Desired Term of EntryApplication DeadlineTerm Start Date
Spring 2023October 1, 2022January 9, 2023
Summer 2023March 1, 2023June 26, 2023
1 more row

What is a good SAT score 2023? ›

If you get a composite SAT score of 1083 or more, you are above average. The 75th percentile composite SAT test score is 1215, the 90th percentile is 1340, and the 95th percentile is 1410. This table, which is based on College Board data, lists the percentile ranking for various composite SAT scores.

Why are colleges getting rid of SAT? ›

For SAT critics, test-optional admission at colleges and universities took far too long to become prevalent. The test has been accused of putting students from underrepresented communities of color at a disadvantage for years.

Which colleges require SAT essay 2023? ›

  • 11 Colleges That Require The SAT Essay For Admission Consideration.
  • Benedictine University. ...
  • City University London. ...
  • Delaware State University. ...
  • DeSales University. ...
  • Dominican University of California. ...
  • Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. ...
  • Howard University.
Sep 28, 2022

Does Harvard require SAT scores 2023? ›

The SAT requirements for Harvard University are a 1,500 to 1,600 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together.

Is uncc test optional for 2023? ›

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, submission of test scores is optional for applicants through Fall 2024.

Is the SAT still important 2023? ›

1. Is the SAT Still Important in 2023? Yes, the SAT is still important; many schools still consider SAT to be a reliable measurement in evaluating the academic aptitude of applicants. Although many schools are test-optional, admissions officers will review your SAT scores if you decide to submit them.

Which US colleges don't require SAT? ›

Top 100 Colleges That Don't Require The SAT/ACT
  • Brown University.
  • Columbia University.
  • Cornell University.
  • Dartmouth College.
  • Harvard University.
  • University of Pennsylvania.
  • Princeton University.
  • Yale University.
Mar 15, 2023

Does NYU accept SAT 2023? ›

We have extended our test-optional policy due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2023-2024 application cycle. For students who elect to submit testing as part of their application, NYU has one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university.

How hard is it to get into UCF? ›

The acceptance rate at UCF is 44.4%.

For every 100 applicants, 44 are admitted. This means the school is moderately selective. The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools.

What is the average GPA for UCF? ›

Average GPA: 4.05

The average GPA at UCF is 4.05. This makes UCF Extremely Competitive for GPAs.

Can I get into USF with a 3.5 GPA? ›

To be considered for (and maintain) an offer of admission, we require a minimum GPA of 2.50 (unweighted) in dual enrollment courses. All high school students, including those earning an AA degree through Dual Enrollment, must submit a Freshman (First-Year) application to USF by the Freshman deadline.

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