University of Central Florida

“Public R1 research university in Orlando with one of the largest on-campus student bodies in the U.S.”

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is one of the largest public research universities in the United States, with more than 65,000 students enrolled across 13 colleges in metropolitan Orlando. Founded in 1963 to support the U.S. space program at nearby Cape Canaveral, UCF has grown into a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) institution that is consistently recognized as one of the country's most innovative and most diverse universities. Hospitality, computer science, engineering, simulation and modeling, optics and photonics, and digital media are all national-caliber strengths, and UCF's location in central Florida gives students unmatched proximity to Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, NASA, and a fast-growing tech corridor. The main campus, set on roughly 1,400 acres about 13 miles east of downtown Orlando, is a large, suburban-style campus organized around a circular Memory Mall. UCF Knights compete in the Big 12 Conference, and the school's distinctive features include the Rosen College of Hospitality Management (its own dedicated Orlando-International-Drive campus), the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy, and one of the country's largest undergraduate research programs. With more than 700 student organizations, an active Greek life, year-round outdoor weather, and easy access to Florida beaches and theme parks, the student experience blends Big-Ten-style scale with a distinctly Floridian lifestyle. For international students, UCF Global serves more than 5,000 students and scholars from 150+ countries. The university provides a structured, well-staffed ISSS office, a strong slate of STEM-OPT designated programs, and a tuition-and-fees out-of-state rate that is significantly more affordable than most peer R1 institutions.