Cost, Fees and Financial Aid

No, there are not fixed criteria for UCF merit scholarships. A variety of factors, but especially high school academic performance, ACT, SAT, or CLT results, application timing, leadership and extracurricular involvement, play a role in awarding scholarship offers.

Undocumented students studying in the United States are not eligible for federal student aid. Information on financial assistance available to undocumented students can be obtained by visiting our Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

Undocumented students, with or without DACA, can be eligible for in-state tuition if they meet the requirements stated in Florida Statute F.S. 1009.26. These requirements include:

1. Attend a secondary school in this state for 3 consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state;
2. Apply for enrollment in an institution of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation;
3. Submit an official hard copy Florida high school transcript as evidence of attendance and graduation.

Florida Statute F.S. 1009.26 (Fee Waivers)
In State Fee Waiver Request Form

Undergraduate Admissions can only offer one scholarship to any one student. Typically, we will offer you the highest award for which you qualify.

No, you must begin your enrollment at UCF no later than the fall semester for which the scholarship was awarded.

Your merit scholarship does not apply to the first summer semester after high school at UCF. However, students may request future summer semester scholarship disbursements from the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Your scholarship may be combined with other non-Undergraduate Admissions awards including Florida Bright Futures, Florida Pre-Paid, private scholarships and need-based assistance. Scholarship funds will first be applied toward the balance of your tuition and fees. If any funds remain after your student account is paid, they will be applied to any outstanding university debts. Once your student account is cleared, any remaining funds will be disbursed directly to you within the first two weeks of the beginning of each fall and spring semester. Excess funds may be received by mail or electronic funds transfer. You may make arrangements for direct deposit through Student Accounts.

No. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not require the FAFSA to be submitted to receive a merit scholarship. You and your family may wish to still submit the FAFSA to be considered for need-based aid, and you should review the filing requirements for any other scholarships to which you are applying.

Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information regarding the FAFSA and financial aid.

Yes, you must still submit the nonrefundable enrollment deposit even if you are offered or accept your scholarship.

Yes, we accept credit cards for tuition, as well as at locations across the campus. You can also use your UCF ID card, which also operates as a bank card. Please visit the UCF Card Services website for more information about the UCF Card.

There are a number of waivers the university offers that may apply to out-of-state students. Please check with the Registrar’s Office for information on eligibility and requirements for these waivers.

Known as the “grandparent tuition waiver,” out-of-state students who earn a designated SAT, ACT or CLT score and meet other requirements set forth by the Florida Board of Governors may be eligible to have UCF’s out-of-state tuition fees waived if they have a grandparent who legally resides in Florida.

The waiver would apply to 110% of a degree program’s required credit hours. Waivers awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, including the Grandparent Waiver, may not be combined with other admissions merit-based scholarships.

The Grandparent Waiver Instructions and Application form is available on the Forms Website.

NOTE: Recipients of the Grandparent Waiver must submit a $200 Enrollment Deposit by the May 1 deposit deadline. Since UCF has a limited number of waivers to award, students who do not submit a $200 Enrollment Deposit by the deadline may have their Grandparent Waiver revoked.

A strong academic record in high school and a competitive ACT, SAT or CLT score are factors in choosing scholarship recipients, but timing is key. Applying early means there are more scholarship opportunities available to you, so apply during your senior year from September to December.

We also value leadership, extracurricular activities and community service, but no single factor guarantees or excludes you from getting a scholarship. We consider each applicant on an individual basis.

Merit scholarship funding is limited. On average, just 25% of admitted students are offered a merit scholarship. Awarding is based primarily upon the student’s academic credentials. It is typical of students awarded a scholarship to have earned test scores and grades above the incoming fall FTIC average of 1332 SAT, 28 ACT, 95 CLT and 4.25 GPA. Most awardees will have presented only A’s and B’s throughout their high school career, however, no one factor guarantees or excludes a student from being awarded a merit scholarship.

Admitted First-Time-in-College (FTIC) students for summer and fall who met the November 1 Scholarship Priority Deadline were evaluated by the Scholarship Committee in the first round of scholarship reviews. If scholarship funding remains after the initial award round, the Scholarship Committee may review admitted FTIC students whose application files were completed after November 1st.

Students may submit an appeal to the Scholarship Committee if one of the following conditions are met:

• You were not awarded a merit scholarship by UCF Undergraduate Admissions and are appealing on the basis of new or updated academic information such as a higher test scores or improved grades.
• You were awarded a merit scholarship by UCF Undergraduate Admissions and are appealing for a higher award amount on the basis of new or updated academic information such as higher test scores or improved grades.

Appeals must include academic credentials that were not available during the initial scholarship review.

The deadline to submit a scholarship appeal and supporting documentation was March 15, 2024. All students who have appealed will be notified of their appeal decision by April 1, 2024.

Due to limited merit scholarship funding, no further scholarship appeals will be accepted for summer or fall 2024.

Start by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to March 1 of your senior year in high school — you can apply online at fafsa.ed.gov.

Not sure if you qualify? Still apply, as you could receive financial assistance that is not need-based.

You may learn more about these national awards at the UCF National Merit Scholarship Program page.

Once admitted, a Residency Declaration Form will appear on your Future Knight Portal checklist. This form and all subsequent forms and/or requests for information/documentation must be completed and submitted.

Residency status for tuition purposes will be reflected in myUCF following receipt of all required information and verification. Once you register for classes, access your fee invoice in myUCF and ensure that the appropriate tuition and fees are assessed.

You have 30 days from the receipt of your scholarship award letter to accept, decline or extend the offer to May 1. Your desired action is made through your myUCF account.

The easiest way to pay your tuition and fees is online through myUCF. You can also obtain an invoice/class schedule from your college advising office or the registrar’s office. UCF does not mail invoices.

Information regarding international payments can be found by visiting UCF Student Account Services.

If you are still evaluating your college options, please request an extension on your scholarship offer. An extension lasts until May 1.

Given that we begin awarding scholarships early in the year, there is no guarantee that UCF will be able to offer awards based upon new information. Please contact the Scholarship Coordinator.

Yes. If you have been awarded a merit scholarship, you must accept your award even if you have submitted your Enrollment Deposit. Instructions for accepting your award will be provided by email and written correspondence.

If you receive a request for a copy of your Social Security Card, it means that UCF has a blank or invalid Social Security Number (SSN) on file for you. Not having a valid SSN on file will prevent you from having aid awarded through Florida Bright Futures and/or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additionally, a valid SSN is required to process certain third party payments, such as Florida Prepaid.

You may upload a copy of your Social Security Card through our secure Qualtrics portal at https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_daIPksdbz2j64mN. Once received, your student record will be updated within 15 business days.

This is not classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, but a waiver for which eligible students can apply. The student will still be classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes.

Florida high school graduates who do not meet requirements for Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes, but who do meet the following conditions, are eligible for a waiver of out-of-state tuition and fees as dictated by F.S. 1009.26(12)(a):

1. Attended a secondary school in this state for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state;
2. Apply for enrollment in an institution of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation; and
3. Submit an official Florida high school transcript as evidence of attendance and graduation.

The waiver is applicable for 110 percent of the required credit hours of the degree or certificate program for which the student is enrolled.

A student who is granted an out-of-state fee waiver under this subsection is not eligible for state financial aid, which includes Bright Futures.

NOTE: Eligible students must apply for this waiver by the first day of classes.

No, accepting your scholarship does not obligate you to attend UCF. You have until May 1 to submit your enrollment deposit, which lets us know you will be attending. If you are unsure of your final decision at the time your scholarship is awarded, please choose the “Extend” option, which gives you until May 1 to accept your award.

Your Scholars designation will need to be confirmed with the director of the Scholar’s program, after which you will be evaluated for the award with the greatest value.

For a list of estimated expenses for international students with F-1 or J-1 visas, please refer to the Certification of Finances section on the UCF Global website. All other students can visit our Cost & Aid page or the current fee schedule for estimated cost of attendance.

UCF offers merit-based awards for incoming freshmen and transfer students. All first-year students are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship. There is a scholarship application process for transfer students. Scholarships are offered to students who meet academic performance criteria.

Academic departments also offer scholarships — contact the department of your intended major for more information, as they are separate from the admissions process.

During fall 2018, the UCF Board of Trustees extended the initial waiver for out-of-state tuition and fees through summer 2023 for residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who were enrolled by spring 2019 in any Florida public institution and maintain continuous enrollment*.

*Continuous enrollment means that you do not sit out for 2 major consecutive semesters (ex. fall/spring or spring/fall.)

Yes, you may still receive a UCF scholarship. Note that UCF cannot award funds in excess of a student’s cost of attendance. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information.

You will have until May 1 to make a final scholarship decision if you request an extension.

Visit our Cost & Aid page or the current fee schedule for estimated cost of attendance.

International students studying in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa or a G series visa are not eligible for federal student aid. Information on financial assistance available to international students can be obtained by visiting the UCF Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Your $30 application fee can be waived on the basis of financial hardship. The processes for requesting a waiver vary based upon which application you submit.

For Common App users:

You can find the Common App Fee Waiver in the Profile section of the Common App tab. To apply for this waiver:

1. Answer YES to the fee waiver statement
2. Enter your signature to certify your request

NOTE: Your school counselor will be asked to confirm that you are eligible for this waiver. You will still be able to submit your application without a waiver while your counselor confirms. Once the fee waiver is approved by your counselor, it will be sent to UCF and your application will be processed.

For UCF Institutional Application users:

To request an application fee waiver, you must upload one of the following forms of documentation within your application at the time of submission.

• An SAT, ACT, SCOIR or NACAC fee waiver form from your high school guidance or college counseling office;
• Documentation from your high school showing your eligibility for a free or reduced lunch;
• A copy of your family’s most recent tax return

NOTE: If a Social Security Number (SSN) appears on the waiver request, please black out all but the last four digits for security purposes.

There is no separate application for UCF scholarships. All freshman applicants offered admission are considered for these awards so long as funds are available.

Your residency classification is based upon information from your application — documentation of your Florida residency may be required. If you have already attended UCF as an undergraduate student and wish to reclassify your residency for tuition purposes, please visit the registrar’s office website for information on residency reclassification.

Yes. The Florida Board of Governors requires all students who enter a Florida public university with less than 60 semester hours to complete at least nine semester hours prior to graduation by attending one or more summer sessions. University presidents or their designees may waive the application of this regulation in cases of unusual hardship to the individual.

Freshman Application Deadlines

NOTES:

1. The Scholarship Priority Deadline for FTIC students applying for summer and fall is Nov. 1.
2. If you’re applying to UCF using Common App and plan to request a waiver of the $30 application fee, the waiver approval process may take several days. Be advised that you should submit the Common App and request the waiver well in advance of the Oct. 15 Early Action deadline.

** Following the Nov. 15 Early Action decision notification date, the Admissions Committee will resume its review of FTIC summer and fall applications in early January and continue releasing decisions on a rolling basis through May 1.

Transfer Application Deadlines:

All International Application Deadlines

Freshmen should apply early (between September and November of their senior year in high school) for maximum consideration in the admission and scholarship review process.

Transfer students should apply 6-9 months prior to the term for which you plan to enroll.