UCF and Orlando:
A Powerful Pairing
As a metropolitan research university with strong academic programs, we leverage our strategic location and powerful partnerships within industry to achieve growth and prosperity for all. Fortune 500 companies and other major corporations continue to bring jobs or even headquarters to Orlando.
UCF’s mutually beneficial and longstanding relationships underpin our role as a catalyst for industry growth and enable us to connect skilled graduates with industry careers.
Four Campuses Anchoring Industry Clusters
Strong relationships are key to our progress and our future, as we align with industry to continue being a catalyst for our region’s success and economic growth. Our four campuses are strategically embedded in some of Orlando’s most prominent fields — ideal for academics and faculty research alike. Plus, our proximity to Florida’s Space Coast opens even more doors.
Engineering and Technology Epicenter
Our expertise and talent pipeline established the world’s $7 billion hub for modeling, simulation and training adjacent to our main campus — and we’re No. 1 in Florida for computer and information science research expenditures (National Science Foundation).
1 in 4 of Florida’s Engineering and Computer Science Graduates Come From UCF
(State University System)
Hospitality and Tourism Capital
Our hospitality and event management programs are in the heart of Central Florida’s $87 billion tourism sector. Our Rosen College of Hospitality Management is the leading supplier of talent to meet the demand and fuel industry growth.
No. 1 Hospitality and Tourism Management Program in the Nation
(ShanghaiRanking)
Health and Human Performance Hub
Fully integrated with Lake Nona’s innovative Medical City, our College of Medicine and new location for our College of Nursing serve our community and address the need for talented healthcare providers.
150 Additional Workforce-Ready Nurses Will Graduate Annually
from our new and improved College of Nursing building when it opens in 2025
Entertainment and Digital Media Village
Our Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and digital media programs are co-located with industry giants in downtown Orlando.
No. 1 Game Design Graduate Program in the Nation
(The Princeton Review / PC Gamer)
Aerospace and Defense Powerhouse
With Kennedy Space Center just 35 miles from our main campus, our ties to aerospace and space research remain a strength and area of focus to advance discovery and propel regional prosperity.
Key Collaborations Across Industries
With a foundation built on industry connections and a focus on workforce development, UCF is a university where there are no boundaries between our campuses and industry. This synergy creates unique opportunities for our people to research, learn and innovate in a way that directly benefits our region and society.
UCF’s career and internship connections include:
[UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy] continues to be a major source of talent for our EA development studio in Orlando and an important talent pipeline for Florida’s growing experience economy.”
UCF Alumni Fuel Central Florida’s Top Companies
The public is taking notice of what researchers and corporations have known for years: Central Florida is one of the most valuable centers of tech research and talent in the nation, and UCF is the academic anchor. As a catalyst for industry growth, UCF is driving innovation and producing workforce-ready graduates to support our region’s robust economy.
29% of Kennedy Space Center employees earned UCF degrees
25% of Lockheed Martin Orlando employees earned UCF degrees
20% of Siemens Orlando employees earned UCF degrees
providing valuable access to networking and collaboration
thanks to the rewarding careers, great quality of life and wonderful friends they found here
No. 1 Best Place to Start a Business in the Nation
(WalletHub)
No. 1 Best City to Start a Career in Florida
and No. 2 in the nation
(WalletHub)
No. 2 Best City for Jobs in Florida
(WalletHub)
People know that Orlando’s a big city, but I didn’t realize how connected UCF is with so much here. I like how integrated we are and how you can get a foothold in an internship in pretty much any industry you can think of.”
Fueling Florida’s Economy — and Future
UCF is directly supporting Florida’s goal to be the 10th-largest economy in the world, and we’re an essential contributor to Orlando’s $194 billion economy.
As a launchpad for new generations of leaders, doers and creators, UCF inspires impactful discoveries to better our world. We not only drive economic growth, but also foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Our collective efforts at UCF contribute significantly to the success and prosperity of our state and society — ensuring a brighter future for all.
UCF Alumni Generated $8.1 Billionin added income for Florida’s economy — equivalent to supporting 91,933 jobs with UCF alumni in the workforce generating $6.7 billion — in 2021-22
UCF Alumni Elevate Florida’s Tech Economy
Engineering, science and technology-based fields are among Florida’s top industries employing UCF alumni who are generating the most added income for the state’s economy. Of the $8.1 billion in total added income generated by UCF for Florida annually, almost 83% of that — $6.7 billion in economic impact — is generated by UCF alumni alone (2021-22).
And, as a result of their UCF education, our alumni receive higher earnings and increase the productivity of the businesses that employ them.
The Value of a UCF Degree
UCF offers students a strong return on their investment — including unrivaled opportunities for careers in fields from engineering to healthcare to hospitality management — demonstrating the exceptional value of a UCF degree. Plus, our tuition hasn’t increased in more than a decade, and that’s just one of the reasons Forbes, Kiplinger and The Princeton Review rank a UCF education among the nation’s best values.
UCF also offers strong value as a key economic driver producing talented graduates for high-demand jobs in critical industries, significantly supporting the broad-based prosperity of our state.
From long-standing internship programs to continuing education, UCF and Lockheed Martin have built a future talent pool that’s one of the best in this nation resulting in an influx of jobs, technology, and economic growth across the state of Florida.”
Experience Orlando Like a Local
In the center of the Sunshine State, Orlando has long been known as “The City Beautiful”. Beyond the theme parks and endless entertainment, it’s easy to understand why once you’re here — from serene parks, lakes and natural springs, to uniquely charming neighborhoods and historic districts.
Orlando offers exceptional variety and great quality of life. This is true not only for UCF students, but alumni of all ages who have chosen to stay in, or even move back to, Orlando — along with UCF researchers, faculty and staff members.
No. 15 in the Nation (WalletHub)
100+ festivals, fairs and markets annually — celebrating music, food, culture, the arts and more
(WalletHub)
(WalletHub)
237 days of signature Florida sunshine every year
(WalletHub)
(WalletHub)
