UCF Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Requirements

Did you know that the University of Central Florida (UCF) has the largest student enrollment in Florida, as well as the largest in the United States? Enrolling 70,000+ students and employing over 12,000 staff and faculty members, UCF has much to boast about! 

One of UCF’s assets is its ability to attract National Merit Scholars – the school enrolls more National Merit Scholars than any other American college or university. As of 2021, they enrolled 357 alone! 

Some of the most popular degree programs at UCF include Psychology, Integrated Business, Biomedical Sciences, and Nursing. 

The Integrated Business degree, for example, encourages students to develop broad expertise in various areas of business, including banking, real estate, sales, and human resources management.

Studying in Orlando, Florida – the home base of UCF – obviously comes with its advantages. 

Thrill-seeking students need not look any further than Orlando for attractions like Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.

Students interested in pursuing a degree in tourism and hospitality have many resorts, restaurant groups, and other internship sites where they can gain experience.

As a UCF transfer applicant, the odds are actually in your favor. Ahead, we’ll share the UCF transfer acceptance rate and the admission requirements. 

Don’t worry – we’ll be sure to cover important transfer application deadlines and discuss when you can expect to hear back from admission (spoiler alert: it doesn’t take long!). 

Finally, we’ll end with some of UCF’s most substantial assets. 


University of Central Florida Transfer Acceptance Rate

University of Central Florida
Public domain photo via Wikimedia Commons

The transfer acceptance rate into UCF is 64.1% as of the fall of 2021. 

Out of 10,768 applicants, 6,901 were accepted, and 3,819 enrolled. The transfer cohort of 2021 is made up of 40.7% men and 59.3% women.

UCF is considered a “transfer-friendly” school.

According to the U.S. News & World Report, more students opted to transfer to UCF than any other university in the United States! 

As of the fall of 2020, 42% of the UCF student population consisted of transfer students – of that entire group, nearly half are minority students, and 18.7% are first-generation college students.

One reason UCF attracts so many transfer applicants is that students are allowed to apply before earning their A.A. or A.S. degrees; in fact, the Office of Admissions shares that applying one semester before obtaining their associate’s degree may provide for a smoother transition.

Before applying, we recommend students attend the Transfer to Be a Knight virtual information session on Thursday afternoons. Students who attend can expect to learn all about the admissions process and requirements, as well as credit reviews.

Once accepted to UCF, transfer students have a wealth of resources at their disposal. The Transfer Center provides a space for transfer students to meet with success coaches and fellow transfer students.

Success coaches are called PeerKnights Coaches – former transfer students provide one-on-one support to ease new transfer student transitions to UCF. The hub also posts on-campus work opportunities, social events, and upcoming educational experiences.


Application Requirements & GPA for UCF Transfer Students

The required GPA for students transferring to UCF is 2.0 (for college grades) and 2.5 (for high school grades). 

While statistics for transfer students are not disaggregated from the Common Data Set, the most recent first-year class maintained an average weighted GPA of 4.25, while admits to the Burnett Honors College boasted a 4.51 weighted high school GPA.

In addition to the online application, hopeful transfers should submit a $30 nonrefundable application fee and several other items. 

Candidates should submit official transcripts from all high schools and/or colleges they may have previously attended. 

If a candidate has already achieved an A.A. degree from a Florida public community college, state college, or university, they do not need to submit their high school transcripts.

Transfer applicants should send their official ACT or SAT scores in addition to AICE, AP, CLEP, and IB scores, if available. 

In rare cases, admissions may request extra documents from transfer hopefuls demonstrating competency in a foreign language. 

Applicants may also need to prove that they obtained a C or higher in two English composition courses, college algebra, or a higher-level college math class (if applying with 60+ transferable credit hours).


UCF Transfer Deadline

University of Central Florida Campus
Hmickey, UCF August 2016 01, CC BY-SA 4.0

The deadline to apply to UCF as a transfer student is July 1 (for those hoping to begin their studies in the fall semester). 

UCF also accepts transfer applications for the spring and summer semesters. 

Those wishing to commence studies in the spring should submit their materials by November 1, while those desiring to start at UCF in the summer should send all their materials to the Office of Admissions by March 1.

Transfer applicants are not required to send any letters of recommendation, and they will not be considered as part of the application process. 

Transfers will also not be offered an opportunity for an interview. Admission criteria depend on the total number of transferable semester credits each applicant has already obtained. 

The following information should help applicants as they prepare to send their application materials by the deadline.

Those applying with fewer than 30 credits should meet first-year student high school unit admission requirements and the 2.5 minimum high school GPA. 

They also should have earned at least a 4.0 overall college GPA for all courses attempted and be in good academic standing with their current institution.

Students with 30 to 59 transferable credits must have earned a C or higher in one English composition class and one upper-level mathematics class. 

They should be able to prove competency in a world language to at least the second high school level (i.e., French 2) or the second collegiate level (i.e., German Level II). 

Like the previous group, they should have also earned a 4.0 overall GPA for all academic classes attempted and be in good academic standing.

Finally, students applying with 60+ credits have nearly the exact requirements as the previous cohort; however, they must have earned a C or higher in two collegiate English composition classes and two collegiate upper-level mathematics courses.


What Is the Decision Date for UCF Transfer Students

Students who have applied to UCF as transfer students will hear from the school within two to four weeks of submitting their complete application. 

Essentially, if fall applicants submit their materials on the deadline of July 1, they will receive a decision between July 15 and July 29. 

Spring applicants who submit their materials on the deadline of November 1 will hear from admissions between November 15 and 29. 

UCF offers spaces to transfer applicants on a rolling basis, meaning that they examine each application as it arrives and grants space as available. 

This policy means there is a benefit to applying early, particularly for the fall semester (which accepts more applicants than the spring and summer semesters).

Before or after applying, it may be prudent to take a campus tour of UCF. The school offers three types of tours for students in varying situations, as follows…

Students can take in-person, live-streamed, or self-guided tours at UCF. In-person tours are offered on weekdays and last approximately two hours. The first 30 minutes include an information session, while the remaining 75% consists of a walking tour led by a UCF student ambassador. 

The tour is the time to ask as many questions as possible, as student ambassadors are perhaps the best people to give you insight. One benefit of this tour is getting the chance to explore the residence halls.

Live-streamed tours are also led by student guides who advertise their tours on Instagram Live. They are available to answer any questions you might have and are likely the next-best option if you cannot attend an in-person tour. 

The live-streamed tour might also be a useful option for students transferring from a considerable distance.

Students always have the option to take a self-guided tour, as well. UCF publishes a map featuring ten important locations on campus, including the dining hall and recreation center. 

Potential transfer applicants can pick up a physical map copy from the Duke Energy Welcome Center or simply download a copy on the UCF website.


Deciding Whether You Should Apply to UCF As a Transfer Student

The affordable cost alone is worth applying to UCF as a transfer student. For Florida residents, the total cost of attendance is $24,047 per year. 

This amount includes tuition, fees, room and board, and estimates for transportation, books, and personal expenses. Out-of-state students can expect to pay $40,147 per year.

Kiplinger’s and Forbes magazines have both ranked UCF as one of the best value colleges – 57% of UCF students graduate without any debt, compared to the national average of 42%. 

UCF has awarded $585.4 million in financial aid and $116.8 million to Bright Futures students. 81% of undergraduate students received some form of aid.

Others enjoy the UCF environment due to its diverse student population. 45.5% are White, 27.8% are Hispanic/Latinx, 10.2% are Black, and 6.7% are Asian.

In addition to being a “transfer-friendly” institution, UCF is overwhelmingly “Florida-friendly” – 91% of students attending come from Florida.

Another benefit of attending UCF is its surplus of academic offerings and student organizations. Transfer students can choose from 215 degree programs and choose from over 650 clubs to join. There is truly something for every kind of student at UCF. 

One example of a great organization is the Centsible Knights free financial literacy program. Here, students can learn how to manage educational debt, build their credit scores, budget for future expenses, and solidify healthy spending habits.


Recap: How To Apply to UCF As a Transfer Student

Applying to UCF as a transfer is almost as easy as getting in! Start by completing the online application, sending your application fee, and submitting all high school and college transcripts from previously attended institutions. 

Don’t forget to share your scores for the SAT, ACT, AP, IB, or other higher-level courses that you hope to count towards your UCF degree.

Remember that there are three “classifications” of transfer applicants: those applying with fewer than 30 transferable credit hours, those applying with 30-59 transferable credit hours, and those applying with 60+ transferable credit hours. 

All applicants should be in good academic standing, meaning they have an official high school cumulative GPA of 2.5 and/or an official college cumulative GPA of 2.0.

From there, different classifications of transfer applicants may be asked to prove proficiency in English composition, advanced mathematics, or foreign language comprehension. 

There is no need to request people to send a letter of recommendation on your behalf – the Office of Admissions will not consider them as part of the admissions process.

While transfer applicants will not receive an opportunity to interview, they can always take one of three tours. 

If you cannot take the in-person campus tour, we suggest signing up for a live-streamed tour or embarking on a self-guided tour. Regardless, there are knowledgeable and friendly student ambassadors available to answer your questions at every turn.

Good luck on your application, and know that it will only take two to four weeks to hear back from the admissions committee!