ASU vs. UCF

Deciding between Arizona State University and University of Central Florida? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
University of Central Florida

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • UCF Orlando, FL
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • UCF Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • UCF 69,713
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • UCF Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • UCF #412
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • UCF -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • UCF Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • UCF
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • UCF $6,368
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • UCF $22,467
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • UCF $12,452
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • UCF $13,351
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • UCF $9,704
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • UCF 86%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • UCF 61,456
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • UCF 24,653
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • UCF 40.1%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • UCF 33.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • UCF 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • UCF 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • UCF 3.64
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • UCF A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • UCF Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • UCF Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • UCF 25/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • UCF 1200/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • UCF Required
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • UCF May 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • UCF 28:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UCF
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • UCF 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • UCF $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • UCF 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • UCF $18,270
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • UCF $188
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • UCF 46%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • UCF 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • UCF High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • UCF No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • UCF 53%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • UCF 6%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • UCF 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • UCF 24%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • UCF 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • UCF 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • UCF 4%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • UCF 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • UCF 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • UCF 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • UCF 6%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ASU Yes
  • UCF Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ASU No
  • UCF No
  • Meal Plan
  • ASU Yes
  • UCF Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ASU Yes
  • UCF No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ASU Yes
  • UCF Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than UCF based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 69,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University of Central Florida is in Orlando, FL (Large Suburban setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University of Central Florida 28:1.

ASU vs. UCF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU or UCF? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Florida than ASU ($13,351 vs. $17,779).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Florida are 25.5% lower than at Arizona State University ($12,452 vs. $16,712).
  • Arizona State University is 91.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCF (about $5,855 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $6,368.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 47.5% higher at ASU than at University of Central Florida (about $10,672 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $22,467.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University of Central Florida (89% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 25.4% larger than aid received by University of Central Florida students ($12,172 vs. $9,704).

ASU vs. UCF Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or UCF? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCF and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Central Florida (1280) is 70 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming UCF students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University of Central Florida 1200/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; University of Central Florida 25/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; UCF - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCF May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCF students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than UCF (40.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 33.5% at UCF.

ASU vs. UCF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and UCF? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Central Florida's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Arizona State University earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than UCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Florida graduates have a $2,008 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($18,270 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, UCF graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($188 vs. $209).
  • More UCF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.