The University of Central Florida, founded in 1963, is one of the largest universities in the nation, and uses the power of scale and the pursuit for excellence to create positive, lasting impact on students and communities both local and across the globe. Located in Orlando, Florida, UCF and its 13 colleges provide opportunities to more than 64,000 students, offering 212 degree programs from UCF's main campus, hospitality campus, health sciences campus and 10 regional locations, as well as remotely through UCF Online. A UCF education is consistently ranked among the nation's best values, according to Forbes, Kiplinger and The Princeton Review, and 44 percent of students graduate without any educational debt, compared to the national average of 34 percent. The university's DirectConnect to UCF program, which offers guaranteed admission to graduates of six partner colleges, has earned national praise as an innovative model for increasing accessibility to students of any age who might not otherwise have access to a higher education. Florida's largest university promotes a diverse and inclusive environment. At UCF, 44.6 percent of students are minorities and 23.8 percent are Hispanic. Students at UCF have been recognized throughout the world and include recipients of the Rhodes, Mellon and Goldwater scholarships. In 2016, UCF enrolled 289 National Merit Scholars, the second most of all Florida universities. A member of the University Innovation Alliance, UCF is an academic, partnership and research leader in numerous fields, including optics, modeling and simulation, engineering and computer science, business administration, education, biomedical sciences, hospitality management and digital media. The university's Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy is ranked the number one video game program in North America. Twenty-two UCF graduate programs are ranked in the top 100 nationally by U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools of 2018. UCF produces more graduates who get jobs in aerospace and defense companies than any other U.S. university, according to a 2015 Aviation Week magazine workforce study, and the Collegiate Cyber Defense Club has won three consecutive national championships. In 2015-16, UCF faculty received $145.8 million in research funding and have accrued more than $1 billion in external grants and contracts during the past decade. Distinctive programs extend learning beyond the classroom and include leadership programs, cooperative education, mentorships, internships, service learning and paid research positions. The main campus encompasses 1,415 acres and manages 800 acres of natural ecosystems including habitats for more than 45 animal species. The Health Center is a full-service clinic with on-site medical professionals, X-ray capabilities, dental services, a pharmacy, a medical laboratory and physical therapy services. The Student Union has computer labs, study lounges, ballrooms and meeting rooms, popular eating establishments and a small shopping mall. Students also enjoy a 149,000-square-foot Recreation and Wellness Center complete with a three-story climbing tower, indoor track and resort-style leisure pool. On-campus housing includes 10 communities for nearly 12,000 students ranging from first-year to graduate students, including Living Learning Communities that bring together students of common interests and fields of study. UCF Knights athletics teams, which compete in the American Athletic Conference, have won conference championships in football, women's soccer, softball, women's rowing and women's golf, and have achieved an average GPA of 3.0 or higher for 18 consecutive semesters, along with a 93-precent graduation rate that ranks No. 1 in the nation for public universities.

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