UCF vs. Nova

Deciding between University of Central Florida and Nova Southeastern University? 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.

University of Central Florida
Nova Southeastern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCF Orlando, FL
  • Nova Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Setting
  • UCF Large Suburban
  • Nova Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCF 69,713
  • Nova 20,910
  • Type
  • UCF Public 4 Year
  • Nova Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCF #412
  • Nova #433
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCF -
  • Nova -
  • Status
  • UCF Non-profit
  • Nova Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCF
  • Nova

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCF $6,368
  • Nova $38,700
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCF $22,467
  • Nova $38,700
  • Room & Board
  • UCF $12,452
  • Nova $16,840
  • Average Net Price
  • UCF $13,351
  • Nova $31,858
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCF $9,704
  • Nova $24,965
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCF 86%
  • Nova 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCF 61,456
  • Nova 17,765
  • Admitted
  • UCF 24,653
  • Nova 13,006
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCF 40.1%
  • Nova 73.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCF 33.5%
  • Nova 15.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCF 1280
  • Nova 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCF 27
  • Nova 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCF 3.64
  • Nova 3.99
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCF A-
  • Nova A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCF Difficult
  • Nova Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCF Low
  • Nova Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCF 25/29
  • Nova 19/28
  • SAT Range
  • UCF 1200/1350
  • Nova 1030/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCF Required
  • Nova Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCF May 1, 2027
  • Nova

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCF 28:1
  • Nova 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCF
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • Nova
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCF 63%
  • Nova 43%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCF $48,900
  • Nova $53,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCF 59%
  • Nova 44%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCF $18,270
  • Nova $25,100
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCF $188
  • Nova $259

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCF 46%
  • Nova 28%
  • % Women
  • UCF 54%
  • Nova 72%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCF High
  • Nova Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCF No
  • Nova No
  • % White
  • UCF 53%
  • Nova 31%
  • % Asian
  • UCF 6%
  • Nova 9%
  • % Black
  • UCF 11%
  • Nova 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCF 24%
  • Nova 32%
  • % Native American
  • UCF 0%
  • Nova 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCF 0%
  • Nova 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCF 4%
  • Nova 2%
  • % International
  • UCF 1%
  • Nova 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCF 1%
  • Nova 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCF 93%
  • Nova 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCF 6%
  • Nova 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Florida is larger than Nova based on total student enrollment (69,713 students vs. 20,910 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, FL (Large Suburban setting); Nova Southeastern University is in Fort Lauderdale, FL (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Central Florida is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Nova Southeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Central Florida 28:1; Nova Southeastern University 16:1.

UCF vs. Nova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCF or Nova? 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 Nova ($13,351 vs. $31,858).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Florida are 26.1% lower than at Nova Southeastern University ($12,452 vs. $16,840).
  • Nova Southeastern University is 507.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCF (about $32,332 more per year; $38,700.00 vs. $6,368.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 72.3% higher at Nova than at University of Central Florida (about $16,233 more per year; $38,700.00 vs. $22,467.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nova Southeastern University than at University of Central Florida (100% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nova Southeastern University students is 157.3% larger than aid received by University of Central Florida students ($24,965 vs. $9,704).

UCF vs. Nova Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCF or Nova? 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 Nova and UCF.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Central Florida (1280) is 110 points higher than at Nova (1170).
  • Incoming UCF students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at Nova).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 1200/1350; Nova Southeastern University 1030/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 25/29; Nova Southeastern University 19/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCF - Required; Nova - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCF May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Nova students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at UCF (3.64).
  • Nova has a higher acceptance rate (73.2%) than UCF (40.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.5% at UCF vs. 15.6% at Nova.

UCF vs. Nova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCF and Nova? 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 Nova Southeastern University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Nova Southeastern University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than UCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,300 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Florida graduates have a $6,830 lower median loan debt than Nova graduates ($18,270 vs. $25,100).
  • Among borrowers, UCF graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nova graduates ($188 vs. $259).
  • More UCF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nova students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 44%)

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.