The UCF Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Thursday morning to increase undergraduate out-of-state tuition fees by 15%, with the increased fees beginning in the upcoming fall semester.
This increase comes only one year after the Board of Trustees increased out-of-state tuition by 10% in July 2025, meaning out-of-state tuition for undergraduate out-of-state students has increased by 25% over the last year. Prior to these changes, the university did not change the out-of-state tuition rate for more than a decade, according to Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Bert Francis.
Francis went on to describe during the board meeting, that with the increased undergraduate out-of-state tuition rate, the estimated 4-year tuition rate would be $26,732, which would still remain below the national public 4-year average at $31,880. In comparison to other universities in the State University System of Florida (SUS), the increased fee would have UCF remain within the average range of out-of-state tuition rates within SUS.
For non-resident students with scholarships, the university will honor scholarship commitments at their specified percentage or dollar amount. This increase will not affect graduate out-of-state students.
Regarding the increased revenue from the tuition raise, CFO Francis cited that these funds will be invested back into the university, specifically going towards the retention of faculty and staff. However, it is unclear at this time how exactly the Board of Trustees will plan to distribute these funds.
Dylan Beaudreau, an out-of-state student at UCF, made a public comment before the board began to discuss the tuition proposal. Beaudreau expressed how he and other out-of-state students were financially impacted after the 10% out-of-state tuition increase the Board of Trustees passed in July 2025.
Beaudreau asked the board to not approve the proposal, but if passed, demanded that the increased rate be delayed to the following academic year, so students and their families could financially prepare in advance to pay the new fee.
Despite Beaudreau’s request, the board did not delay the new rate. This would mean that out-of-state undergraduate students will see both the 10% and the 15% increase reflected in their bills this upcoming fall semester.
