University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida supports students through a broad financial aid and scholarship infrastructure that connects admission-based awards, state-funded programs, university scholarships, and college- and department-level opportunities. Its Office of Financial Assistance organizes scholarship access for prospective students, newly admitted students, current UCF students, parents and families, and donors, positioning scholarships as one part of a larger aid portfolio that also includes grants, loans, waivers, and Federal Work Study. The university’s scholarship framework includes named programs such as Florida Bright Futures, Pegasus Scholarships, and Benacquisto Scholarships. Florida Bright Futures is a state-funded Florida program tied to high school academic achievement and structured with different award levels, each carrying its own eligibility criteria and award amounts. Pegasus Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students upon admission to UCF, while Benacquisto Scholarships recognize high school graduates who earn National Merit Scholar distinction. UCF also uses Access 2 Opportunities (A2O), its scholarship application system, to streamline access to institutional funding. By completing a one-time general application in A2O, students are considered for over 200 scholarships, with additional opportunities available through the system’s external option. Scholarship opportunities extend across the university’s academic and student-support units, including the Burnett Honors College, the College of Business, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Nursing, the College of Sciences, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Student Accessibility Services, Study Abroad, and Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships. UCF also provides practical guidance on maximizing scholarship opportunities, emphasizing early application timing from January through May, regular scholarship searches, campus and community involvement, FAFSA completion, strong essay writing, and careful management of scholarship funds.