Frequently Asked Questions - DirectConnect to UCF®

DirectConnect to UCF Applying to UCF Admitted Students Dual Enrolled Students Financial Aid Other Common Questions

DirectConnect to UCF

DirectConnect to UCF guarantees admission to UCF (consistent with university policy) with an earned Associate of Arts (AA) or articulated Associate of Science (AS) degree.

Guaranteed admission to UCF (consistent with university policy) with an earned Associate of Arts (AA) or articulated Associate of Science (AS) degree from one our partners
Shorter time to degree completion with personalized Success Coaching
Smooth pathway for engagement, advisement, admissions, orientation and registration
Access to UCF campuses, student services, activities and events

Signing up is easy! Fill out our quick form to begin your path to UCF today!

Sign up for DirectConnect to UCF.
Work on and complete an Associate of Arts (AA) or articulated Associate of Science (AS) degree from one of UCF’s partner colleges.

DirectConnect to UCF guarantees admission to UCF (consistent with university policy) with an earned Associate of Arts (AA) or articulated Associate of Science (AS) degree from our college partner institutions, whereas the 2+2 program guarantees admission to one of Florida’s state universities, but not necessarily to the one of your choice.

UCF does admit lower division transfer students (students with less than 60 credits of college course work), but they do not have the guarantee of admission. Lower division transfer applicants must submit college transcripts, high school transcripts, and SAT/ACT scores.If you transfer to UCF without your AA degree, you will be required to complete the UCF General Education Program. The Undergraduate Admissions Office has additional information for transfer students at https://www.ucf.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfer/.

AS degree students can transfer to UCF if the AS degree is part of an articulated AS to BS program (Criminal Justice, Hospitality Management, or Nursing). The Undergraduate Catalog contains more information about statewide articulated AS to BS degrees.

Yes, but this is a special situation. A Dual Enrolled Student (earning a high school diploma AND an Associate’s degree concurrently from a DirectConnect to UCF partner college) will be considered for admission at UCF as First Time in College (FTIC) student, as defined by the SUS Board of Governor’s Regulation. A student who applies to UCF in this manner should adhere to the UCF FTIC application deadlines and admission requirements. In addition to submitting the application and fee, the student must also submit:

Completed Self-Provided Academic Record for Knights “SPARK” Form; students who have already completed high school must submit a current official high school or home-school transcript
Official SAT [code: 5233] or ACT [code: 0735] score
Official GED or TOEFL/IELTS score, if applicable
Application essay (strongly encouraged but not required)

FTIC application deadlines are May 1st for fall, November 1st for spring and March 1st for summer.

Explore UCF Online Programs programs and majors
Explore majors at UCF’s Main and Downtown Campuses
Explore majors at UCF Connect locations

Yes! Students who sign up for DirectConnect should apply for admission to UCF after earning 45 college credits. Apply now!!

Applying for Admission to UCF

You should submit an application to UCF once you have earned 45 college credit hours at a DirectConnect to UCF partner institution. The 45 hours may include credits transferred to the DirectConnect partner from other colleges/universities. You should complete ENC 1101 and 1102 with a grade of C or better AND two math courses at the College Algebra level or higher (MAC 1105) with a grade of C or better before submitting your application.

If you are Dual Enrolled (earning your high school diploma and Associates degree concurrently), adhere to the FTIC (not transfer) application deadlines and requirements.

Online Undergraduate Admission application
Pay the admission application fee online
Official transcripts from each and every college or university attended
If applicable: Official test scores (CLEP, IB, AICE, etc.)
High school transcripts (if two years of a foreign language was taken)

Note: High school transcripts may be required to demonstrate completion of the foreign language admission requirement. High school transcripts are not required for transfers with an awarded A.A. degree from a Florida public community college, state college or university if initially entered fall 2014 or after.

About ten days to two weeks once your admission file is complete, meaning that your application, fee and all necessary documents have been received.

Note: Transcripts for all institutions attended and other relevant documents must be received before Undergraduate Admissions will review your application for admission.

Please visit your Future Knight Portal and log in using your email address and password. The status page will display a checklist of required documents. You can confirm receipt of documents and view your admission decision (if available).

Yes! Please visit the Undergraduate Admissions Application Frequently Asked Questions website for more answers.

Admitted Students

Access and print the You’ve Been Offered Admission! What Now? Checklist

Your NID is your secure sign-on for many systems at UCF, including myUCF and online courses. To obtain your NID, go to myUCF, click Sign On, click “What is my NID“, then follow the instructions to obtain your NID and create a password.

Your UCF ID is the number you will use to identify yourself when you call or visit offices across campus, including Undergraduate Admissions. To obtain your UCF ID, go to myUCF, log in using your NID and password, click Student Self Service > Personal Information >UCF ID Info. This page will display your UCF ID, your NID and your UCF ID Card number, once you have been issued one.

Visit: https://studenthealth.ucf.edu/immunizations/. Watch the video to learn more about the immunization requirements and how to set up your Med+Proctor profile to submit your records. Verification of Immunization Compliance can take up to 3 business days. Start process early so that you will be able to register for classes during your orientation session.

Honor Your Knighthood assists new UCF students in developing an understanding of the importance UCF places on subject matters related to Academic Integrity, Alcohol Awareness, and Sexual Assault Prevention. Through the completion of three individual online modules, UCF students will begin to demonstrate tenets associated with the UCF Creed of Integrity, Scholarship, Community, Creativity, and Excellence. UCF is committed to student safety and success both inside and outside the classroom. Therefore, all incoming UCF students are required to complete these online modules prior to the first day of class. Admitted students will see the Honor Your Knighthood modules as requirements on their myUCF “To-Do List”. It can take up to 3 weeks for the requirement to be removed after successful completion of the modules. For questions, concerns, or more information, please send an email to prevention@ucf.edu

All first-time, undergraduate degree-seeking students offered admission are required to attend transfer orientation prior to enrollment. Orientation is your chance to get acquainted with UCF’s services, meet an advisor and register for classes. All students who are new to UCF are required to attend an orientation. Visit the Orientation Website for more information on dates and costs, orientation checklist, and to register for orientation.

To register and for more information on orientation visit https://orientation.ucf.edu/transfer/.

Students with an Orlando campus (Main, Downtown, Rosen) Orientation have 3 required parts including:

Virtual Web-content about the University and your Academic College and Major
Virtual UCF Success Session on selected date
Virtual Advising and Course Enrollment on selected date

During orientation registration you will select a specific date for your virtual UCF Success Session and Virtual Advising and Course Enrollment components

The virtual Web-content about the University and your Academic College and Major is available online and can be completed at your own pace, but must be done prior to Advising and Course Enrollment selected date.

Once admitted, the Residency Declaration form will be added to your status page in the Future Knight Portal as a checklist item. You will also be required to upload documents, if necessary, to support your residency claim. After submitting the form and all required documents, you may check your residency status by logging into the myUCF portal. If you have already attended UCF as an undergraduate student and wish to reclassify your residency for tuition purposes, please visit the Registrar’s Office website for information on Residency Reclassification.

Verify your transfer credits in the myUCF portal. The status of your transfer credits can be found in the Transfer Summary Report (TSR) in the Student Center.

myKnight Audit will show you which transfer courses meet degree requirements and outstanding courses that remain to complete your degree. Any In-Progress courses will require a final official transcript to record the appropriate grade.

If you had courses in progress when you applied or if a degree was awarded since application, send transcripts electronically or mail to the Undergraduate Admissions office in the original, sealed envelope.

Office of Undergraduate Admission

University of Central Florida

PO Box 160111

Orlando, FL 32816-0111

Check for any Holds or To-Dos on your account in https://my.ucf.edu/ myUCF. Orientation and immunization holds must be resolved prior to registration.

Registration is by Enrollment Appointment and can only be completed once orientation and immunization holds have been resolved. Use mySchedule Builder to help you generate all possible schedule combinations based on your course selections. This allows you to evaluate which schedule of classes will work best for you and register for them. You must enroll for the term indicated on your admission letter. You will register for classes at the end of orientation or during your pre-advising appointment. Advisors will assist you with registration or put recommended courses in your shopping cart. You will finalize your registration by submitting courses in the shopping cart at the time of your registration appointment.

Dual Enrolled Students

Dual enrollment is when a high school student also takes college-level courses. The college level courses are used to meet the student’s high school graduation requirements, as well as count toward the student’s college degree.

Students who are dual enrolled may also earn their AA and high school diploma concurrently. DirectConnect to UCF offers guaranteed admission (consistent with university policy) to UCF with an earned A.A. or articulated A.S. degree from one of our state partner colleges.

DirectConnect to UCF guarantees admission (consistent with university policy) to those students who earn an AA or articulated AS degree from one of the six DirectConnect partner institutions (College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College).

First Time in College (FTIC) freshmen are defined as students who have earned a standard high school diploma from a Florida public or regionally accredited high school, or its equivalent, and who have earned fewer than twelve (12) semester hours of transferable college credit since receiving a standard high school diploma or its equivalent (Board of Governors: Regulation 6.002). This includes students applying with any dual enrollment credit during high school, even those concurrently earning an AA degree and a high school diploma.

In most cases, those who graduate from high school and earn the AA concurrently, have earned fewer the 12 semester hours of transferrable college credit since receiving a standard high school diploma or its equivalent.

It still applies, but not necessarily for the term of your choice. If you are competitive with the UCF FTIC admission criteria, (high school GPA and SAT/ACT test scores), you may be offered admission for the term of your choice. An alternative term may be suggested when you are not competitive with FTIC criteria.

Complete the DirectConnect to UCF Signup Card as soon as you begin your dual enrollment courses. You will be assigned a Success Coach who will learn your educational goals, assist in the selection of a UCF major, ensure you are on track to meet all the pre-requisites for your selected UCF major, guide you through the admissions, financial aid, orientation, immunization, and registration processes. In addition, your Success Coach will support you throughout your time at UCF.

Note: signing up for DirectConnect to UCF is different from submitting an application for admission to UCF. Your Success Coach will work with you to determine the appropriate time to submit your undergraduate admissions application.

All FTIC students are required to submit SAT/ACT test scores to be considered for admission. If you earned your AA concurrently with high school graduation, you are considered an FTIC student. Students who have 12 or more transferrable college credits since high school graduation and have earned an AA degree, are not required to submit SAT/ACT test scores with their application.

You should follow the application deadlines for FTIC students: May 1st for fall; November 1st for spring; and March 1st for summer. If it is your intention to begin in the fall term following high school graduation, you should apply to UCF in the fall of your senior year in high school (September – November).

No, if you have already taken the test once, submit your admission application along with your test scores. When you retake the test, be sure to send the new scores to UCF.

There are no minimum SAT/ACT test score requirements. Students test scores must be competitive based on the quality of the applicant pool. For example, the average SAT test score for fall 2021 was 1325 (evidence-based reading/writing + math) or 28.6 (average) for the ACT.

Dual enrollment students should include high school, college and community activity information on their admissions application. Students should also include offices held in organizations and volunteer work.

Sign up for DirectConnect as soon as possible after you begin college level courses. You should submit a UCF Admissions application in the fall of your senior year in high school, but no later than May 1st of the year you graduate from high school.

No you do not, as a matter of fact, you should sign up for DirectConnect as soon as you begin taking college level courses at a partner institution.

The preferred method to speak with a Success Coach is to complete the DirectConnect to UCF Sign-Up Card. You will be contacted with 24-48 hours by a Connect Specialist who will schedule an appointment with your assigned Success Coach. Dual enrollment students are assigned a Success Coach with expertise in dual enrollment as it relates to DirectConnect.

You should complete your AA degree in order to benefit from the DirectConnect to UCF admission guarantee (consistent with university policy).

You will usually be contacted by a Connect Specialist within approximately 24-48 hours (by phone or email). The Connect Specialist will arrange an appointment with your Success Coach. The appointment will be made for a time that is convenient for you.

It usually takes about 10-14 business days (once your application file is complete) to receive your admission decision. A complete application would include: online application and fee, Self-Provided Academic Record for Knights (SPARK) Form, ACT/SAT test scores, official test scores for AP, IB, AICE, and CLEP (if applicable). Admission status and decisions may be viewed on the Future Knight Portal.

Yes, along with other applicable items that are required to complete your application file.

Yes. Connecting with your Success Coach as early as possible is critical to UCF major selection, completing the appropriate pre¬-requisites for that major, and a smooth transition to UCF.

No, you do not need to send any transcripts, but be sure to complete the Self-Provided Academic Record for Knights (SPARK) form. This form allows you to self-report your high school courses and grades. Submit a final high school transcript once you graduate and the state college partner transcript once you earn your AA. You should send both final transcripts immediately after the degree and graduation date are posted.

No, you are not. You will have less than 12 hours completed after high school graduation.

Yes, as long as UCF receives an official copy of the scores and an appropriate score was earned (check the catalog for required scores).

You can apply, but you will not be able to take advantage of the DC2UCF guarantee.

If you earn 12 or more credits after you graduate from high school and you have earned your AA degree, you will be considered a transfer student. SAT/ACT scores are not required and you do not need to meet FTIC admission criteria.

All students who are new to UCF must attend New Student Orientation. Earning the high school diploma and AA concurrently means you are an FTIC student and will have to attend the FTIC New Student Orientation.

Yes, the entire amount of the deposit will be used toward your first semester tuition. The enrollment deposit is $200.

While you must apply to UCF as an FTIC, attend freshman orientation and pay the enrollment deposit, you will be considered a junior for academic and financial aid purposes.

All FTIC students are considered for the FTIC admissions scholarship when they submit their application. No other application is necessary to be considered for the scholarship.

Since you are applying as an FTIC student, you cannot be considered for the Transfer Scholarships offered by admissions.

No, you will not since that is an agreement only for transfer students and you would be considered FTIC. You would be eligible for Honors in the Major once you get to UCF.

Financial Aid

Yes. Out of a desire to assist DirectConnect to UCF students to attain post-secondary education and university degrees, the Johnson Scholarship Foundation partnered with the University of Central Florida, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College, and Valencia College, to establish the Johnson Scholarship Foundation Scholarship. Please visit the JSF Scholarship page for more information and how to apply while you are at DirectConnect partner school.

Note: The scholarship is only available to students who intend to earn their AA or articulated AS degree from one of the state college partners listed below and transition to UCF once the AA or articulated AS degree is completed.

Visit the Financial Assistance FAQs

Visit the Financial Assistance website

DirectConnect to UCF

What is DirectConnect to UCF?

Who are the DirectConnect to UCF Partners?

What are the benefits of DirectConnect to UCF?

How do I sign up for DirectConnect to UCF?

How do I qualify for DirectConnect to UCF?

What is the difference between DirectConnect and 2+2?

What if I want to transfer before I complete my AA Degree?

What are my DirectConnect to UCF options after I complete my AS Degree?

Am I eligible for DirectConnect to UCF if I am earning my high school diploma and associates degree at the same time?

What majors are available?

Will I still have to apply for admission to UCF even though I completed the DirectConnect to UCF sign-up form?

Applying for Admission to UCF

When should I apply to UCF?

What do I need to submit to apply for admission to UCF?

How long does it take to get an admission decision?

How do I check my admission status?

I don’t see an answer to my question here. Is there a more extensive list of admission questions?

Admitted Students

What are my next steps once I am offered admission?

What are my NID and my UCFID?

How do I complete the immunization requirements?

What is “Honor Your Knighthood”?

What is transfer orientation and am I required do it?

How do I obtain/verify Florida residency for tuition purposes?

How do I verify that my credits from previous schools transferred to UCF?

What steps should I take to complete the transfer process?

Where can I check to see if I have any holds?

How and when do I register for classes?

Dual Enrolled Students

What is dual enrollment?

What does dual enrollment have to do with DirectConnect to UCF®

What is the DC2UCF guarantee?

What is a First Time in College (FTIC) student?

Why would I be considered a FTIC if I have earned my AA degree?

If I am considered a First Time in College Student (FTIC), even though I earned an AA degree from one of the DirectConnect partner institutions, does the DC2UCF guarantee apply to me?

When should I sign up for DirectConnect to UCF?

Do I need to take ACT or SAT for DirectConnect?

As a dual enrolled student who intends to earn an AA degree from one of the DC2UCF partner schools concurrently with high school graduation, when should I apply for admission to UCF?

Should I wait to apply until after I retake the SAT/ACT?

Are there certain SAT/ACT score requirements?

Do high school extra-curricular activities matter for admission or is it only college activities that are considered?

As a junior in high school when would you recommend I sign up for DirectConnect to UCF and when should I apply for admission to UCF?

Do we need to have completed our AA in order to sign up for direct connect?

Can I get into contact with a success coach even before signing up for DC?

What if I am graduating high school and only have 33 dual enrollment credits at a DirectConnect partner college–should I continue and complete my AA before starting at UCF?

How long after you have submitted your DirectConnect electronic Sign-Up card will you be contacted by a Success Coach?

How soon would I know if I am offered admission?

I am dual enrollment whose SAT test score is pending, can I still submit my application?

Should 11th grade students just starting their DE journey sign up for Direct Connect now?

Do we have to send our most recent transcripts when we apply to UCF in the fall, and then send our final transcripts again when we graduate?

I will be 8 credits short of completing an AA degree when I graduate from high school, but I am planning to complete my 60 credits in summer, am I guaranteed admission for the following fall?

Does UCF accept Cambridge AICE test scores used as AA credits?

If I graduate from high school with some college credits but not my AA, can I still apply to DirectConnect?

What if you have more than 12 credits past AA?

Once I have been offered admission, do I have to attend orientation?

Do I have to pay the FTIC enrollment deposit?

Since I will have an AA and 60 hours of college credit, what will my academic level be?

Will I be considered for any scholarships?

Since I have my AA can I be considered for the Transfer Scholarships?

I earned an Honors AA from a partner institution who has an Honors to Honors articulation agreement with UCF. Will I be able to participate in that honors program?

Financial Aid

Is there a scholarship for DirectConnect to UCF Students?

Where can I find more information about financial aid?

Other Common Questions

What are the current tuition/fees at UCF?

Is housing available for transfer students?

Where can I find information about off-campus student housing?