Opportunity is about opening doors and removing obstacles. In this economy, the hurdle that most often stands in the way of a UCF education is affordability. Increasing numbers of academically qualified students and their families simply can’t absorb the rising cost of higher education — even at a public institution as reasonably priced as UCF.
With current student aid resources, UCF is able to meet only two-thirds of demonstrated need, and far too much of that aid consists of student loans. That’s simply not good enough. As a public institution, we must continue to increase accessibility so that today’s students can be tomorrow’s leaders.
Private support has made the picture considerably brighter, but we must do more to increase access and expand opportunity in the years ahead, when a solutions-focused, globally savvy education will be more important than ever.
What’s at stake is not only the dreams and aspirations of students and their families, but UCF's own future as an institution of national distinction and international reach.