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STEM Tuition Waiver

Effective Fall 2021, students enrolled in a Program of Strategic Emphasis, as adopted by the Board of Governors, shall receive a tuition and fees waiver for an equivalent course as defined in the Florida Statutes, Title XLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.26(18)(a) Fee Waivers.

The tuition waiver is applicable to the Board of Governors’ identified Programs of Strategic Emphasis or teacher preparation programs.

Programs of Strategic Emphasis and Applicable UCF Programs:

Program of Strategic Emphasis UCF Program(s)
Accounting (Effective Fall 2022) Accounting BSBA
Computer & Information Sciences Computer Science BS
Civil Engineering Civil Engineering BSCE
Computer Engineering Computer Engineering BSCpE
Electrical and Electronics Engineering Electrical Engineering BSEE
Elementary Education & Teaching (Effective Fall 2023) Elementary Education BS
Finance (Effective Fall 2022) Finance BSBA
Information Technology Information Technology BS
Mathematics Mathematics BS
Management Information Systems N/A
Mechanical Engineering (Effective Fall 2024) Mechanical Engineering BSME
Physics (Removed Fall 2024*) Physics BA, Physics BS
Special Education & Teaching (Effective Fall 2023) Exceptional Student Education BS

*Students who received the waiver for Physics prior to Fall 2024 will continue to receive the waiver until they graduate, withdraw from the program, or exceed the number of allowable credit hours.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Students must be a Florida resident for tuition purposes under Florida Statute 1009.21. Classification as a Temporary resident for tuition purposes and/or receipt of an out-of-state fees waiver does not meet this eligibility requirement.
  • Students must have earned at least 60 semester credit hours towards a baccalaureate degree within two academic years after initial enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution.
    • Initial enrollment begins with the first registration after earning a high school diploma.
    • Credits must be earned at a Florida public postsecondary institution.
    • Dual enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution and test credit earned in high school count toward the 60-hour requirement.
    • Credits earned by other acceleration mechanisms count toward the 60-hour requirement if earned/granted/applied within the 2-year period.
  • Students must be accepted into one of the Programs of Strategic Emphasis as their first/primary major as of the first day of the term.
    • Pre- or Pending majors are not eligible.
    • Second majors and minors are not eligible.
    • Students admitted/readmitted as 2nd degree seeking are not eligible.
    • Graduate students are not eligible.

Eligible students receive a 50 percent tuition waiver for specified tuition and associated fees for upper level 3000/4000 courses required within the degree program. The tuition waiver is applicable for 110 percent of the required credits of the baccalaureate degree program for which the student is enrolled.

Students are not required to apply for or request this tuition waiver. Students eligible for this tuition waiver will be automatically identified by the University based on academic record. Students meeting all eligibility guidelines will be notified by email in the week after the Add/Drop registration deadline.

Please direct questions regarding your eligibility or academic record to registrar@ucf.edu or submit the RO contact form (select topic of concern “Other”).

Please direct questions related to tuition, fees, or payments to saswaivers@ucf.edu.

STEM Tuition Waiver FAQ

Eligible courses are 3000 or 4000 level courses required for the major, including common program prerequisites and required electives. Graduate courses are not eligible.

The waiver must be used at the same institution where the eligible course is taken. Neither exchange program (UCF 3995) nor transient courses are eligible.

The Board of Governors determines the programs to which the waiver applies. The current eligible programs are listed above.

Pre- or pending majors are not eligible. If the selected program is a limited access or restricted major, students must be accepted into the major program by the first day of the semester to qualify.

The guidelines state a student must earn at least 60 semester credit hours towards a baccalaureate degree within two academic years after initial enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution. Credits must be earned at a FL public institution. Please review your course history and contact the Registrar’s Office if you have further questions.

There is not a list of eligible courses available. Please review your myKnight audit to determine if the classes in which you are enrolled meet degree requirements. If you have questions about the degree audit, please contact your academic success coach.

Retroactive changes in the academic history, including late drops or withdrawals, medical withdrawals, repeated courses, and grade forgiveness, reduce the number of credits a student has earned. Changes to courses taken within the 2-year period may reduce the credits earned to less than 60, and the student would no longer be eligible for the waiver.

Eligibility is determined each semester and summer session after the add/drop date for the term or session. We are unable to confirm or predict if a student will receive the waiver in future terms.