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Breaking Down Student Debt


The story of student debt has grabbed national headlines, but most news reports don’t tell the whole story. Compared to the average debt incurred by students of for-profit institutions, most UCF graduates face a far brighter future thanks to the university’s strong educational value and programs focused on fiscal responsibility and financial freedom.

Borrowing Trends

The percentage of undergraduates receiving student loans varies greatly between for-profit, private nonprofit and public institutions, such as UCF.

For-Profit Private Nonprofit Public

Sources: “National Postsecondary Student Aid Study,” U.S. Department of Education, 1991, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013

Debt In Context

Where average debt is concerned, the type of undergraduate institution a student attends matters.

*2012 data for for-profit, private and public universities, 2014–15 data for Florida, and 2016 for UCF

Sources: 1UCF Office of Student Financial Assistance, 2016; 2“Quick Facts About Student Debt,” The Institute for College Access & Success, 2014; 3“Student Debt and the Class of 2015,” The Institute for College Access & Success, 2016

Brighter Futures

Nearly half of UCF undergraduates carry no educational debt when they graduate.

For-Profit1 Private Nonprofit1 Public1 National1 UCF2

*2012 data for national, for-profit, private and public universities, 2014–15 data for UCF

Sources: 1 “Quick Facts About Student Debt,” The Institute for College Access & Success, 2014; 2 UCF Institutional Knowledge Management, 2016

Relative Consequences

Student loan default rates also correlate to the type of institution.

For-Profit1 Public1 Private Nonprofit1 Florida2 UCF2

2012–13 cohort data for for-profit, private and public universities, 2012–15 preliminary data for State University System of Florida and UCF

Sources: 1 U.S. Department of Education, 2016; 2 Florida Board of Governors System Survey of University Work Plans, 2016 (Preliminary data)

A Clear Comparison

When compared to national averages, UCF graduates owe less debt overall.

UCF1 (2015-16) Public2 (2011-12)

$1 – $19,999

$20,000 – $29,999

$30,000 – $49,999

$50,000+

Sources: 1UCF Institutional Knowledge Management, 2016; 2Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, 2015

74%

of UCF graduates who responded to a recent survey are working full time, which is linked to higher productivity and well-being.

Teaching Responsible Borrowing

The Centsible Knights financial literacy program was created to help students make better decisions about money. UCF’s Office of Student Financial Assistance offers a wide variety of training and tools.

Topics Include:

Healthy Spending


Student Loan Management


Protecting Your Credit


Planning Investments


Saving for Your Future


Understanding Your Earnings

“My experience, the faculty and people who have helped me — it’s been invaluable.”

— Bryce Nelson, a first-generation UCF marketing student who used Student Financial Assistance counseling, financial aid and work-study opportunities to earn an education with minimal debt.

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To learn more: finaid.ucf.edu/financial-literacy