On this whole UF vs. UCF thing…
UF has far more resources available than UCF. This shows up in lots of different ways. For example:
Instructional Expenditures/Total FTE: UF: $14,040; UCF: $5,036
Educational & General Expenditures/Total FTE: UF $44,359; UCF: $13,675
% Full-Time Faculty: UF 83.4%; UCF 64.5%
Full-time Undergrad Student to Faculty Ratio: UF 21 to 1; UCF 31 to 1
UF also has better facilities, libraries, HiPerGator (the state’s most powerful supercomputer), etc. It’s also has a better career resource center and is better recruited.
I can also assure you that UF’s CISE program is rigorous, and it also offers a “Combined” BS/MS program. And while the core curriculum of both programs are very similar, UF has a wider choice of technical and non-technical electives.
While Orlando vs Gainesville is a personal preference, Freshman retention rates are much higher at UF (96% vs 87%) and transfer rates are much lower (3% vs. 7%), So, in general, Gators are much happier with their time in Gainesville than Knights in Orlando.
I can come up with a dozen good reasons to go to UCF over UF; cost, it’s near to home, you love Orlando, etc., but academics is not one of them.