| Florida’s higher education system is often recognized as one of the best in the nation. The State University System (SUS) of Florida includes 12 member institutions: UF, FSU, UCF, FIU, FAU, FGCU, USF, UNF, Florida Poly, New College of Florida, FAMU, and UWF. The college advisors at International College Counselors recently attended an exclusive admissions workshop for the Florida SUS, where they heard from representatives of all 12 Florida public institutions.
Below are a few highlights from the workshop. The points are presented in no particular order, but reflect what the college representatives considered important to share. If you have any questions about applying to Florida public universities or their admissions process, feel free to contact us. We have an exclusive Florida College Application Plan. Also, don’t forget to register for our free webinar on applying to Florida’s public universities by clicking here.
UNIVERSITY CENTRAL FLORIDA (UCF), Orlando
www.ucf.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
Fall GPA: 4.01-4.55; Summer GPA: 3.91-4.38
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1300-1420; Summer 1180-1240; ACT: Fall 29-31; Summer 24-26
Overview
Over 60,000 students applied to UCF last year and the school welcomed approximately 8,300 first-year students (4,900 to start the fall semester and 3,400 to start the summer semester). Like last year, approximately 48% of first-year students identify as persons of color. Additionally, 71 students were National Merit Scholars.
UCF has a new, non-binding Early Action deadline of October 15 with a decision notification by November 15. Students using the new modified Summer/Fall Rolling Decisions method of applying will receive their decisions in early January. Applicants will see in their portal one of three options: admitted, denied or deferred. The school’s priority scholarship deadline is November 1. Students must submit the SPARK (Self-Provided Academic Record for Knights) to be considered for admission.
UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management is ranked #1 in the U.S. and #4 Worldwide according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities. For the last six consecutive years, UCF has been named the #1 supplier of graduates to the aerospace and defense industry by Aviation Week Network. Looking for location, location, location? UCF’s main campus is 15 minutes from downtown; 20 minutes to the Brightline train; 32 minutes to theme parks; and 50 minutes to the beaches.
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (UF), Gainesville
www.ufl.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
Fall GPA: 4.5-4.7; Summer GPA: 4.5-4.7
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1380-1510; Summer 1240-1400; ACT: Fall 31-34; Summer 27-32
Overview
In April, Forbes recognized UF as one of 10 public “New Ivies” for producing exceptional and highly employable graduates. Last year, UF received a record 75,000 first-year applications and admitted over 17,000 students, including 2,000 to PaCE — a hybrid program where students start their first two years of classes online and then finish their degree on campus — and 600 to the Innovation Academy (IA) — a spring/summer program where students select from over 30 majors and earn their degree with a minor in Innovation.
UF has the lowest tuition cost for in-state and out-of-state residents among any school ranked in the top 50 national universities: tuition and fees (not including living expenses) for the 2024-25 academic year are $6,480 for in-state students and $28,658 for out-of-state students.
Across every major, students will see an emphasis on AI; they will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge in AI and data science. The campus features 45+ dining locations, including Starbucks, Chick-fil-a, a Latin café, The Halal Shack, and more. The average starting salary for UF graduates is about $10,000 above the national average. From 2023-24, 2,603 students took advantage of studying abroad in 56 destinations. UF’s Honors Program offers perks like smaller classes, signature experiences, and personalized support. The program includes 2,603 students, including 1,400 of whom live in the Honors Village that opened last fall. To apply, students must complete one supplemental Honors essay with their application. Students who apply by the new November 1 Early Action deadline will receive notification by January 24. UF requires students to submit the SSAR (Self-reported Student Academic Record) to be considered for admission.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY (FAU),
Boca Raton, and Wilkes Honors College, Jupiter
www.fau.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024 Freshmen
Fall GPA: 3.73-4.34; Summer GPA: 3.33-4.0
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1090-1270; Summer: 1030-1090; ACT: Fall: 22-28; Summer 20-24
Wilkes Honors College Middle 50% Admitted Student Profile
GPA: 4.10-4.57; SAT: 1240-1370; ACT: 27-30
Overview
FAU received 45,126 applications last year – a 24% increase from 2023 – admitted 24,198 students and enrolled 4,200 first-years. The FAU Softball Team is ranked in the Top 25 after a 41-win season. FAU is offering a new Early Action application deadline this year with an October 15 deadline and a non-binding decision on December 6. Students will see either Admit, Deny, Pathways, or Defer in their portal. To be eligible for merit scholarships, students must apply by January 15.
FAU offers a very competitive BS/MD program. To be admitted, students must earn at least a weighted high school GPA of 4.3 and a 1490 SAT or a 33 ACT score. The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur ranked FAU #24 in the U.S. and #2 among public universities in Florida for its entrepreneurship studies. New this year is the FPL InETech Center, a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence-enabled center that will boost cutting-edge research in smart technologies, products relevant to the energy sector, and workforce development. The center’s leading-edge technology will help predict and prevent future outages. FAU’s College of Nursing offers limited access; students must provide official test scores to be admitted, not only self-report scores. FAU requires students to submit the SSAR to be considered for admission.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (USF),
Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee
www.usf.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024 Freshmen
GPA: Fall 4.07-4.55; Summer 3.61-4.15
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1250-1400; Summer 1100-1190; ACT: Fall 27-31; Summer 22-25
Overview
USF is home to approximately 50,000 students across its three campuses: Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Last year, USF received 68,000 applications and accepted 6,700 students to their first-year class. The Tampa campus boasts 30+ dining locations, an on-campus Publix, and Living Learning Communities (residential communities that provide a cohort experience with peers who share similar interests). Last year, USF saw the opening of many new buildings: in Spring 2023, the Tampa campus opened a new 7,000 sq. ft. Student Wellness Center to help students stay well and enjoy college. This fall, the Tampa campus also opened a new 2,700 sq. ft. Esports Living Lab for casual and competitive gaming. Finally, the Tampa campus opened the new Judy Genshaft Honors College building that includes classrooms, study areas, offices, event venues, a music and computer lab, and collaborative spaces. In St. Pete, the school recently opened a new 375-bed residence hall called Osprey Suites that includes a full-service dining hall for the Hicks Honors students.
USF has something for everyone, with more than 600+ clubs and organizations offered. The Bloomberg Lab is just one of the school’s labs that provides some of the world’s most powerful tools for experimental learning. The school is ranked 14th in the nation in generating new patents according to the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Students who apply by the November 1 deadline will receive their decision by December 10.
FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY (FGCU), Fort Myers
www.fgcu.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024 Freshmen
Fall GPA: 3.80-4.54; Summer 3.16-4.21
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1070-1230; Summer 1030-1160; ACT: Fall 21-26; Summer 19-24
Overview
FGCU is a mid-sized university that has grown to include 16,522 students. The school is a champion for sustainable practices and resiliency – Service Learning and Environmental Sustainability are woven into the curriculum. FGCU has five schools: Bower School of Music & the Arts; Daveler & Kauanuk School of Entrepreneurship, School of Nursing, School of Resort & Hospitality Management, and the Water School. Dual enrollment students earning their AA may apply test-optional to FGCU.
Full-time faculty teach 81% of the classes. FGCU offers five resort-style on-campus housing options with amenities like a dining room, recreation & wellness center, and resort-style pool. November 1 is FGCU’s Early Action deadline, and March 1 is their Regular Decision deadline for the fall semester. Students should apply early if they want housing on campus.
FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE (FLORIDA POLY), Lakeland
www.floridapoly.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
GPA – Fall 4.35; Summer 3.96
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1160-1360; Summer 1130; ACT: Fall 25-31; Summer 23
Overview
Florida Poly is Florida’s only all STEM public university. Now in its 11th academic year, the school has increased its student body to 1,700. The curriculum emphasizes project-based learning, individualized mentorship with faculty, required internships in high-tech industries, and culminates in a senior capstone design project. The unique approach to STEM education prepares students for success in the rapidly advancing tech landscape.
The school boasts the #1 ranking for Starting Salaries of Graduates within the SUS. U.S. News & World Report ranked the university as one of the Top 20 Public Engineering Programs without a Ph.D. Students should take calculus, not AP Statistics, to be considered competitive for admissions to Florida Poly. Florida Poly requires students to submit the SSAR to be considered for admission. Florida Poly’s Early Action deadline and scholarship deadline is November 15.
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (FSU), Tallahassee
www.fsu.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
GPA: Fall 4.2-4.6; Summer 4.1-4.5
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1360-1470; Summer 1280-1360; ACT: Fall 30-33; Summer 28-30
University Honors Programs’ Middle 50% Admitted Student Profile
GPA: 4.4-4.7; SAT: 1390-1510; ACT: 31-34
Overview
This year, FSU received approximately 79,400 applications and admitted about 18,900 students, approximately 6,000 of whom enrolled. The school had a 25% overall admit rate; a 31% in-state admit rate, and a 13% out-of-state admit rate. The University Honors Program received 10,000 applications and currently enrolls 2,289 honors students, 60 of whom are Presidential Scholars. FSU was named the #1 Best Value College in Florida according to U.S. News & World Report. The school has a 96% retention rate and 75% four-year graduation rate.
Coming soon to FSU is Legacy Hall, the future home of FSU’s College of Business. The 220,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility will offer a flexible, collaborative, and multi-functional environment designed to enhance teaching, research, and learning. New majors at FSU include Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies/Business, Russian and East European Studies, Asian Studies/Business Asian Studies, and a Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway in Theatre.
FSU announced its newest varsity sport: women’s lacrosse, which is set to begin NCAA competition in the spring of 2026. New on FSU’s application, students can ask to be considered for both Summer and Fall terms. Students can indicate that they would like to be considered for both the Fall and Summer terms or they may indicate that they would only like to be considered for their preferred admission term. Students may also check off if they’re interested in learning about the school’s Seminole Pathways options. FSU’s Early Action deadline (for Florida students only) is October 15. All materials must be in by October 22 and all test scores must be in by December 1. FSU requires students to submit the SSAR to be considered for admission.
NEW COLLEGE OF FLORIDA (NCF), Sarasota
www.ncf.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
GPA: Fall 3.96; Summer 3.36
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1170; Summer 1045; ACT: Fall 24; Summer 23
Overview
New College of Florida is the smallest of the Florida’s public schools with 710 undergraduate students and an average class size of 12 students. NCF boasts being a small liberal arts college at a public school price. The school was ranked #6 Top Public School in America by US News & World Report. Students may choose from 50 areas of concentration (majors) in arts, humanities, and sciences. Students customize their own curriculums, participate in Independent Study Projects (ISPs), complete Senior Capstone Projects/Thesis, and learn from other valuable hands-on projects.
Students are assigned an academic coach to help them navigate the school’s academic options and their future. Students’ report cards do not include numbers or letters, but rather include narrative evaluations and performance evaluations with meaningful feedback. Within four months of graduation, 83% of graduates are employed or in graduate school. New this year is the President’s Inner Circle Scholarship, which includes full tuition, room, and board for students who have exceptional grades and exam scores (minimum 1400 on SAT or 31 on ACT) and are interested in campus leadership. New College’s Early Action deadline is November 1. Letters of recommendation are optional.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA (UNF), Jacksonville
www.unf.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
GPA: Fall 4.14-4.57; Summer 3.63-3.96
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1130-1300; Summer 1000-1160; ACT: Fall 24-29; Summer 19-25
Overview
UNF calls Jacksonville home. Due to its location, mild climate, and outstanding quality of life, the city has been named the #2 Hottest Job Market in America by the Wall Street Journal and the 4th Fastest Growing City in the U.S. by the U.S. Census Bureau. The school welcomed 1,900 first-year students and prides itself on offering small class sizes with personalized attention (average of 35 students per class). UNF has 17,000 total students and offers over 100 majors in five degree-awarding colleges: Brooks College of Health, Coggin College of Business, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Computing, Engineering & Construction, and College of Education and Human Services. Seventeen percent of students were enrolled in the Hicks Honors College.
New this fall, UNF will offer undergraduate and graduate programs in FinTech. Approximately 85% of seniors take part in internships and other real-world experiences before they graduate. The top 5 majors at UNF include Biomedical Science, Business Management, Computer Science, Pre-Health, and Psychology. Students can get involved in over 200 clubs and organizations. UNF’s priority deadline is November 1 with a November 13 decision release day. UNF uses the SSAR to accept self-reported grades.
UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA (UWF), Pensacola
www.uwf.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
GPA: Fall 3.69-4.24 Summer 3.51-4.1
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1040-1240; Summer 1000-1210; ACT: Fall 20-27; Summer 19-25
Overview
UNF’s campus includes 1,600 acres and 20+ miles of trails, making it one of the “Best College Campuses in Florida” (Niche). Located in Pensacola, UWF’s students live in one of the “Safest Places to Live in the U.S.,” (U.S. News & World Report) and live by one of the Top 25 U.S. Beaches (TripAdvisor). The school is home to over 14,000 students, making it large but still feeling close-knit. The top 5 majors include: Nursing (Pre-BSN), General Business, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, and Marine Biology. The Kugelman Honors Program offers students research support, exclusive summer study abroad opportunities, a Living Learning Community, and more. UWF was ranked #2 Best Value College for Students with Autism by BestValueSchools. UWF requires students to submit the SSAR to be considered for admission. UWF’s Scholarship Priority Consideration deadline is December 1.
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY (FAMU), Tallahassee
www.famu.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
Fall GPA: 3.84; Summer GPA: 3.47
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1120-1150; Summer 1025; ACT: Fall 21-23; Summer 20
Overview
FAMU, Florida’s only public Historically Black College/University (HBCU), has been ranked the #1 Public HBCU and the #3 HBCU by US News & World Report for five consecutive years. Additionally, it’s a Top 10 school for Health Science majors. FAMU offers 50 undergraduate majors, including pharmacy, nursing, journalism, health sciences, engineering, architecture, and business. The most popular majors for graduates are programs in health professions. The school enrolled 8,011 undergraduates last year and has between 1,100-1,400 students enroll each fall. FAMU’s alumni support students in launching their careers through professional internships and mentorship opportunities. FAMU uses the SSAR to accept self-reported grades. FAMU’s Early Action deadline is November 1.
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (FIU), Miami
www.fiu.edu
Middle 50% of Admitted First Time in College 2024
Fall GPA: 4.1-4.7; Summer 3.9-4.4
Standardized Tests – SAT: Fall 1250-1390; Summer 1090-1190; ACT: Fall 26-31; Summer 21-24
Overview
This year, FIU earned preeminent designation by Florida Board of Governors, a designation earned when a university meets a series of performance-based funding metrics related to student success, research, and top national recognition. FIU welcomed 5,300 new first-year students this past fall from 165 countries.
Year after year, FIU has the #1 pass rate of the Florida Bar exam. The FIU Honors College Law School Prep Program is specifically tailored to prepare pre-law students for success in the law school admission process and transition to the first year of law school. At FIU, 56% of undergraduates engage in research. FIU also offers a competitive 7-year BS/MD Pathway. To be eligible, some requirements include: admittance to FIU and FIU Honors College, a minimum 1350 SAT or 31 ACT, a 3.7+ unweighted GPA, and selection of Biology as the major on the FIU Common App. Sixty-four percent of undergraduate students identify as Hispanic/Latinx, and 11% identify as Black/African-American. FIU’s Early Action deadline for Florida students is November 1, while their All First-Year Application deadline is December 3. |
