College Profiles/ Florida State University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Florida State University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Tallahassee, FL · 33,068 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Florida State University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Florida State University admitted 23.8% of 85,469 first-year applicants.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1300 to 1410.[1] The 2026-27 cost of attendance is $26,018 for in-state students and $43,916 out of state.[2] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Decision I Oct 15, Early Action Oct 15 (Florida residents only), Regular Decision Dec 1 (Rolling to Mar 1 after).[3]
23.8%
Overall admit rate[1]
1300 to 1410
Middle 50% SAT[1]
$43,916
Out-of-state cost, 2026-27[2]
85.8%
Six-year graduation rate[1]
Florida State University at a Glance
- Location
- Tallahassee, FL
- Type
- Public
- Student to faculty ratio
- 17:1[4]
- Endowment
- $1 billion (federal data)[4]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Required[3]
- Application
- Common App, FSU Application[3]
- First-year retention
- 96.0%[4]
The ConnectPrep Take on Florida State University
The ConnectPrep take
Florida State reads applicants through three named values: Vires for rigor, grades and courses, Artes for what your student does outside class, and Mores for character shown in the essay and resume. Recommendation letters are not used, so the essay and resume carry the personal story. The admit rate is 23.8% on 85,469 applicants. The early round comes on Oct 15, with binding ED for domestic students and EA for Florida residents only, and merit funds go first to those early applicants. FSU requires the SAT, ACT or CLT, superscores, and will not accept self-reported scores, so official scores must arrive through the portal. With a middle 50% SAT of 1300 to 1410, aim for 1355 or higher and push toward 1410. The common miss is the Honors supplement, due Dec 1, which can take 48 hours to appear.
What to do this fall
- Treat Oct 15 as your student's real deadline; ED and EA applicants get priority for limited merit scholarship funds.
- Send official SAT, ACT or CLT scores to the FSU Admissions Portal early, since self-reported Common App scores do not count.
- Apply several days before Dec 1 so the Honors and Presidential Scholars supplement appears in time to complete.
- Acting, Dance, Film, Music and Studio Art applicants cannot use ED and must follow separate specialized review timelines.
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Florida State University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
85,469 |
20,364 |
23.8% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 32.2%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT composite[1] |
1300 to 1410 |
| ACT composite[1] |
29 to 32 |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1410 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 32 on the ACT. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Florida State University looks for
In its own words: FSU describes a holistic and selective review in which no single criterion guarantees admission, organized around three values: Vires (rigor, grades and courses), Artes (activities, work and responsibilities outside class) and Mores (character shown through the essay and resume). Letters of recommendation are not required and are not used in decisions.[5][6]
Florida State University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Decision I |
Oct 15 |
Dec 17 |
| Early Action |
Oct 15 (Florida residents only) |
Dec 17 |
| Regular Decision |
Dec 1 (Rolling to Mar 1 after) |
Feb 18 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Florida State University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Admissions merit scholarships
Before RD |
Oct 15 (ED or EA for priority) |
Automatic with a complete application by the priority deadline, but funds are limited and priority goes to ED and EA applicants (EA is Florida residents only).[3] |
| University Honors Program and Presidential Scholars supplemental application |
Dec 1 |
Answer Yes to the honors question, then submit a separate 250 to 350 word supplemental short answer by Dec 1, 2026; the supplement can take up to 48 hours to appear after applying, so do not apply on Dec 1. Decisions Feb 18.[7] |
| Presidential Scholars and Stamps Scholars |
Dec 1 |
Require applying to the University Honors Program (same essay covers Presidential Scholars) plus an interview.[8] |
| FAFSA for early applicants |
Dec 1 |
ED and EA applicants seeking need-based aid should file FAFSA by Dec 1 to receive a package in January.[3] |
| CARE Summer Bridge |
See note |
Requires a separate supplemental application on the Admissions Portal and is not available to ED applicants.[3] |
See how Florida State University compares with other colleges in the South deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Florida State University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance, in-state (2026-2027)[2] |
$26,018 |
| Cost of attendance, out-of-state (2026-2027)[2] |
$43,916 |
Non-Florida resident undergraduate on the Tallahassee main campus living on campus, 13 credits per term. Florida residents: tuition $5,604, total $26,018.[2]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year in-state students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[4]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$5,938 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$6,963 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$10,496 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$14,991 |
| Over $110,000 |
$19,239 |
| All aided students |
$11,297 |
Academics and Majors at Florida State University
Signature programs
University Honors Program and Presidential Scholars
First-year applicants opt in on the application and complete a supplemental Honors and Presidential Scholars application by December 1.[6]
CARE Summer Bridge Program
A summer bridge program with its own supplemental application on the Admissions Portal.[6]
Talent-based arts programs
FSU's acting, dance, film, music, music theatre, stage management and studio art programs use separate specialized review processes with varying timelines.[6]
Branch campuses in Panama City, Florida and the Republic of Panama
FSU lists branch campuses in Panama City, Florida and in the Republic of Panama.[6]
Choosing a major and getting in
Admitted students are admitted to FSU for the summer or fall term, and FSU tells applicants to carefully review all major requirements in its Academic Program Guide. Talent-based programs such as Acting, Dance, Film, Music, Music Theatre, Stage Management and Studio Art use separate specialized reviews and are not eligible for Early Decision.[6]
Special admission paths
- Early Decision (binding, October 15, domestic students).[6]
- Early Action (Florida residents only, October 15).[6]
- Summer term admission.[6]
- CARE Summer Bridge Program.[6]
- University Honors Program and Presidential Scholars application.[6]
- Branch campuses in Panama City, Florida and the Republic of Panama.[6]
Florida State University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[4] |
96.0% |
| Graduated within six years[1] |
85.8% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[4] |
$61,675 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[4] |
$18,000 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[4] |
23% |
Make Florida State University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Florida State University FAQs
What is the Florida State University acceptance rate?
Florida State University admitted 23.8% of first-year applicants (20,364 of 85,469).
When are the Florida State University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Decision I Oct 15; Early Action Oct 15 (Florida residents only); Regular Decision Dec 1 (Rolling to Mar 1 after). 1 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Florida State University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $26,018 for in-state students and $43,916 for out-of-state students.
What SAT score do you need for Florida State University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1300 to 1410 on the SAT and 29 to 32 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1410, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Required.
Does FSU require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Florida State requires at least one SAT, ACT or CLT score before the materials deadline, submitted through the FSU Admissions Portal rather than self-reported on the Common App. FSU superscores across all three tests. The middle 50% SAT is 1300 to 1410 and the ACT is 29 to 32, so a retake that lifts one section is worth it.
Does Florida State use letters of recommendation?
No. FSU says letters of recommendation are not required and are not used in decisions. Its review centers on Vires, meaning grades and course rigor, Artes, meaning activities, work and responsibilities outside class, and Mores, meaning character shown through the essay and resume. That puts more weight on how your student writes the essay and builds the resume.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Florida State University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
