Admit rate has ranged 25%–37% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Florida State University (FSU) is a powerhouse public research university where Seminole pride runs deep—think top-tier academics, a raucous football culture, and a sun-soaked campus in Tallahassee. With acceptance rates tightening below 30%, FSU has shed its 'safety school' rep, now drawing students with mid-1300s SATs and a 76% four-year graduation rate. Its strengths range from physics to finance, all wrapped in a vibrant Greek life and alumni network that opens doors across Florida.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
32,212
In-state tuition
$5,656
Out-of-state tuition
$18,786
Top Majors
Psychology, Finance, Marketing
Acceptance Rate
24.2%
4-Year Grad Rate
76%
On-Campus Housing
20%
Freshman Retention
96%
Median Earnings After 1 Year
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$61,675
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
5.5×
Median debt at graduation
$18,000
Graduation rate
86%
First-year retention
96%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
63%
Pell (lower-income) share
60%
First-generation share
28%
Endowment / student
$31,974
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Industrial Engineering$71,643
Computer Engineering$71,015
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$68,918
Chemical Engineering$68,305
Mechanical Engineering$61,303
Management Information Systems and Services$61,218
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
11
Per 1,000 students
0.34
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
123
Summer high
90°F
Winter low
48°F
Annual rain
52.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
739
Scholarly works
111,162
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Future-scholar output
Humanities & social-science PhDstop 15 nationally
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.2%
Bottom → top quintile
34%
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Florida State University?
Florida State University's acceptance rate is approximately 24% (Tallahassee, FL), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Florida State University?
Admitted students at Florida State University typically score 1270–1410 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Florida State University cost?
At Florida State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $11,297 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Florida State University?
Florida State University enrolls approximately 32,212 undergraduate students.
Where is Florida State University located?
Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, FL.
Admissions
Getting into FSU isn't the slam dunk it once was—the Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. has plummeted to 24.2% (just 19% for out-of-state applicants), with admitted students boasting SAT scores between 1290–1400 or ACTs of 29–32. The university superscores tests, using the highest subscores across sittings. While in-state applicants have better odds (38% admit rate), even they face stiff competition; Reddit threads warn that unless you're a 'D1 athlete or have some other recruited talent, you want to be as high as possible' on stats. The Class of 2029 profile suggests FSU is prioritizing academic rigor over its former party-school image.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods$60,878
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$58,923
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Academics
FSU punches above its weight in physics, chemistry, and statistics, with programs ranked among the top 25 nationally for public universities. The most popular majors—psychology (9%), finance (7%), and marketing (6%)—reflect its balance between STEM and business. Professors earn praise for being 'approachable and invested,' contributing to a strong 83/99 academic rating from The Princeton Review. The university pushes a four-year graduation roadmap (75% of students hit this mark), backed by a 96% freshman retention rate. Notably, Pell Grant recipients graduate at nearly the same rate (83%) as the general student body, signaling robust support systems.
Life at FSU is a mix of Southern charm and big-school energy: 20% of students live on campus, while the rest flock to off-campus apartments near bars like Potbelly’s. The Instagram-ready landmarks—the football stadium, Westcott Fountain—double as rallying points for Seminole spirit. Reddit users gush about 'tons of clubs and activities,' from Her Campus meetings to intramural sports. Game days are sacrosanct, with the Marching Chiefs band and Chief Osceola’s flaming spear toss whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Even downtime is lively, with students lounging at Landis Green or hunting for the best food truck (the Korean-Mexican fusion is a cult favorite).
FSU’s 76% four-year graduation rate (83% at six years) outpaces many peers, with alumni earning a median $36,427 one year post-graduation. The university touts 'new highs' in retention and completion, crediting investments in academic advising. While some grads land lucrative roles in Tampa or Miami finance firms, others leverage FSU’s strong education and policy networks for public-sector jobs. Notably, Pell Grant recipients nearly match the overall graduation rate—a rarity that reflects FSU’s commitment to socioeconomic mobility. The College Scorecard data shows earnings vary by major, but the Seminole network (especially in Florida politics) gives a leg up.
At $15,815 net price (after average aid), FSU is a bargain for in-state students. Nearly half of enrollees receive financial aid, with packages averaging $13,622. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator flags costs like $6,684 for housing and $1,000 for books, but scholarships (like the $4,000 Phi Theta Kappa award for transfers) chip away at bills. Out-of-state students face steeper tabs, though FSU’s ROI—especially for business and STEM grads—helps justify the premium. Pro tip: Floridians benefit from Bright Futures scholarships, which can cover up to full tuition for high-achievers.
FSU merges elite academics (top-25 physics and chemistry programs) with unmatched school spirit—few universities rally around a horseback-riding mascot hurling a flaming spear. Its tightening selectivity (sub-25% admit rate) reflects rising prestige, while the 76% four-year grad rate proves students aren’t just there for football. The campus thrums with energy, whether it’s undergrads cheering at Doak Campbell Stadium or researchers breaking ground in the National High Magnetic Field Lab. For students who want a classic college experience with sunny skies, serious academics, and a network that dominates Florida, FSU delivers.
Florida State University logo · sourceFlorida State University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceFlorida State University - State University System of Florida · sourceAbout FSU | Florida State University · source
