FIU: the complete school report for parents
FIU rates 4 of the 18 admission factors Very Important, among them course rigor, GPA and test scores. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider the interview, so there is no interview to prepare for. With a 60.9% admit rate and 65% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and a strong test score is close to expected. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer Engineering graduates earn a median $103,462 against $30,242 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
FIU is officially Florida International University. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does FIU actually weigh in admissions?
FIU rates 4 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores, class rank. It does not consider 2 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is FIU's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How FIU rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Very Important |
| the essay | Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Considered |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Very Important |
| demonstrated interest | Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does FIU consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does FIU consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does FIU consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. A score at or above the middle-50 range is close to expected here.
Does FIU consider the application essay?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider recommendation letters?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider class rank?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does FIU consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider an interview?
No. FIU does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does FIU consider legacy status?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. It can act as a tiebreaker but will not carry a weak application.
Does FIU consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does FIU consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider state residency?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does FIU consider religious affiliation?
No. FIU does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
65% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 4 on a 4.0 scale, reported for 99% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 65% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 14% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 14% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 5% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 2% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0% |
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
FIU admitted 73.8% of 8,622 transfer applicants, against 60.9% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
FIU reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | March 4 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | June 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 3 |
| Application fee | $30 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
FIU requires 18 academic units. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | Not stated |
| Mathematics | 4 years | Not stated |
| Science | 3 years | Not stated |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 2 years | Not stated |
| History | 0 years | Not stated |
| Visual / performing arts | 0 years | Not stated |
What will FIU actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $9,288 a year at FIU after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $6,168. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 48.9% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 1,130 merit awards averaging $2,149 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $7,003 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $7,873 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $10,925 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $14,568 |
| Over $110,000 | $18,200 |
21% of FIU graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $18,003 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $175 a month in repayment. FIU’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from FIU pay off?
Graduates earn a median $60,249 ten years after entering, and $47,768 at six years. 78% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 54% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $28,012 | 1.7 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $31,492 | 1.9 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $43,700 | 2.7 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $58,272 | 3.6 |
| Over $110,000 | $72,800 | 4.5 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$103,462 to $30,242, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at FIU:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $103,462 | 121 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,194 | 221 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $93,759 | 234 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $89,221 | 665 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $80,112 | 247 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $76,804 | 665 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $66,798 | 381 |
| International Business | $64,473 | 501 |
| Marketing | $62,558 | 489 |
| Psychology, General | $48,400 | 1,715 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $30,315 | 96 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $30,242 | 33 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
92% of first-years return for a second year. 78% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 77.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 78.0% of everyone else, a gap of 1.0 points.
How big are the classes?
47% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 2% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 24:1, and 98% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at FIU like?
46,249 undergraduates, 5% of first-years from out of state. 25% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 7% across all undergraduates. 41% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $58,110.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
- 65% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 4. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- FIU rates test scores Very Important, so a score at or above its middle-50 range is close to expected rather than optional.
- Its highest-earning major returns $103,462 five years out against $30,242 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about FIU
What GPA do you need for FIU?
65% of enrolled students at FIU had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What do FIU graduates earn?
FIU graduates earn a median $60,249 ten years after entering, and 78% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with FIU
- University of GeorgiaAdmissions report · 34.3% admit rate
- South CarolinaAdmissions report · 56.5% admit rate
- NC State University | NC State | N C State University | N C State | NCSUAdmissions report · 39.5% admit rate
- Ole MissAdmissions report · 97.4% admit rate
- Oklahoma State University-Main CampusAdmissions report · 73.7% admit rate
- IowaAdmissions report · 79.9% admit rate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: FIU’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.