Florida State University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Florida State University is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Florida State University admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 24%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1360 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,297 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Florida State University?

54% of enrolled students at Florida State University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.72, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

What does Florida State University weight in admissions?

Florida State University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Florida State University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 640. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Florida State University actually cost?

Published tuition is $5,656 for in-state students and $18,786 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,474 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $11,297 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 23% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Florida State University

Will my child graduate from Florida State University?

These predict outcomes at Florida State University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Florida State University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Florida State University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Finance and Financial Management Services and Criminal Justice and Corrections. Across all programs, Florida State University confers roughly 3,922 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $54,829 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Florida State University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Florida State University disclosed 158 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 4.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 15 violent offenses and 14 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Florida State University?

About 20% of undergraduates at Florida State University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 19% of men join a fraternity and 26% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Florida parents ask about

• University of Central Florida
  40% acceptance
• University of South Florida-Main Campus
  43% acceptance
• Florida International University
  55% acceptance
• University of North Florida
  53% acceptance
• Florida Atlantic University
  66% acceptance
• Florida Gulf Coast University
  63% acceptance
• Stetson University
  72% acceptance
• Rollins College
  48% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Florida State University