Florida State University

For Fall 2025, 85,469 first-year students applied to Florida State, 20,364 were admitted and 6,559 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 23.8%.

Source: FSU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025

Source: FSU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.

By school or major. FSU's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by college or major.

Source: FSU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early plans. FSU offers binding Early Decision to domestic applicants and non-binding Early Action to Florida residents. The Common Data Set does not report how many applied or were admitted early, so it gives no early acceptance rate.

Source: FSU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

You apply to FSU through one application. Some majors and programs ask for more:

• Talent-based majors. If you plan to major in dance, film (animation or production), music, stage management, studio art or theatre, contact the academic department directly for its own major requirements. Talent-based programs cannot be applied to through Early Decision.
• University Honors Program. Answer Yes to the Honors question on the application, then complete the separate Honors/Presidential Scholars application on the Admissions Portal by December 1.
• CARE Summer Bridge Program. Answer Yes to the CARE question on the application and complete the separate CARE supplemental application on the Admissions Portal. CARE applicants cannot apply Early Decision.

Every applicant self-reports courses and grades through STARS, uploads an essay and a resume or activity list. Letters of recommendation are not required and are not used.

Source: FSU Admissions, First-Year: Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

101 majors across 16 schools. Every bachelor's degree program in FSU's official 2026-2027 General Bulletin, grouped by the college that offers it. The Bulletin lists programs by degree level, not by degree name. Minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

Supporting materials are due a week after each application deadline: October 22, December 8 and March 8. Early Decision applicants must apply through the Common App. The deposit is due January 15 for Early Decision and May 1 for every other plan. The application fee is $30.

Source: FSU Admissions, Deadlines and Application Fees (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Early Decision is binding: if admitted, you withdraw all other college applications and pay the enrollment deposit by January 15. You may still apply elsewhere through non-binding Early Action, Regular Decision or rolling admission, but not to another binding plan. You, a parent or guardian, and a school counselor sign the Early Decision Agreement. If you are deferred, you are released from the agreement and hear on February 18. International applicants apply through Regular Decision.

Source: FSU Admissions, First-Year: Apply (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027

FSU requires a test score: at least one ACT, CLT or SAT score must be submitted before the materials deadline. You enter your own scores on the Admissions Portal; FSU does not take scores entered in the Common App. FSU superscores the ACT, CLT and SAT using your highest section scores from every test date, and the ACT composite uses only English, math and reading.

Source: FSU Admissions, What We're Looking For (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as required to be considered for admission for fall 2027 applicants, with scores due by March 1, 2027.

Source: FSU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.

For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028

Not announced yet. When we checked Florida State's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.

Source: FSU Admissions, Deadlines and Application Fees (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

The published cost of a year at Florida State, 2026-2027:

For a full-time first-year student living on campus, fall and spring.

Source: FSU Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections G1 and G5. Read Oct 1, 2026.

Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:

What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from FSU's aid offer.

Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.

Chosen for how close each is to Florida State University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.

• University of FloridaGainesville, FL · Public20.3% admitted$6,541 average net price
• The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX · Public22.2% admitted$19,857 average net price
• University of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC · Public16.7% admitted$11,655 average net price
• University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · Public34.3% admitted$13,936 average net price
• Spelman CollegeAtlanta, GA · Private23.8% admitted$38,967 average net price

Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.