Florida International University
Miami's public research university: huge, majority-Hispanic, low-cost, and built around the city's global economy.
- Acceptance rate
- 61%
- First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
- Students
- 55,811
- 46,249 undergraduates
- International
- 8%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 25:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $21,852
- 2026-27
About FIU
Florida International University was founded by the Florida Legislature in 1965 and opened to students in 1972. It is now one of the largest universities in the country, with 55,811 students in fall 2025, 46,249 of them undergraduates, and it is part of the State University System of Florida, which has designated it a Preeminent State Research University. The main Modesto A. Maidique Campus covers 344 acres in western Miami-Dade County, with a waterfront campus on Biscayne Bay, an Engineering Center and sites downtown on Brickell and in Miami Beach.
FIU offers more than 190 degrees across colleges that include Business, Engineering and Computing, Arts, Sciences and Education, the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, and Miami's only public schools of law and medicine. Its research runs from hurricane engineering to coastal science and public health, and it reports more than $2 billion in research awards and over 300 patents across its history.
About two-thirds of undergraduates are Hispanic or Latino and most are from Miami-Dade and South Florida; only 7% live on campus. Admission is selective but open to strong students (61% of first-year applicants were admitted for fall 2025), and tuition for Florida residents is among the lowest of any U.S. research university. FIU suits students who want a big, practical, city-connected university, want to graduate with little debt, and are comfortable building their own community in a commuter-heavy campus.
Why students choose FIU
Florida residents pay about $6,168 a year in tuition for 2026-27, and the Golden Promise covers 100% of tuition and fees for first-time Florida students with a zero expected family contribution.
The Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management enrolls more than 2,000 students and trains them for the hotel, food service and tourism industries of Miami.
Merit scholars and National Merit Finalists get guaranteed Honors College admission and access to early assurance programs for FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and College of Law.
Miami's industries in finance, trade, travel, healthcare and technology are on the doorstep; FIU says 71% of graduates are employed or in a master's program a year after graduating.
Admissions
First-year applicants for fall 2025 (Common Data Set 2025-26)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
21,976 admitted from 36,103 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
5,854 first-years enrolled. Admits were 16,632 Florida residents, 3,155 out-of-state and 2,189 international applicants. FIU admits students to pathways: Fall Direct is the most selective, Early Fall Direct students start in the summer term, and some applicants are offered Spring Direct entry in January.
Typical entry requirements
| U.S. high school coursework (Florida BOG) | 18 academic units: 4 English, 4 math, 3 science (2 with lab), 2 foreign language and 3 social studies, plus academic electives |
|---|---|
| International secondary school record | Decision based on GPA combined with SAT, ACT or CLT scores; official transcripts with certified English translations |
| English language | For direct admission, international first-year applicants do not need TOEFL or IELTS scores; English readiness is judged from the SAT or ACT reading and English sub-scores required by the Florida Board of Governors. The Global First Year program offers English support for students who need it. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 27 daysNovember 2, 2026
Complete application with documents for Early Fall or Fall 2027; notification December 10, 2026; deposit May 1, 2027. Also the merit scholarship deadline for students at Florida high schools.
- All first-year applicants (priority) Non-binding In ~2 monthsDecember 16, 2026
Notification January 21, 2027. Merit scholarship and out-of-state tuition waiver deadline for students at out-of-state and overseas high schools.
- Final deadline Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 2, 2027
Last decisions April 2, 2027; deposit May 1, 2027.
Dates are FIU's published deadlines for Early Fall and Fall 2027. Applications open August 1. FAFSA opens October 1 with an early award priority date of December 1. Test scores sent after the deadline are not considered.
How to apply
Common App (do not also apply through FIU's own portal); $30 fee or SAT/ACT fee waiver; official transcripts sent directly from every high school attended; SAT, ACT or CLT scores sent from the testing agency; AP, IB or CLEP scores; Florida residency documentation. Essays and recommendations are not required for general admission.
What admissions looks for
- Academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record, measured against Florida Board of Governors minimums.
- SAT, ACT or CLT scores, which are required and combined with GPA for both domestic and international decisions.
- Completion of the required college-prep units in English, math, science, foreign language and social studies.
- For the Golden Scholars summer bridge program, first-generation or Pell-eligible status and participation in college-bound programs.
Tips for applying to FIU
- 1 Apply by November 2 (Florida high schools) or December 16 (out-of-state and international) with official test scores already sent: merit scholarships and Honors College guarantees are awarded automatically from that pool.
- 2 Take your last SAT by October 3 or ACT by October 17, 2026 for scholarship consideration, and send scores directly to FIU (SAT code 5206, ACT 0776).
- 3 Out-of-state and international applicants can receive Gold and Blue awards of $4,000 to $24,000 over four years or an out-of-state tuition waiver, so apply by December 16.
- 4 If you are offered Early Fall entry, you start in June and must complete summer courses; all FIU students need 9 summer credits to graduate anyway.
- 5 If your grades or scores improve after a denial or deferral, FIU lets you appeal or send first-semester grades and new scores.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for Florida International University
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
FIU awards more than $180 million in aid a year and about 89% of full-time undergraduates receive some. The Golden Promise covers full tuition and fees for first-time Florida students with a zero expected family contribution, and Gold and Blue merit scholarships are awarded automatically ($1,000 to $12,000 for Floridians, $4,000 to $24,000 for non-residents, spread over four years). International students on F-1 visas are eligible for merit scholarships, and 872 nonresident undergraduates received institutional aid in the latest CDS.
- $29,804 / $45,488, including books, transportation and personal costs
- 2026-27 cost of attendance, on campus (Florida resident / non-resident)
- 872 students, averaging $5,837
- Nonresident (international) undergraduates receiving institutional aid (CDS 2025-26)
- About 89%
- Full-time undergraduates receiving any aid
- Full tuition and fees, book stipend, and on-campus housing with a meal plan
- Non-Florida National Merit Finalists
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall, spring and summer; 9 summer credits required to graduate)
Hospitality and Tourism Management (Chaplin School)
More than 2,000 students from around the world study hotel, food service and tourism management in Miami, one of the country's major tourism markets.
International relations and public affairs (Green School)
The Steven J. Green School brings together politics and international relations, economics, history, modern languages, public administration and criminal justice in one school.
Nursing (Nicole Wertheim College)
The college is the second-largest producer of nurses in Florida and also trains athletic trainers, speech therapists and occupational and physical therapists.
Computing (Knight Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences)
Part of the College of Engineering and Computing, which offers accredited programs in biomedical, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, and mechanical engineering.
Business (R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business)
Undergraduate business school with the Tibor and Sheila Hollo School of Real Estate, feeding Miami's finance, trade and real estate sectors.
Research
- Designated a Preeminent State Research University by Florida, with more than $2 billion in research awards and over 300 patents over its history.
- The 12-fan Wall of Wind can simulate a Category 5 hurricane and was selected by the National Science Foundation in 2015 as a national natural-hazards experimental facility.
- FIU operates the Aquarius Reef Base, an underwater research habitat on the sea floor off Key Largo in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
- The Wolfsonian-FIU museum in Miami Beach and the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum on the main campus support art and design study.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts, Sciences & Education
- College of Business
- College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts
- College of Engineering and Computing
- Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs
- Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
- Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
- Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
- FIU College of Law
- Honors College
- University Graduate School
FIU reports that 71% of graduates are employed or enrolled in a master's program one year after graduation. College Scorecard: median earnings of $60,249 ten years after entry (and $47,768 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
FIU is largely a commuter university: 7% of undergraduates and a quarter of first-years live in university housing, and most students come from South Florida. Campus life centres on the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, with its lakes, palm-lined walkways and the Frost Art Museum, while the Biscayne Bay Campus sits on the water in North Miami. The FIU Panthers compete in NCAA Division I in more than 17 sports, with football tailgating a fall fixture. Two-thirds of undergraduates are Hispanic or Latino, and the student body reflects Miami's ties to Latin America and the Caribbean.
- FIU Panthers compete in NCAA Division I and Conference USA across more than 17 sports.
- Three museums: the Frost Art Museum on campus, the Wolfsonian-FIU in Miami Beach and the Jewish Museum of Florida.
- Honors College with its own curriculum alongside any major, plus Honors Place housing for Honors students.
- Two main campuses: Modesto A. Maidique in western Miami-Dade and the waterfront Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami.
Housing. Only 7% of undergraduates (25% of first-years) live on campus, so most students commute or rent nearby; international students in the Global First Year program get priority access to housing.
Location
The main campus is in Westchester, a suburban area of western Miami-Dade County, with Miami International Airport and downtown Miami a drive away. Miami gives students access to beaches, Latin American culture, international business and a large job market, but the region is car-dependent and housing is expensive. The Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami and the FIU Downtown on Brickell site put some programs closer to the water and the financial district.
Nearest airport: Miami International Airport (MIA)
Notable alumni
- JN Jeanette NuñezLieutenant Governor of Florida (2019-2025) and now FIU president (BA 1994, MPA 1998)
- IR Ileana Ros-LehtinenLong-serving U.S. Congresswoman from Miami (BA and MA in education)
- FS Francis SuarezMayor of Miami, 2017-2025 (BA in finance)
- EB Esteban BovoFormer mayor of Hialeah and Miami-Dade County commissioner (BS in political science 1987)
- ML Mike Lowell2007 World Series MVP and four-time MLB All-Star third baseman (bachelor's in finance 1997)
- TY T. Y. HiltonFour-time Pro Bowl NFL wide receiver with the Indianapolis Colts (played for the FIU Panthers)
- TL Tayna LawrenceOlympic gold medalist sprinter for Jamaica in the 4 x 100 m relay
- CA Carlos ArroyoPuerto Rican NBA point guard (studied at FIU, 1998-2001)
Frequently asked questions
What is FIU's acceptance rate?
FIU admitted 21,976 of 36,103 first-year applicants for fall 2025, about 61%. The Fall Direct pathway is the most selective; other admits start in the summer (Early Fall) or January.
Does FIU require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. All first-year applicants, including international students, must submit SAT, ACT or CLT scores. Enrolled first-years in fall 2025 had a middle-50% SAT of 1070-1260 and ACT of 22-27.
How much does FIU cost for out-of-state and international students?
Non-resident tuition for 2026-27 is $10,926 per semester ($21,852 a year), and the on-campus cost of attendance is $45,488. Merit awards and out-of-state tuition waivers can reduce this.
Does FIU require TOEFL or IELTS?
Not for direct first-year admission. International applicants show English readiness through the SAT or ACT reading and English sub-scores required by the Florida Board of Governors.
When are FIU's application deadlines for fall 2027?
Early Action is November 2, 2026 (decisions December 10), the priority deadline for all first-years is December 16, 2026 (decisions January 21), and the final deadline is March 2, 2027.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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