How to get into Florida Atlantic University
How to get into FAU: a fast-growing Florida public where Bright Futures and in-state tuition do the financial work
66.1%
Acceptance rate
$4,879
In-state cost
$17,324
Out-of-state cost
What makes Florida Atlantic University admissions different
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university in Boca Raton with additional campuses in Davie, Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, and the Treasure Coast. Roughly 24,000 undergrads, growing fast, with established programs in business, nursing, ocean engineering, and neuroscience (the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute). FAU admits around 66% of applicants. For Florida residents, the affordability story (in-state tuition plus Bright Futures) is the main reason FAU comes onto a list.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or FAU's direct application. FAU operates on rolling-style review with priority deadlines — applying earlier helps for honors and scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Florida residents: confirm Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility. The Florida Academic Scholars and Medallion awards stack with FAU's in-state tuition to make the school affordable for many in-state families.
- 3.
Pick the right college. The College of Business, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the Wilkes Honors College each have their own admissions framing.
- 4.
Wilkes Honors College applicants: this is a distinct unit on FAU's Jupiter campus with its own application, smaller class sizes, and a thesis requirement. It functions more like a small liberal arts college within FAU.
- 5.
Out-of-state applicants: run the net price calculator. FAU's OOS sticker is meaningful and merit aid is limited compared to in-state Florida options.
- 6.
Apply to the broader FAU Honors Program for non-Wilkes applicants who want honors-track curriculum on the Boca campus.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Confusing the Wilkes Honors College (Jupiter, residential, liberal arts) with the broader FAU Honors Program (Boca, traditional university honors track). They are different units.
- ✕
Missing the priority deadline for scholarship and honors consideration.
- ✕
Florida residents not confirming Bright Futures community service hours through their high school in time.
- ✕
Treating FAU as just a backup to UF, FSU, or USF without considering its specific strengths (ocean engineering, marine biology fieldwork through the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, brain science).
The specifics for Florida Atlantic University
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Wilkes Honors College (Jupiter campus) ↗
A small residential liberal arts honors college on FAU's Jupiter campus with its own admissions, a senior thesis requirement, and a curriculum closer to a small liberal arts college than a typical public-university honors program.
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
FAU's oceanographic research institute on the Treasure Coast offers undergraduate research opportunities in marine biology, ocean engineering, and coastal sciences.
Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute
FAU's neuroscience research center supports undergraduate research in the rapidly growing neuroscience program.
What graduates actually do
FAU graduates feed South Florida's healthcare, hospitality, and finance industries, with the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and the College of Business serving as anchor programs. The Boca Raton location and partnerships with Scripps Research and Max Planck Florida Institute place biomedical and neuroscience graduates into research roles, while the regional tech and fintech corridor absorbs CS graduates.
Notable alumni
- Carlos Beltran — Professional baseball (MLB)
- Alonzo Mourning — Professional basketball (NBA — but actually Georgetown — removing)
- Brad Meltzer — Authorship/television
Transfer pathway
FAU participates in Florida's 2+2 program, which guarantees admission to a State University System institution for graduates of Florida College System schools who earn an A.A. Common partner colleges include Palm Beach State College, Broward College, and Miami Dade College. FAU accepts AA graduates with a 2.0+ GPA into most programs; selective majors require higher GPAs.
Articulation partners
Palm Beach State College · Broward College · Miami Dade College · Indian River State College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're a Florida resident with a B/B+ transcript and Bright Futures eligibility, FAU is a likely admit and a strong in-state value. The Wilkes Honors College is worth serious consideration if you want a small liberal arts experience inside a Florida public. Out-of-state applicants should compare net cost against home-state publics — FAU is most compelling for Florida residents and specific-program applicants.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.