As the new academic year starts Monday, Aug. 25, Florida State University will welcome another talented class of freshmen to campus. Each student brings an impressive academic background with them as they start their FSU experience.
Before classes start, FSU President Richard McCullough offered a message of encouragement to the incoming class.
“To our newest students, I hope that you’ll embrace the warm, friendly and supportive environment that makes FSU so special,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Here we treat one another with kindness and respect, engage in thoughtful dialogue and value the free exchange of ideas. We take care of ourselves and look out for each other. Welcome to the FSU family!”
The Class of 2029 joins Florida State University as the university advances its strategic objectives to enhance student success, establish FSU Health and promote innovation and entrepreneurship while engaging in impactful research.
FSU received more than 86,000 applications for a first-year class of about 6,200, a nearly 182% increase in first-year applications over the past 10 years. The admitted class includes students from all 50 states, all 67 Florida counties and 50 countries, with admits from 2,751 U.S. high schools.
Students admitted this year continue to impress with strong academic records, with the average core GPA between 4.2-4.6, combined SAT score between 1340-1450 and ACT composite score between 30-33. The five most popular majors were business, biology, exploratory, engineering and political science.
This year’s admitted students demonstrate a high-level of college readiness, with 77% achieving A/B grades in rigorous courses, 64% having taken calculus or higher advanced level math and 765 admitted students earning their associate degree in high school. Additionally, 25% of admitted students are among the first in their families to attend college or university.
FSU offers a variety of pathways for first-year students. Roughly 800 students will start their FSU experience at Tallahassee State College through FSU Next, and nearly 315 students will start their FSU experience abroad at one of FSU’s four study centers through First Semester Abroad or First Year Abroad.
Other notable items for the upcoming academic year include:
- For the third consecutive year, more than 200 new faculty in disciplines across the university will join FSU this fall.
- This year, 6,707 students will live in one of FSU’s 18 on-campus residence hall complexes. University Housing offers a variety of living styles for undergraduate and graduate students, including ten Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) that will house more than 650 first-time-in-college students this year. Students living in LLCs are advised by faculty from one of the colleges or FSU’s Division of Undergraduate Studies.
- FSU is committed to investing in growing its programs for high-achieving students. The Presidential Scholars Program — the premier undergraduate merit scholarship at FSU — will once again welcome a cohort of 60 first-year students, while the competitive Honors Program will provide the new class of more than 800 students with exceptional and transformative educational experiences.
- “Welcome FSU” is offering an array of events and activities to kick off the fall semester through Saturday, Aug. 30. These events are a great way for students to learn about campus resources, ways to get involved and how to make FSU and Tallahassee home.
- The FSU football team opens its season at the newly renovated Doak S. Campbell Stadium against Alabama at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. Students are invited to the first Garnet & Gold Tailgate of the season at the Union Green.