Florida State University will welcome its latest incoming class of nearly 6,000 first-year students this fall as the new academic year begins Monday, Aug. 24.

The Class of 2030 arrives as Florida State celebrates its 175^th anniversary and builds on momentum in student success, entrepreneurship, research and FSU Health, FSU’s integrated academic health system.

“Florida State University has never had more momentum,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “We’ve set records every year over the last five years in student success, research and impacts on our community, and this freshman class will be an integral part of that continued success and momentum. It’s one of the best times of the year to see all the students moving in and the campus populated by so many people. It’s just so fun to be here at Florida State University.”

FSU received more than 96,000 applications for its first-year class, a 12% increase from the 2024-2025 application cycle. The admitted class included students from all 50 states, all 67 Florida counties and 55 countries, representing more than 2,700 U.S. high schools.

This year’s admitted students posted an average core GPA of 4.5, average SAT score of 1430 and average ACT score of 32. Additionally, 92% ranked in the top 10% of their high school classes, and 80% earned A/B grades. The five most popular areas of study among admitted students were business, engineering, biology, exploratory and political science.

Florida State continues to break its own graduation and retention rate records, strengthening its position as a national leader in student academic success. Last year, the university retained first-year students from their fall to spring semester at a record 99.2% rate, among the highest in the country. FSU also ranks among the nation’s top four public universities for its first-year retention rate, with 97% of students returning for their second year.

FSU offers a variety of pathways for first-year students. More than 600 students will start their FSU experience at Tallahassee State College through FSU Next, and approximately 300 students will begin their studies abroad at one of FSU’s four study centers through First Semester Abroad or First Year Abroad.

The start of the academic year also brings new faculty and academic leaders, expanded programs and continued investment in the student experience. Some notable items:

Students

• FSU’s graduate programs will enroll about 3,200 new students this fall, bringing total graduate enrollment to nearly 11,000 students across the university. The university received more than 16,000 graduate applications for the fall semester.
• This year, 6,300 students will live in one of FSU’s 18 on-campus residence hall complexes, including nearly 4,550 first-year students. University Housing offers a variety of living options for undergraduate and graduate students, including 11 Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) that will house more than 700 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. Earlier this year, FSU started construction on the northwest side of campus for a new residence hall, dining hall and parking garage.
• FSU continues to invest in programs for high-achieving students. The Presidential Scholars Program, FSU’s premier undergraduate merit scholarship, will welcome a cohort of 60 first-year students, while more than 780 students will join the University Honors Program. Nearly 700 Honors students will live in on-campus residence halls this academic year.

Faculty and academics

• For the fourth consecutive year, more than 200 new faculty have joined FSU since the start of the previous academic year.
• FSU also welcomed several new academic leaders this summer. Gregory Bell joined the university in July as dean of The Graduate School. Kirk Foster began serving as dean of the College of Social Work on Aug. 17. Assistant Provost and Marketing Professor Mike Brady has been appointed interim dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the university is searching for its next dean of the College of Law as Dean Erin O’Hara O’Connor prepares to step down.
• Florida State University continues to expand its academic offerings with several new programs this fall, including new online MBA majors in Healthcare Administration and Alternative Investments and Finance through the Wertheim College of Business, an undergraduate program in Interdisciplinary Design through the College of Fine Arts, an undergraduate degree in Civics and Liberty Studies, a one-year graduate program in Data and Society and new undergraduate majors in Intelligence Students and Emergency Management through the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, and FSU Panama City’s undergraduate Clinical Professions major through the College of Medicine.

New around Tallahassee and upcoming events

• From everyday travelers to fans arriving for FSU gamedays, campus tours or move-in week, anyone passing through Tallahassee International Airport can now step onto the turf and snap a photo with a 7-foot, hand-painted aluminum replica of FSU’s flaming spear. #PlantTheSpearTLH
• The FSU Health Research and Collaboration Building will open later this fall on the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare campus, providing space for clinical research, laboratories and a family medicine residency clinic, creating new opportunities for education, patient care and scientific discovery.
• “Welcome FSU” offers events and activities to kick off the fall semester through Saturday, Aug. 29. These events give students opportunities to learn about campus resources, get involved and make FSU and Tallahassee feel like home.
• FSU Nite, Florida State University’s official welcome event and pep rally, kicks off the academic year at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Langford Green with performances by the Marching Chiefs, FSU Golden Girls & Company Dance Team, FSU Cheer, other spirit groups and DJ Demp.
• The FSU football team opens its season at Doak S. Campbell Stadium against New Mexico State at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29. Students are invited to the first Garnet & Gold Tailgate of the season from 4-6 p.m. at the Union Green.

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Florida State University will welcome another impressive freshman class to campus this fall as the new academic year starts Monday, Aug. 28.

“We are so excited to welcome this freshman class to Florida State University,” said President Richard McCullough. “FSU is a wonderful and beautiful campus — very friendly and welcoming — and we’re so proud of our freshman class that’s coming here this year. They are among the best students that have ever entered Florida State University, and we are here to make sure that each and every one of them experiences student success at the highest level.”

The new class joins the Florida State family as the university continues to set ambitious goals around research and academic excellence, student success, entrepreneurship and innovation.

FSU received close to 75,000 applications for a first-year class of about 6,000 students. This year’s admitted students continue to be among the university’s most academically accomplished. They boast an average GPA of 4.4, 1350 total SAT score and an ACT composite score of 30.

The admitted class includes first-year students from all 50 states, all 67 Florida counties and 61 countries. Outside of Florida, the top five states for newly admitted students are Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois.

Twenty-two percent of admitted students are among the first in their families to attend college or university. The five most popular majors for the incoming freshmen are business, engineering, biological science, exploratory and psychology.

FSU is committed to investing in growing its programs for high-achieving students, and that investment is paying off. The Presidential Scholars Program — the premier undergraduate merit scholarship at FSU — will welcome its largest cohort of first-year students in history with 48 joining the program this fall. In addition, the university’s competitive Honors Program has grown exponentially from about 400 incoming freshmen to a class of about 600.

The university’s graduate programs, which are among the best in the nation, will enroll approximately 3,100 new graduate students this fall, representing a 12 percent increase. Graduate applications were up 33 percent for the new academic year with the university receiving a record 23,035 applications. FSU’s graduate enrollment is now close to 10,000 students across all programs.

This semester, FSU also welcomes one of its biggest cohorts of international students with approximately 600 undergraduate and graduate students arriving in Tallahassee. The group hails from 74 nations with India, China and Panama as the three most-represented countries.

Other notable items for the upcoming academic year include:

• More than 220 new faculty in disciplines across the university are joining FSU this fall.
• This year, 6,700 students will live in FSU’s 18 on-campus residence halls. University Housing offers a variety of living styles for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Welcome FSU is offering an array of events and activities to kick off the fall semester through Sunday, Sept. 3. 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.
• CANCELED – New Student Convocation has been canceled due to weather. Continue to check alerts.fsu.edu for updates regarding campus closures.
• The FSU football team opens its season in Orlando against LSU at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Students are invited to a watch party in the lower level of the Student Union, featuring multiple viewing screens, giveaways and food.

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