


Florida Atlantic University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award degrees. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual professional program.
FAU also has programs for which specialized accreditation matters, including fields such as engineering, business, nursing, and medicine. An applicant should verify the specific program and credential with its accreditor, especially when seeking professional licensure. Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not by itself guarantee that credits will transfer to another college or that a graduate will qualify for a license. Those decisions also depend on the receiving institution or licensing authority.
First-year admission to FAU is selective rather than open enrollment. Applicants generally submit an undergraduate application, a high school transcript showing graduation or an accepted equivalent, and required admission test results. Florida public-university applicants should check FAU's current instructions for accepted tests, which may include the SAT, ACT, or Classic Learning Test.
FAU reviews academic preparation, including high school coursework and GPA. Class rank and recommendations may be considered but are not general requirements. Applicants whose education was outside the United States may need credential documentation and proof of English proficiency, such as an accepted TOEFL result or another approved measure. Honors, nursing, and other programs may impose additional criteria.
In the reported first-year admissions cycle, FAU admitted about 66% of applicants. The median SAT composite among enrolled first-year students who submitted scores was 1110; the corresponding ACT median was 23. Those are descriptions of enrolled students, not minimum scores or predictions of an individual decision. Deadlines and document requirements can differ by entry term and applicant category, so applicants should use the admissions instructions for their intended term.
FAU's reported standard undergraduate application fee is $30. The fee pays for application processing; it is separate from tuition, orientation charges, and any later enrollment deposit.
Applicants who cannot afford the fee should review FAU's current fee-waiver instructions before submitting or paying. Eligibility and documentation can depend on the application route and applicant category; a waiver used for a standardized test does not automatically waive a university application fee. Graduate and professional applicants should check their own program's application and fee instructions rather than assuming the undergraduate amount applies.
FAU students can pursue Army ROTC through an on-campus program. Air Force ROTC participation is available through a cooperating host institution rather than an Air Force unit operated by FAU.
ROTC combines college coursework with military training and can lead to an officer's commission. Participation, scholarship eligibility, physical standards, scheduling, and eventual service commitments vary by branch and student status. Students considering Air Force ROTC should confirm cross-enrollment logistics with the host detachment; those interested in another branch should verify an active participation arrangement before treating it as an FAU option.
FAU accepts transfer applicants and generally evaluates college coursework from accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the award of credit are separate decisions: a course may transfer as credit without satisfying a particular major requirement.
Applicants should submit official transcripts from every college attended. Those with fewer completed college credits may also need high school records and first-year admission credentials; GPA standards and prerequisites can vary with credit level and major. FAU admits transfers for fall, spring, and summer entry. Applicants should check the deadline for their intended term and any earlier deadline set by a selective program.
Florida's public-college Associate in Arts pathway can provide important statewide transfer protections, but it does not guarantee admission to FAU or a particular limited-access major. FAU also reports accepting certain examination or evaluated credits, including CLEP, DSST, and ACE recommendations, subject to its credit rules. An official transfer-credit evaluation and a degree audit are the useful documents for determining what remains to complete a specific FAU degree.
FAU offers study-abroad advising and international learning options that may include semester programs, exchanges, and shorter faculty-led experiences. Availability depends on the term, destination, academic department, and current travel conditions.
Before applying, students should establish how proposed courses will count toward their FAU degree and whether a program is run by FAU, an exchange partner, or a third-party provider. That distinction can affect tuition, housing arrangements, deadlines, and the use of financial aid. Students receiving scholarships or federal aid should seek approval from both study-abroad advisers and the relevant financial aid office before committing to program costs.
20% of admitted students enrolled (4,232 of 20,838)
Regular application deadline
March 13Application fee
$30Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoMedian composite SAT score
1110Median composite ACT score
23Percent of students submitting ACT scores
22.61%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
76.38%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
RequiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
RequiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit on campusROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.