
Florida Memorial University is a historically Black university whose roots date to 1879. Its history includes a period in St. Augustine before the institution relocated to the Miami area in 1968. It was known as Florida Memorial College before adopting its current university name in 2006.
That history remains relevant to its identity: FMU was established to expand educational opportunities for Black students and continues to identify as an HBCU. Applicants researching the university may encounter its former college name in older records, including library and athletics materials.
Florida Memorial University offers undergraduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, and professional fields. Examples in its academic offerings include biology, psychology, criminal justice, social work, business, music, and aviation-related study.
Students should evaluate a particular major rather than assume that every program has the same admissions rules, course schedule, or career pathway. Teacher preparation and other fields leading toward a regulated occupation may involve requirements beyond completing a degree, such as fieldwork, examinations, or state licensing. An applicant interested in a specialized major should check the current academic catalog for its required courses and credential.
Florida Memorial University is in Miami Gardens, Florida, within the Miami metropolitan area. Its location gives students access to a large regional job market, but travel time will depend on where they live and whether they have a car.
Commuting is a significant part of campus life: approximately 60% of students commute. Prospective commuters should compare class schedules with their transportation options and budget for travel alongside tuition. Miami Gardens is the institution's location; applicants should not confuse FMU with similarly named institutions or assume that a program advertised elsewhere operates at this campus.
Florida Memorial University describes its educational purpose in terms of academic learning, leadership, character, and service. Its identity as a historically Black institution reflects its founding commitment to educational access.
FMU's history also has Baptist roots. That background is part of the university's institutional story, but applicants interested in a particular religious activity or requirement should distinguish the institution's heritage from the rules of an individual course or student organization. Its stated values explain what the university seeks to cultivate; they are not, by themselves, measures of student outcomes.
Name of the institution
Florida Memorial UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Baptist Church)School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1879Florida Memorial University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degree
Master's degreeData 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.