Florida State Acceptance Rate: Class of 2029 Data, Residency, the New Early Decision Round, and What It Means for Your Odds
By Rona Aydin
TL;DR: The Florida State acceptance rate was 23.8% for the Class of 2029, with 20,364 students admitted from a record 85,469 applications and 6,559 enrolling (Florida State University Common Data Set 2025-2026). That continues a slide from 25.4% two years earlier, and the university reported more than 96,000 applications for the Class of 2030, which entered in fall 2026. Residency drives the number: Florida residents were admitted at 34.0%, out-of-state applicants at 13.5%, and international applicants at 7.9%. FSU requires an SAT, ACT, or CLT score, enrolled students posted a middle 50% SAT of 1300 to 1410 and ACT of 29 to 32, and the average unweighted GPA was 3.72. Two structural changes matter for 2026 and 2027 applicants: FSU used a waitlist for fall 2025 after two years without one, offering 3,750 places and admitting only 5, and it introduced a binding Early Decision plan for domestic applicants alongside the Early Action round that remains open only to Florida residents. For a family deciding whether Tallahassee is a target or a reach, schedule a consultation with Oriel Admissions.
What Is the Florida State Acceptance Rate?
The Florida State acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, the students who entered in summer and fall 2025, was 23.8%. FSU received 85,469 first-year applications, admitted 20,364, and enrolled 6,559, according to the university’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026. One year earlier the numbers were 78,272 applications, 18,954 admits, and 5,855 enrolled, a 24.2% rate. Two years earlier the rate was 25.4% on 74,038 applications. In April 2026 the university described a record year of nearly 100,000 applications and a 48% increase in first-year applications over five years, and in August 2026 it reported more than 96,000 applications for the Class of 2030, a 12% increase over the 2024-2025 cycle.
Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 32.2%, up from 30.9% the prior year. FSU admitted 1,410 more students than the year before (20,364 against 18,954) and enrolled 704 more (6,559 against 5,855), a first-year class about 12% larger than in fall 2024. It has since added a waitlist and a binding early round, and it described the Class of 2030 as nearly 6,000 first-year students.
| Entering Class | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance Rate | Enrolled | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 (Class of 2029) | 85,469 | 20,364 | 23.8% | 6,559 | 32.2% |
| Fall 2024 (Class of 2028) | 78,272 | 18,954 | 24.2% | 5,855 | 30.9% |
| Fall 2023 (Class of 2027) | 74,038 | 18,793 | 25.4% | 5,890 | 31.3% |
Source: Florida State University Common Data Sets 2025-2026, 2024-2025, and 2023-2024, section C1. Rates calculated from the reported counts and rounded to one decimal place. FSU counts summer-entry students in the fall cohort.
Full Class of 2030 admissions figures will appear in the 2026-2027 Common Data Set. FSU has already reported more than 96,000 applications and an incoming class of nearly 6,000 first-year students, which points to a lower admit rate when those figures are published.
Does Residency Change the Florida State Acceptance Rate?
Yes, sharply. For fall 2025, FSU admitted 15,196 of 44,631 Florida residents (34.0%), 4,671 of 34,530 out-of-state domestic applicants (13.5%), and 497 of 6,308 international applicants (7.9%). A Florida resident is admitted at two and a half times the rate of a nonresident, and the gap has been wide for years: in 2023 it was 36.1% against 14.4%, and in 2024 it was 31.8% against 16.6%. The enrolled class reflects the gap: 86.8% of the Class of 2029 were Florida residents, 12.1% were from other states, and 1.1% were international.
Out-of-state applications rose from 30,842 in 2023 to 34,530 in 2025, but nonresident admits stayed near 4,500 to 5,300, so every additional out-of-state application lowers the nonresident rate. Nonresident yield is also low, 17.0% against 37.5% for residents. Our Florida out-of-state acceptance rate analysis covers how the University of Florida treats nonresidents, and our out-of-state acceptance rates hub collects the peer figures.
| Residency (Fall 2025) | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance Rate | Enrolled | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida residents | 44,631 | 15,196 | 34.0% | 5,694 | 37.5% |
| Out-of-state (domestic) | 34,530 | 4,671 | 13.5% | 793 | 17.0% |
| International | 6,308 | 497 | 7.9% | 72 | 14.5% |
| Total | 85,469 | 20,364 | 23.8% | 6,559 | 32.2% |
Source: Florida State University Common Data Set 2025-2026, section C1, residency detail.
| Residency | Fall 2023 | Fall 2024 | Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida residents | 36.1% | 31.8% | 34.0% |
| Out-of-state (domestic) | 14.4% | 16.6% | 13.5% |
| International | 8.1% | 10.6% | 7.9% |
| All applicants | 25.4% | 24.2% | 23.8% |
Source: Florida State University Common Data Sets 2023-2024 through 2025-2026, section C1. Rates calculated from reported counts.
What GPA and Test Scores Do You Need for Florida State?
FSU requires an SAT, ACT, or CLT score from first-year applicants, so the score data in the Common Data Set describes the whole enrolled class rather than a self-selected group of submitters: 63.7% of the Class of 2029 submitted an SAT and 36.3% submitted an ACT. The middle 50% SAT was 1300 to 1410 with a median of 1360, and the middle 50% ACT was 29 to 32 with a median of 30. Both ranges moved up ten points on the SAT from the prior year. FSU superscores the ACT and does not accept scores self-reported on the Common App; applicants self-report their scores on the FSU Admissions Portal, with at least one score in by the materials deadline and additional scores accepted until the round’s test score deadline. February is the last test date FSU will use.
| Measure (Enrolled Class of 2029) | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Composite (63.7% submitted) | 1300 | 1360 | 1410 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 650 | 680 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 630 | 670 | 710 |
| ACT Composite (36.3% submitted) | 29 | 30 | 32 |
| ACT Math | 26 | 27 | 30 |
Source: Florida State University Common Data Set 2025-2026, section C9.
The transcript is where FSU’s selectivity really shows. The average unweighted GPA of enrolled students was 3.72 and the average weighted GPA was 4.29, meaning the typical admitted Floridian carried a full load of AP, IB, AICE, or dual enrollment courses. Of students whose schools reported class rank, 77.8% graduated in the top tenth and 91.6% in the top quarter. On the unweighted scale, 11.7% of the class had a 4.0, 42.0% were between 3.75 and 3.99, and 30.1% were between 3.50 and 3.74. A student with a 3.5 unweighted GPA and a 1300 SAT sits at the low end of the enrolled class.
| Academic Profile (Enrolled Class of 2029) | Value |
|---|---|
| Average unweighted GPA | 3.72 |
| Average weighted GPA | 4.29 |
| Unweighted GPA of 4.0 | 11.7% |
| Unweighted GPA 3.75 to 3.99 | 42.0% |
| Unweighted GPA 3.50 to 3.74 | 30.1% |
| Top tenth of high school class (of 53.2% reporting rank) | 77.8% |
| Top quarter of high school class | 91.6% |
Source: Florida State University Common Data Set 2025-2026, sections C10 through C12.
Does Florida State Have Early Decision or Early Action?
Both, as of the 2026-2027 application cycle, and the rules differ by residency. In April 2026 FSU announced a binding Early Decision plan for domestic first-year applicants entering in summer or fall 2027, with an October 15 application deadline, decisions on December 17, and an enrollment deposit due January 15. Early Decision is not available to applicants to talent-based programs (Acting BFA, Athletics, Dance, Film, Music, Music Theatre, Stage Management BFA, and Studio Art BFA), to the CARE Summer Bridge Program, or to international applicants. Early Action remains a nonbinding round open only to Florida residents, on the same October 15 deadline and December 17 release. Regular Decision closes December 1 with decisions on February 18, and a rolling round closes March 1 with decisions in April.
| Round | Who Can Apply | Application Deadline | Decision Release | Deposit Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision (binding) | Domestic applicants, excluding talent-based majors and CARE | October 15 | December 17 | January 15 |
| Early Action (nonbinding) | Florida residents only | October 15 | December 17 | May 1 |
| Regular Decision | All applicants | December 1 | February 18 | May 1 |
| Rolling | All applicants | March 1 | Rolling, beginning in April | May 1 |
Source: Florida State University Office of Admissions, First-Year Deadlines, 2026-2027 cycle; Florida State University News, April 30, 2026. At least one test score is due by each round’s materials deadline (October 22, December 8, or March 8), with additional scores accepted until December 1 for the early rounds, January 1 for Regular Decision, and March 8 for Rolling.
The strategic consequence is sharpest for out-of-state students. Before 2026, a nonresident had no early lane at FSU at all; Early Action was and is Florida-only. Early Decision is the first way an out-of-state applicant can signal FSU as a first choice and receive a December answer, and FSU gives Early Decision and Early Action applicants priority consideration for its limited merit scholarship funds. A nonresident who would attend FSU over any other admit should apply Early Decision; one who is comparing it against a home-state flagship on price should not, because a binding admission removes the comparison. Our guides to Early Decision versus Regular Decision and Early Action versus Early Decision cover the tradeoffs, and our college admissions timeline places the October 15 date alongside the rest of a typical list.
For Florida residents the calculus is simpler. Early Action costs nothing, returns a decision before the winter break, and puts the file in the pool before Regular Decision. FSU does not publish admit rates by round, but Early Action carries the same priority merit scholarship consideration, and there is no reason for a resident with the profile to wait until December 1.
What Are Your Chances on the Florida State Waitlist?
Very low, and the list itself is new. For fall 2025 FSU offered 3,750 applicants a place on its waitlist, 2,358 accepted, and 5 were admitted, about 0.2% of those who stayed on. In fall 2024 and fall 2023 the university offered no waitlist places at all; every decision was a final yes or no.
| Entering Class | Offered a Place | Accepted a Place | Admitted from Waitlist | Share of Those Accepting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 3,750 | 2,358 | 5 | 0.2% |
| Fall 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| Fall 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Source: Florida State University Common Data Sets 2023-2024 through 2025-2026, section C2.
A waitlisted student should accept the place, because it costs nothing, but should plan around another school. The 2025 data give no basis for counting on the waitlist. Our guide to writing a letter of continued interest covers the format if FSU invites updates.
How Does the Florida State Acceptance Rate Compare to the University of Florida?
FSU and the University of Florida are now close on overall selectivity but far apart on residency. UF admitted 19,012 of 95,986 applicants for its Class of 2030 (19.8%, Oriel Admissions calculation), and its Common Data Set shows 20.3% for fall 2025, against 23.8% at FSU; both require test scores. For fall 2025, UF admitted out-of-state applicants at 20.5% and Floridians at 22.3%, while FSU admitted nonresidents at 13.5% and residents at 34.0%. Both now offer binding Early Decision with an October 15 deadline, but UF also runs a non-binding Early Action round (November 1) open to all applicants, while FSU’s Early Action is for Florida residents only. Our University of Florida acceptance rate analysis and our guide to how to get into the University of Florida give the UF side, and our University of Miami acceptance rate analysis covers the state’s leading private option.
A nonresident at 13.5% should treat FSU as a reach. Our top 25 admissions statistics and our guide to whether an out-of-state flagship is worth it frame the comparison.
What Does the Florida State Acceptance Rate Mean for Your Strategy?
Three things follow from the data. First, classify FSU by residency. For a Florida resident with a 3.8 unweighted GPA, a weighted GPA above 4.3, and a 1350 SAT, FSU is a target and Early Action is the obvious lane. For a nonresident with the same record, FSU is a reach at 13.5%, and the question is whether the student wants it enough to apply Early Decision. Run the FSU Net Price Calculator and file the FAFSA by December 1 so an early aid package arrives in January; a binding commitment should be made with the full cost in view.
Second, the test score is not optional and it is not a formality. FSU reads scores for every applicant, the enrolled median is a 1360 SAT or a 30 ACT, and the score must be self-reported on the FSU Admissions Portal, since FSU does not accept scores self-reported on the Common App. A student who needs a second sitting should schedule it before the December 1 additional score deadline for the early rounds. Our analysis of whether test optional is really optional covers how test-required schools fit the national picture.
Third, plan for a smaller margin every year. Applications rose 15% in the two cycles to fall 2025 and passed 96,000 for the Class of 2030, the incoming class was nearly 6,000, and the university has added a waitlist and a binding round. In the view of Oriel Admissions, a family that treated FSU as a likely school in 2022 should treat it as a target in 2026 and add a true likely school below it.
Frequently Asked Questions
23.8 percent. Florida State admitted 20,364 students from 85,469 first-year applications for summer and fall 2025 and enrolled 6,559, per its 2025-2026 Common Data Set. The rate was 24.2 percent the year before and 25.4 percent two years earlier, and FSU reported more than 96,000 applications for the Class of 2030.
13.5 percent for fall 2025. FSU admitted 4,671 of 34,530 out-of-state domestic applicants, compared with 34.0 percent of Florida residents and 7.9 percent of international applicants. Nonresidents made up 12.1 percent of the enrolled class.
Yes. Florida State requires an SAT, ACT, or CLT score from first-year applicants. For the Class of 2029, 63.7 percent of enrolled students submitted an SAT with a middle 50 percent of 1300 to 1410, and 36.3 percent submitted an ACT with a middle 50 percent of 29 to 32. Applicants self-report scores on the FSU Admissions Portal; FSU does not accept scores self-reported on the Common App.
The average unweighted GPA of enrolled first-year students for fall 2025 was 3.72, and the average weighted GPA was 4.29. About 54 percent of the class had an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher, and 77.8 percent of students whose schools reported rank were in the top tenth of their class.
Yes, beginning with students entering in 2027. FSU introduced a binding Early Decision plan for domestic first-year applicants with an October 15 deadline, decisions on December 17, and a deposit due January 15. It is not available for talent-based programs, the CARE Summer Bridge Program, or international applicants. Early Action remains a nonbinding option for Florida residents only, on the same dates.
It did for fall 2025, after two years without one. FSU offered 3,750 applicants a waitlist place, 2,358 accepted, and 5 were admitted. Oriel Admissions advises accepting a waitlist offer but planning around another school.
They are close overall. UF admitted 19.8% of applicants for its Class of 2030 and FSU admitted 23.8% for fall 2025, and both require test scores. The difference is residency: FSU admitted nonresidents at 13.5% and Florida residents at 34.0% for fall 2025, while UF reported 20.5% and 22.3%. Both now offer binding Early Decision.
Not anymore for most applicants. At 23.8 percent overall, 34.0 percent for Florida residents, and 13.5 percent for nonresidents, with required test scores and a median enrolled SAT of 1360, FSU is a target for a strong Florida resident and a reach for an out-of-state student. Families should add a true likely school below it.
Sources: Florida State University Office of Institutional Research, Common Data Set 2025-2026, 2024-2025, and 2023-2024, Florida State University Office of Admissions, First-Year Deadlines, Florida State University News, FSU Announces Early Decision Admissions Plan for 2027, Florida State University Office of Admissions, First-Year Application Requirements, Florida State University News, Florida State University Welcomes Class of 2030, University of Florida Class of 2030 Admitted Student Profile, University of Florida Common Data Set 2025-26.
About Oriel Admissions
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