Your Guide to FSU Admission Requirements
Like applying to any college, navigating Florida State University (FSU) admission requirements can be confusing. Many universities require different SAT or ACT scores, written essays, and other details, and FSU is considered a competitive university, requiring higher GPAs and test scores than the average.
The good news is that FSU outlined step-by-step instructions on how to apply as a first-year student through the Common App or the Undergraduate Application Portal. And they provide great insight about their FSU admissions requirements, too.
We reviewed university and other data and paired it with our top application tips to make requirements for FSU admission feel a little simpler. So before you start daydreaming about on-campus housing on your student meal plan, let’s dive in.
FSU Admission Requirements
U.S. News & World Report data states Florida State University admissions has a 25% acceptance rate overall and a 47% early acceptance rate, which represents a much smaller population of in-state students who applied by the Early Action deadline (more about that later).
For context, a 50% acceptance rate is considered a high admission rate, meaning a school is easier to get into, and 10% is considered low or extremely difficult to get into. So, the university’s 25% indicates that FSU is selective and competitive.
When reviewing admissions applications, the university uses a holistic approach centered around three core values: Vires (strength), Artes (skill), and Mores (character). As you gather your application materials, think about how each requirement tells the admissions office more about how you represent each value. And because of this holistic approach, don’t feel discouraged if one of your application elements (transcript and high school courses, GPA, test scores, resume, essay, and more) doesn’t measure up the way you think it should.
Note: FSU does not require or consider letters of recommendation, so don’t include these with your application materials.
FSU GPA Requirements
The FSU Office of Admissions provides up-to-date data on the test score and GPA ranges of admitted students from recent semesters, but their numbers reflect only the middle 50% of students. This means there are admitted students with lower or higher high school GPAs, and you should still apply even if your GPA isn’t within their stated range.
Typically, these academic core GPA ranges are above a 4.0.
FSU Test Score Requirements
According to the same student population analyzed by the university, the middle 50% of admitted students for the fall semester scored a 1360 or higher on the SAT and/or a 30 or higher on the ACT.
For your FSU application, the university only requires one test score, so you don’t need to take both the SAT and ACT, and you also have the option to take the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as an alternative. However, if you do have multiple test scores, you should provide them with your application because they can help you get into FSU.
FSU Admissions Essay & Resume
FSU admissions requirements include a required essay and an optional resume.
For your FSU admissions essay, simply choose a topic from FSU’s application essay prompts. While you’re writing and editing your essay, remember the admission office uses this piece of your FSU application to learn more about you, your goals, and your character. This connects primarily to the university’s Mores (character) core value.
The resume portion of your FSU application is not required, but creating one gives you the chance to give the admissions office details about service work, employment, family contributions or care, and extracurricular activities. When they’re reviewing your application, they’ll consider a resume for their Artes (skill) and Mores (character) core values.
Completed Class Requirements for FSU Admission
Because the university follows minimum eligibility requirements set by the State University System, FSU admission requirements do consider which and how many high school classes you took.
In Florida, minimum course requirements include 4 English, 4 math, 3 natural science, 3 social science, and 2 sequential world language courses. However, it’s important to know this is just the minimum requirement for all state schools, and admitted students at FSU typically exceed this standard.
Important Application Deadlines & Fee
FSU requirements for admission include important application deadlines you don’t want to miss, and you can get your specific dates online. Luckily, the university offers three different application plans to suit different, flexible needs:
- Early Action is offered for in-state students only and has the earliest deadline, but it also has the earliest decision release date. That means you’ll need to turn in all your materials and test scores before December during your senior year of high school, but you’ll also know whether or not you got in before New Year’s — giving you the most time to figure out housing, scholarships, and more.
- Regular Decision is available for all students, both in- and out-of-state. This deadline, though still before the end of the calendar year, provides you about an extra month to get all your materials and scores turned in vs. Early Action. Plus, you’ll know whether or not you’ve been accepted into FSU by a pre-determined date, usually in February.
- Rolling Decision is available for all students, and materials and test scores are usually due by early March in the same year you’d be starting at the university. This means decisions are sent later that same year and nearer to the start of the semester; at FSU, this usually means decisions by April or May.
The difference between regular and rolling decision is that regular decision applications come with a specified decision date, which means you know exactly when to expect your admission decision. Because these admission decisions are sent out before rolling decisions, you get more time to find the right place to live, choose the right meal plan, and prepare. With rolling admission, you hear back from the school whenever they’ve finished reviewing your application later in the year and without a pre-determined decision date.
No matter which application plan you choose, remember there is also an associated fee for all applications. As of 2024, the FSU application fee is $30. There is an option in the application to select a fee waiver, but you should only do this if you meet specific criteria.
Your Path to Success at FSU
After you’ve sent in your application materials and met all the FSU admission requirements, you’ll have some waiting to do before you find out if you got into FSU. And while we encourage you to apply to all the colleges and universities that interest you, we are Tallahassee locals, so we’re big fans of (and experts on) our hometown campus.
While you wait, check out a few of our most important FSU guides:
- FSU freshman tips to survive and thrive
- FSU campus housing breakdown
- Navigating on-campus parking
- And more
Our off-campus community is located right across the street from campus and provides at-home amenities that make FSU living even better. We’ll be right here crossing all our fingers for you. Good luck!