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Florida Atlantic University

Public Graduate Strong 83/100

Florida Atlantic University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Boca Raton, Florida

About Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Boca Raton, Florida. It enrolls 23,757 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: fau.edu

Acceptance: 66.1%
Graduation: 58.1%
Net Price: $8,752
Median Earnings (10yr): $56,746
Enrollment: 23,757
Student : Faculty: 23:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

83/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 68

Value 96

Affordability 74

Selectivity 54

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 66.1%, Florida Atlantic University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

66.1%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1040 – 1200

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

21 – 26

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Required SAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Florida Atlantic University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 10.2 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Florida Atlantic University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,752 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$8,752

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

34%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

26%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $4,879
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $17,324
Room & Board (on-campus): $15,860
Room & Board (off-campus): $18,968
Books & Supplies: $1,320
Other Expenses (on-campus): $7,878
Other Expenses (off-campus): $8,810
Total Cost of Attendance: $21,522

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$3,022
$30,001 – $48,000

$4,135
$48,001 – $75,000

$8,106
$75,001 – $110,000

$14,440
Over $110,000

$16,854

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,750

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$17,236

Median percentile

$22,750

75% percentile

$31,250

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $12,506 ↓ $4,730

No Pell $11,979 ↓ $5,257

Dependent students $11,250 ↓ $5,986

Independent students $15,000 ↓ $2,236

Female students $12,500 ↓ $4,736

Male students $12,409 ↓ $4,827

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($17,236), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

58% of full-time students who enrolled at Florida Atlantic University graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

58%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

84%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $56,746 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$56,746

Earning > $25K

81%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$45,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$53,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$46,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$49,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$51,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,500, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 15.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Florida Atlantic University is home to 23,757 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

23,757

Part-Time

25%

First-Generation

39%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 42.5% 10,106

Hispanic 29.0% 6,878

Black 16.3% 3,863

Other 4.2% 998

Asian 3.8% 893

International 3.0% 703

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Florida Atlantic University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Small City Boca Raton, Florida

Housing

Partly residential 5,200 beds available

Adult Learners

14% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Florida Atlantic University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 155 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

14 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

14 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Mental Health Services $52K ($38K–$69K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

5 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

8 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

20 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Florida Atlantic University is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty

23:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$10,018

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$355M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$93,848

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

879 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	232	26%	$126,540
Associate Professors	243	28%	$99,575
Assistant Professors	150	17%	$84,262
Instructors	252	29%	$65,323
No Rank	2	0%	$95,676

Pros & Cons of Florida Atlantic University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Florida Atlantic University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Larger class sizes than typical

Best for: Based on the data, Florida Atlantic University is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Atlantic University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Florida Atlantic University.

Is Florida Atlantic University hard to get into?

Admissions at Florida Atlantic University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 66.1%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Florida Atlantic University?

Florida Atlantic University has an acceptance rate of 66.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Florida Atlantic University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Florida Atlantic University scored between 1040 and 1200 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Florida Atlantic University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Florida Atlantic University scored between 21 and 26 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Florida Atlantic University cost?

The average net price after aid at Florida Atlantic University is $8,752 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Florida Atlantic University worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,746 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,752 per year. That's roughly 6.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Florida Atlantic University known for?

Florida Atlantic University is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Biology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Florida Atlantic University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Florida Atlantic University are $56,746, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Florida Atlantic University accredited?

Yes. Florida Atlantic University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

How many students attend Florida Atlantic University?

Florida Atlantic University enrolls 23,757 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Florida Atlantic University?

Florida Atlantic University graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Florida Atlantic University a public or private college?

Florida Atlantic University is a Public institution.

Where is Florida Atlantic University located?

Florida Atlantic University is located in Boca Raton, Florida.

What programs does Florida Atlantic University offer?

Florida Atlantic University offers 155 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Biology, Business Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Florida Atlantic University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Florida Atlantic University is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.