Admissions Decisions
Students select their preferred term of entry - either fall, summer, or spring - on either the Florida Atlantic or the Common App application. Please note that Spring students may not utilize the Common App.
A student needs to only submit one application. Students are then reviewed and considered for the term and program for which they qualify. Please review application deadlines.
The Office of Admissions recalculates all high school grade point averages for applicants based on academic courses in English, Math, Science, Social Sciences, and Foreign Language. Academic electives, strength of schedule, and course rigor (Honors, AP, IB, AICE, Dual Enrollment) are all considered as a part of the evaluation process. Admission requirements vary by major.
FALL
Fall is our most competitive and desired term for entry. In addition to Fall entry, Florida Atlantic offers admission through two bridge programs that begin in summer term three.
Please note: students cannot directly apply to a bridge program. However, applicants are automatically considered for all available entry terms and bridge options during the application review process.
Jump Start
Students begin their studies in the summer (late June – August) for full-time enrollment in the fall. If they complete the summer successfully, then they progress to the fall term as a full-time student.
Learn more about our Jump Start program
STEM Bridge
The STEM Bridge Program is to support students in achieving a successful start with the rigors of college-level coursework in science and math, as these are the classes which lay the groundwork for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and College of Engineering and Computer Science. Students are considered for entry in the summer and continue in the fall part-time, or begin part-time in the fall, and are required to earn a “C” or better in any math or science courses in their first term of enrollment to continue in any of our STEM majors. Students who do not earn the minimum grades will be required to change their major.
Learn more about STEM Bridge Program
Spring
Florida Atlantic offers a limited number of students full-time enrollment in the spring. Students can also take advantage of the Florida State College System or the study abroad Direct Transfer Pathway in the summer/fall before starting their college careers at Florida Atlantic University in the Spring.
Learn more about Spring entry
WAITLIST
Florida Atlantic implements a waitlist when the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of spaces available in the first-year class. This has been the case in both 2024 and 2025.
Some qualified applicants will be placed on a waitlist specifically for our Nursing program, and others, for the class in general depending on the application volume each year until we determine if spots were available for them. View Waitlist FAQ.
DEFER
Deferred does not mean denied. If you were deferred, it means we are still actively considering your application. We are not ready yet to offer you a decision. View Deferred FAQ.
Deny
If you were not admitted and still wish to become an Owl, we have two guaranteed pathways to admission that we encourage you to explore:
Link2FAU Direct Transfer Program
The
Link2FAU
program provides guaranteed admission* to Florida Atlantic University following the completion of your Associate of Arts degree through one of our partner state colleges (
Broward College,
Indian River State College,
Miami Dade College and
Palm Beach State College).
A
Link2FAU
advisor will help you navigate prerequisites for your intended undergraduate program and you will have an opportunity to participate in Florida Atlantic activities. If you live outside of the service area for
Link2FAU, our transfer admissions counselors can assist you in planning your transfer journey.
Study Abroad with Verto's Direct Transfer Pathway
The
Study Abroad with Verto's Direct Transfer Pathway
partnership with Verto Education provides the exciting opportunity to start college abroad with guaranteed* Direct Transfer Admission to Florida Atlantic University.
The Direct Transfer opportunity offers a transferable, international year developed to help you achieve a rewarding start to college. Verto Education aims to enrich the college experience by combining academic learning with travel and cultural immersion. The curriculum helps you gain life experience and academic success that you can then bring to Florida Atlantic’s campus.
Verto Study Abroad Location Options:
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Florence, Italy
- London, England
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Seville, Spain
Students who have been denied should not reapply for first-year admission. Florida Atlantic will consider an appeal only if new academic or personal information is revealed that was not present in your initial admission application. You can find information about the appeals process here.
*Guaranteed and priority admission based on meeting FAU transfer admissions requirements. Consistent with University policy. Limited access and restricted programs may require additional admissions process.