Understanding the Jump Start Program

Florida Atlantic admits a select number of students for the summer, fall and spring terms. The Jump Start program is designed for students who begin in the summer – allowing them to get a head start on the rigors of college courses and experience a smoother transition from high school to college-level coursework.

The Jump Start Program is offered to many incoming first-year students to help prepare them for success in the traditional fall semester. Students begin enrollment in the Summer Term 3*, and upon successful completion - earning a 2.0 GPA or higher with a “C” or better in each course - progress to the fall term as a full-time student.

The six-week semester includes two general education courses that are three credits each. They count toward any intended major, along with a zero-credit i-Succeed course focused on academic success strategies. Courses can be taken in-person or online, based on course availability.

Starting in the summer supports a path to a four-year graduation and offers several benefits, including:

Lighter course loads in future semesters
Greater scheduling flexibility for internships, research opportunities, study abroad, or part-time employment

Additionally, the State University System of Florida requires nine summer credits before graduation. Participation in Jump Start fulfills six of those nine credits.

*Summer Term 3: June 27- August 7, 2026

Students graduating from high school in May/June 2026 may only enroll in Summer Term 3 at Florida Atlantic.

Jump Start Profile 2025

Middle 50% of 2025 Admitted Freshmen

	Summer
GPA	3.42-3.76
SAT	1000-1100
ACT	20-23

What is Jump Start and why am I in this program?

Florida Atlantic admits a select number of students for the summer, fall and spring terms. The Jump Start program is for students who start in the summer – to get a Jump Start on the rigors of college courses. This can provide a smoother transition from high school to college-level coursework.

The six-week semester will include two general education courses that are three credits each. They count in any intended major plus a zero-credit i-Succeed course that focuses on success strategies. Courses can be taken in-person or online.

Starting in the summer helps your path to a 4-Year Graduation. Benefits include:

Lighten future semester course loads
Create scheduling flexibility for internships, research experiences, study abroad, or part-time jobs
The State University System of Florida requires nine credits of study to be taken in the summer before a student graduates. Enrolling in Jump Start satisfies six of the nine.

Can I move out of this program if I have new test scores or have improved my GPA?