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 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 availablity.

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.

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.

*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?