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 three 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
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
| Summer | |
|---|---|
| GPA | 3.42-3.76 |
| SAT | 1000-1100 |
| ACT | 20-23 |
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.
297-3040 to discuss a change of entry request further.
STEM Bridge
The STEM Bridge Program helps students build a strong foundation in college-level science and math courses, which are essential for success in their chosen major. Students are required to enroll in the summer. Due to the timing of high school graduations, incoming freshmen can only enroll in the Summer Term 3, which runs from June 27 - August 7, 2026. Students begin enrollment in Summer Term 3, and upon successful completion – earning a 2.0 GPA or higher with a “C” or better in each course – can progress into the fall term.
All courses for summer 2026 are required to be in-person. This will include two general education courses and a two-week specialized math bootcamp to support preparation for higher level math in the fall semester.
STEM Bridge Program Profile 2025
| GPA | 3.38-3.96 |
|---|---|
| SAT | 1010-1150 |
| ACT | 20-24 |
Students in STEM Bridge typically need to upskill their knowledge for higher level math required for their intended major. This is determined by math taken or not taken in high school, standardized test scores and any dual enrollment grades or accelerated credit earned.
Students are offered admission to Summer term 3. Enrolling in the summer is a condition of enrollment.
All courses will be taught in person and require completing a specially designed Math Bootcamp to support student success. Online math assessments may be required prior to course placement and enrollment. Students are advised of these details via their email address used at time of application to the university after submission of the tuition deposit.
Students offered admission for the Summer term will complete 6 credits in Summer Term 3 and continue into the Fall term as long as they earn a “C” or better in any math or science courses and an overall Grade Point Average of 2.0
All Summer students will be enrolled into SLS1410: FAU iSucceed, a fully online, 0 credit first-year experience course.
3040 to discuss a change of entry request.
Important Requirement: Students who do not complete their Summer STEM coursework with a “C” or better will be required to change their major to something outside of Science, Engineering, or Computer Science. Students must also earn a 2.0 GPA or better to continue to the Fall semester.
Students who do not meet program requirements at the conclusion of the summer term may be required to change their intended major and or sit out of fall classes at Florida Atlantic.
Advising). Your assigned Academic Advisor will provide you with your required STEM course(s) (e.g.,
math, science, or engineering) and additional course recommendations in your EZ Advising form based
on your major, math placement score, and pending AP/IB/AICE/Dual Enrollment credit.
science, or engineering) in your EZ Advising form. Your selection will be based on your major
requirements, credit you have earned (or may earn) through AP/IB/AICE/Dual Enrollment, and class
availability.
Additionally, all students will be enrolled into SLS1410: FAU iSucceed, a fully online, 0 credit first-year
experience course. In this course you will learn about yourself, FAU, and what it takes to be a successful
college student. Learn more.
email outlining the courses you should take in the Summer and Fall. Once your holds are removed and
registration has opened, you can register immediately. Learn more about registration. Note: You will be registered into SLS1410 closer to the start of Summer 3.
and approved. We encourage students to register for Summer and/or Fall as early as possible due to
course availability and program requirements.
Biology Immersion
Freshman/First-Year students entering Florida Atlantic during Summer Term three (June 27 - August 7) are strongly encouraged to participate in this newly designed Biology Course and Field/Lab experience. Students begin enrollment in Summer Term 3, and upon successful completion – earning a 2.0 GPA or higher with a “C” or better in each course – can progress into the fall term.
Biology Immersion students will enroll in person on our Boca Raton campus in one general education course and one Biological Sciences course featuring immersive, faculty-guided lab experiences.
Examples of immersive learning opportunities may include:
- Exploring Florida Atlantic's on-campus conservation area to observe tortoises and owls while also using the site to study antibiotic research and discovery
- Visiting the nearby Gumbo Limbo marine laboratory to investigate sand temperatures, sea turtles, biodiversity, and animal conservation
- Gaining hands-on experience with microscopes and developing skills in interpreting scientific papers and graphs
After graduating from high school this is a small-scale, academically friendly environment to learn and grow in your knowledge of Biology and the environment in addition to your academic courses.
As an incoming student this experience is designed to connect you to Biology Faculty, Peer Mentors and Researchers. These academic leaders will play a pivotal role in your academic success throughout your experience at Florida Atlantic.
Students will pay tuition and fees and buy/rent books/supplies for their two courses. There is no extra cost to participate in Biology Immersion labs/activities.
No, this is a voluntary course.
Florida Atlantic created this program to help incoming Biology students build a strong foundation for success in their major. Through hands-on learning and integrated academic support, the Biology Immersion program is designed to promote academic progress and support timely graduation.
Students who choose to participate should note that both this course and their general education course must be taken in person.
Spring Admission
Florida Atlantic University admits a limited number of students for full-time enrollment in the spring term. We encourage students to get a jump start on college courses before enrolling in the spring semester.
Florida residents can take classes at one of the 28 public community and state colleges of Florida, and out-of-state students can enroll in their local state/community college in the summer and/or fall. Students are welcome to enroll in as many credits as they believe they can manage successfully. If a student earns 12 or more college credits after graduating high school, they will be classified as a transfer student.
Please keep in mind the following requirements:
- Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- Students must submit official transcripts for ALL institutions attended to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Failure to meet these requirements will cause the student's admissions file to be reevaluated and could jeopardize their admissions status.
GPA Requirement
Students must earn a minimum 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) college grade point average in their college classes with no grade below C. If you take summer classes, you must have an official transcript sent to FAU Admissions before the start of fall term. Fall term grades must be received by January 15th.
English Requirement
Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in ENC 1101 (the first English composition class), unless they have earned college credit for English composition through AICE, AP, IB, CLEP, and/or dual enrollment. Refer to Credit by Exam for college credit awarded through acceleration. If you have ENC 1101 credit, then taking ENC 1102 is strongly encouraged.
Math Requirement
Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in MAC 1105 (College Algebra, preferred math), MAT 1033 (Intermediate Algebra), MGF 1130 (Mathematical Thinking), or MGF 1131 (Mathematics in Context), depending on math placement and their major's math requirement, unless they have already earned comparable or higher-level course credit through an accelerated mechanism such as AP, IB, AICE, CLEP, or dual enrollment. Students should refer to Credit by Exam for college credit awarded through acceleration. Refer to the Academic Program Guides for their major's math requirement.
The Office of Admissions will periodically follow up with spring admitted students over the summer and fall as we prepare for their enrollment in the spring.
For Bright Futures, your College in the Florida College System must be identified as your Post-Secondary Institution (PSI). To update your PSI, contact Florida Bright Futures Scholarship (1-888-827-2004).
Contact Florida Prepaid to ensure your funds are allocated to the correct institution. Each College in the Florida College System likely has a website with additional information.
Be sure to contact these agencies upon finaliziing your Spring enrollment at FAU to ensure your funds are transfered appropriately.
All official test scores (ACT, SAT, and/or CLT) must be sent by the respective testing agency to Florida Atlantic.
All official high school transcripts, dual enrollment transcripts, and test scores must be received by August 1. At that time, we will compare the transcript with the submitted SSAR for accuracy and check your senior grades. Any SSAR inaccuracies and/or any grade below C in the senior year is subject to your admission being rescinded. A cumulative, dual enrollment college GPA below 2.5 may cause your offer of admission to be rescinded.
If you have taken any college courses after high school graduation, you need to send FAU Admissions your official transcript(s) before the start of spring term.
All official AICE, AP, IB, and CLEP results must be sent to FAU from the respective testing agencies by August 1.
We anticipate a high demand for on-campus housing for the spring semester. For more information about Housing and Residential Education, visit fau.edu/campus/housing. Housing applications can be submitted through the Owldone Portal. Additional resources for off-campus housing are available at offcampushousing.fau.edu.
If students are eligible for a Pell Grant, they may be able to waive the $200 fee.
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.
Please note that being placed on the waitlist is not the same as being denied. You still may be considered for admission to Florida Atlantic University should space open within our freshmen class.
No additional information (including letters of recommendation or continued interest) will be accepted. Please do not send these documents to our office.
If students are taken off the waitlist and offered a space, they will have two weeks from the date of their offer to complete the following:
1. Accept their offer
2. Submit their tuition deposit
3. Complete their background check
These actions will finalize their acceptance into the Direct Admit Track.
Since we are unable to determine an exact date for when we may need to consider the waitlist, we advise you to make plans to attend a college or university where you already have a firm offer of admission in place.
Students admitted for Spring will be required to pay their deposit by October 15 to confirm their enrollment.
Admission updates will be communicated through your Future Owl Portal, so we encourage you to monitor both your email and the portal regularly.
In addition, Florida Atlantic offers these transfer pathway programs that guarantee admission* to Florida Atlantic if specific transfer admission eligibility criteria are met:
• Direct Transfer partnership with Verto Education: This program provides students with an opportunity to start college abroad before continuing their studies on campus at Florida Atlantic.
• Link2FAU Transfer Pathway Program. Students who opt to earn their AA degree at one of our local partner colleges (Broward College, Indian River State College, Palm Beach State College or Miami Dade College) may then transfer to Florida Atlantic to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Start by submitting your interest to Verto to get ahead of program and scholarship deadlines and explore what Florida Atlantic’s Direct Transfer Admissions Pathway has to offer.
* Please visit each program’s website for additional details and requirements.
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.
• Update your STARS with first semester grades when they become available.
• If you have taken an additional ACT, SAT, or CLT, send the new official test score to Florida Atlantic OR self-report the new test score in your Application Portal. Students should have their official score report in front of them when self-reporting scores to ensure accurate reporting.
• If you have taken or are taking Dual Enrollment classes, submit official Dual Enrollment college transcripts from the college or university directly. This provides our admissions committee insight into how you are already performing in collegiate coursework.
o Please ensure the name of the school where you are earning credit is listed in the "Application Checklist" in your Application Portal. If the school is not listed, you did not inform us of your Dual Enrollment credit on your application. You can inform us of your Dual Enrollment college now by completing a brief form in your Application Portal, found in the box titled "Application Update: Decision Deferred."
o If you are earning credit through one of the Florida State Colleges (e.g. Broward College), you should request that an electronic transcript be sent to Florida Atlantic.
Florida Atlantic does not use AP/AICE/CLEP/IB scores in our admissions review.
There is no appeal process for deferred students because no decision has been made on your application yet. Please do not ask to appeal.
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:
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.
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
Start by submitting your interest to Verto to get ahead of program and scholarship deadlines and explore what Florida Atlantic’s Direct Transfer Admissions Pathway has to offer.
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.