Welcome to Florida Atlantic University! With six campuses spread across 110 miles of South Florida coastline, we stand ready to advance your learning, scholarship and research. The academic excellence of National Merit Scholars means you’ll fit right in with our world-class faculty, accelerated degree programs and unparalleled undergraduate research.
Choose from more than 170 majors, immerse yourself in the globally recognized Wilkes Honors College, attend an award-winning play or join world-renowned scientists conquering new ideas – at Florida Atlantic, you can achieve anything!
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Florida Atlantic offers competitive scholarship packages for all National Merit Scholars. Finalists who are Florida residents qualify for the Benacquisto Scholarship Program, which covers the cost of attendance, while non-residents who apply are automatically considered for FAU’s many merit-based scholarships.
Academic Opportunities
Explore exceptional research and exciting lab opportunities at the Wilkes Honors College in Jupiter, Florida. Take advanced courses on our bustling Boca Raton campus with the University Honors Program. Pitch your innovative business ideas to investors, join an award-winning diplomacy team or study aboard with our prestigious fellowships. At Florida Atlantic, the paths to excellence are countless – it's all about what inspires you the most.
Undergraduate Research
At Florida Atlantic, National Merit Scholars work alongside world-renowned researchers to find solutions to some of humanity’s most important problems. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) offers several award-winning research programs for undergraduates to earn funding, build connections and transform their innovative ideas into reality.
Medical School/ Graduate School Pathways
Earn an education that moves you forward. With combined bachelor’s-to-master's degrees, Florida Atlantic students can take graduate courses in their senior year that count toward their graduate degree. For pre-health Scholars, Florida Atlantic offers two tracks: a combined Bachelor’s/M.D. dual degree program or a more traditional medical school pathway.
National Merit Scholarship FAQs
To participate in the National Merit® Scholarship Program, a student must:
Take the PSAT/NMSQT® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern
Be enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall semester following completion of high school
Be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.
To see the full process, visit the National Merit Scholarship website.
Take the PSAT/NMSQT® in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern
Be enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall semester following completion of high school
Be a citizen of the United States; or be a U.S. lawful permanent resident (or have applied for permanent residence, the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.
To see the full process, visit the National Merit Scholarship website.
Follow the admissions steps to complete your Florida Atlantic application and make sure to submit your designation letter from the National Merit Corporation.
National Merit Scholarship recipients who are a Florida Residents are eligible for the Benacquisto Scholarship Program, which awards a Finalist up to the cost of attendance. This means Florida Atlantic covers tuition and fees, housing/dining, and books.
While out of state students are unable to be considered for the Benacquisto Scholarship Program, they will receive competitive FAU scholarship packages. We encourage out of state students and their families to explore outside scholarships as well as national programs designed for high achieving students.
While out of state students are unable to be considered for the Benacquisto Scholarship Program, they will receive competitive FAU scholarship packages. We encourage out of state students and their families to explore outside scholarships as well as national programs designed for high achieving students.
FAU’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College is a distinct, free-standing, residential, four-year liberal arts and science college, located on the Jupiter campus. Wilkes Honors College students benefit from all-honors courses, an average class size of 16 students, and personal attention from distinguished faculty. Wilkes Honors College students receive exceptional opportunities for experiential learning and research, and many students participate in internships with world-class scientists at the Max Planck Florida Institute, the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, and Scripps Florida, which are all located on the Jupiter campus.
The Boca Raton campus provides an exciting and supportive learning environment for more than 70% of FAU's 30,000 students. Located just 1.8 miles from the beautiful beaches of Boca Raton, this campus features everything you’d expect from a modern university: suite-style housing for nearly 4,000 residential students, brand-new athletics and recreational facilities, art galleries, and so much more – all in a vibrant, tropical setting with a student body that is the most diverse of all of Florida's public universities.
The Boca Raton campus provides an exciting and supportive learning environment for more than 70% of FAU's 30,000 students. Located just 1.8 miles from the beautiful beaches of Boca Raton, this campus features everything you’d expect from a modern university: suite-style housing for nearly 4,000 residential students, brand-new athletics and recreational facilities, art galleries, and so much more – all in a vibrant, tropical setting with a student body that is the most diverse of all of Florida's public universities.
FAU’s Office of Family Engagement encourages families to support and participate in their student’s college experience. From Owl Family Weekend activities to Family Orientation, we invite parents to become part of our community of Owls.
The safety and well-being of our campus community is Florida Atlantic University's top priority. Along with the FAU Police Department, which works to keep our community safe, our campus safety resources include:
Blue Light emergency systems across campus
NightOwls, a student-run evening safety escort service for students who need a safe ride
OwlReady, our safety app
Learn more by visiting FAUPD.
Blue Light emergency systems across campus
NightOwls, a student-run evening safety escort service for students who need a safe ride
OwlReady, our safety app
Learn more by visiting FAUPD.