About
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, United States. The university is a member of the State University System of Florida and has satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and Fort Pierce. FAU was established as Florida's fifth public university and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity".
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell recipients graduate at a higher rate than non-Pell students here — unusual and worth investigating.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 208 Title IV programs, 67 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 140 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing67 · 32.2%
- No Data140 · 67.3%
- Failing1 · 0.5%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Near the line (±5%)
Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Programmatic accreditations · 9
Action history · 14
- Oct 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
- Dec 2024Renewal of AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Aug 2024Renewal of AccreditationCommission on English Language Program Accreditation · English Language
- Apr 2024Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
- Apr 2024Renewal of AccreditationCommission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the graduate degree levels
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 10,220 students received $59.5M in Pell grants, alongside $99.5M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 5,692 borrowers who entered repayment, 82 (1.4%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Florida Atlantic
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus61
- Non-campus1
Includes 10 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- Glades Park Towers1 fireHeating equipmentDamage $0-$99
- Residence Hall 21 fireElectricalDamage $100-$999
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Florida Atlantic vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Florida Atlantic selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectFlorida Atlantic University | 63% | — | 31,607 | $8,001 | R2 Research |
George Mason University | 68% | 87.5% | 39,766 | $18,287 | R1 Research |
Georgia State University | 53% | 55.4% | 34,944 | $15,931 | R1 Research |
Old Dominion University | 46% | 90.4% | 23,743 | $14,170 | R1 Research |
Portland State University | 53% | 90.9% | 19,951 | $12,932 | R2 Research |
The University of Texas at Arlington | 54% | 79.9% | 44,956 | $15,235 | R1 Research |
University of Akron Main Campus | 52% | 59.7% | 13,332 | $14,981 | R2 Research |
University of Louisville | 61% | 79.4% | 23,065 | $17,634 | R1 Research |
University of Memphis | 51% | 72.0% | 20,276 | $13,253 | R1 Research |
University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 51% | 96.2% | 32,911 | $10,011 | R1 Research |
University of Toledo | 58% | 92.0% | 14,358 | $17,460 | R2 Research |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 53% | 90.7% | 22,450 | $16,177 | R1 Research |
Virginia Commonwealth University | 63% | 92.6% | 28,464 | $19,452 | R1 Research |
| Peer group median | 53% | 88.9% | 23,743 | $15,235 |
Florida Atlantic Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The FAU Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis supports University executives, campus administrators, and campus committees with research, planning, and analysis for evidence-based decision making and policy formation.
Visit IR office page- Ying Liu, Ph.D.Assistant Provost
- Zhiyuan Ma (ZMa)Associate Director
- Benjamin SilvaAssistant Director of Analytics
- John CahillSenior Statistical Analyst
- Howard Hamilton, PhDSenior Data Scientist
- Jeremy HoytAdministrative Assistant
- Shannon TynanSenior Business Intelligence Analyst
- Leila NasriData Scientist
- Eyon HossainJunior Data Scientist
- Skyler PaulusData Scientist
- Bradley ReynoldsData Analyst Intern
Common Data Set (25)
The institution's official annual Common Data Set publications — the most detailed reference for enrollment, admissions, and outcomes.
Reports & documents (7)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardfau.edu
- Data definitionAbbreviations & Definitions | Florida Atlantic UniversityThe page from Florida Atlantic University's Research Integrity section includes a collection of abbreviations and definitions necessary for understanding research data guidelines. Key terms like Anonymous Data, Coded Data, and Protected Health Information (PHI) are explained to help researchers comply with regulations and policies related to handling data, ensuring privacy, and conducting ethical research.fau.edu
- Data dictionaryFlorida Atlantic University's BOG (Board of Governors) Data DictionaryThis page outlines the data submission processes followed by the Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis (IEA) at Florida Atlantic University for compliance with the Florida Board of Governors' requirements. It details the procedures for data requests, submissions, and responsibilities involved in ensuring accurate and timely reporting. The IEA is responsible for coordinating these efforts, maintaining required records, and handling submissions via the State University Data System (SUDS). The page also includes information on portal access requests and accountability measures for past-due submissions.fau.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- FactbookInstitutional Effectiveness and Analysis | Florida Atlantic University2026The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis (IEA) at Florida Atlantic University provides comprehensive and timely data to support the university community and external stakeholders. Reporting under the Office of Information Technology, IEA performs data collection, survey administration, data request management, and academic assessment. The website offers access to various dashboards and tools for University data management, and also details procedures for faculty activity reporting and BOG data requests, along with announcements related to upcoming deadlines and training sessions for academic reporting.fau.edu
- GlossaryGlossary of Terms | Florida Atlantic UniversityThis glossary from Florida Atlantic University's Sponsored Programs office provides definitions for commonly used terms related to research administration, grants, and contracts. It covers terms from various categories including research project descriptions, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and specific types of research agreements. The glossary serves as a resource for understanding the formal language and procedures associated with obtaining and managing funding for research projects.fau.edu
- Strategic planStrategic Plan | Florida Atlantic University2015Florida Atlantic University aims to become the country's fastest-improving public research university through its Strategic Plan. The plan focuses on recruiting top talent, developing programs in key areas, and improving organizational efficiency. By aligning the budget with these strategic goals, FAU seeks to nationally differentiate itself and foster collaborative community engagement for mutual benefit.fau.edu
Notable alumni of Florida Atlantic (19)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Harrison BryantAthletics
- Alfred MorrisAthletics
- Rusty SmithAthletics
- Brittany BoweAthletics
- Phil ZimmermannTechnology
- Frank BroganGovernment
- Carrie P. MeekGovernment
- Daniel A. MicaGovernment
- Richard DiMarchiBusiness
- Maynard WebbBusiness
- George ZoleyBusiness
- Steven SwansonScience
Frequently asked questions about Florida Atlantic University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Florida Atlantic.
What is the graduation rate at Florida Atlantic University?
How many students attend Florida Atlantic University?
What is the average net price at Florida Atlantic University?
What is the yield rate at Florida Atlantic University?
Where is Florida Atlantic University located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Florida Atlantic University?
Have a question this page can’t answer?
Ask Clema anything about Florida Atlantic University and its peers — plain language in, cited answers out, in minutes instead of days.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card