Florida State University
#1 Best Business Colleges in Florida- Graduation Rate
- 84% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $61,675 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $11,297 B
- 34% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 24% A
- Admits roughly 24% — highly selective
Bottom line: A B+ overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 35.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $35.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Business Colleges in Florida.
Every $1 spent returns $35.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,572,474.
What The Data Says
-
A B+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 51% more than the national college median.
-
A 84% graduation rate — 47% above the national average.
-
A top feeder school for 7 major employers.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.16% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #201-250
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 7
- Top feeder programs
- Research Score
- 40/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Florida State University Matters
Florida State University is a public research university in Tallahassee, FL ranked #201-250 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by selective admissions, a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, a strong record of moving students up the income ladder, and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 32,212
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions
Why students choose Florida State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 24% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1270–1410. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,297 a year after grants and scholarships — 34% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,675 ten years after enrolling — 51% above the typical college, against $18,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 23% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.55 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Florida State University enrolls 32,212 students, providing a vibrant campus life in Tallahassee, Florida. With a 24% acceptance rate, it attracts competitive applicants. The graduation rate stands at 84%, indicating a strong support system for students to complete their degrees.
According to Opportunity Insights data, FSU's graduates earn a median income of $61,675 ten years after enrollment. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university's strong graduation rate suggests that many students are likely to see positive economic outcomes. The university serves as a solid option for those seeking upward mobility through education.
The net price for attending FSU is $11,297, and graduates leave with a median debt of $18,000. This combination results in manageable financial expectations for students. FSU is a good fit for those pursuing degrees in business, social sciences, psychology, biology, and health professions, especially for students who thrive in a large, diverse university environment.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Florida State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Florida State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Florida State University, located in Tallahassee, Florida, sets a competitive bar: about 24% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,361. The graduation rate is roughly 84%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Retention Rate
- 96%
- SAT Average
- 1361
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1270–1410
- ACT Range
- 29–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 84%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,841
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 78,088
- Admitted
- 19,552
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Florida State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Florida State University is $18,786, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,297. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,938 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,656
- Out-of-State
- $18,786
- Avg Net Price
- $11,297
- Median Debt
- $18,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,938
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,963
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,496
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,239
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Florida State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Florida State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Florida State University earn a median of $61,675, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,814
- 8 Years
- $55,983
- 10 Years
- $61,675
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.29x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (4,344)
- 72%
- 100% (4,344)
- 72%
- 100% (4,344)
- 72%
- 100% (4,344)
- 72%
Where Grads Go
Florida State University is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Florida State University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- ADP ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Amazon ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- Amwins ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Bank of America ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Bass Underwriters ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Brown & Brown Insurance ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Citigroup ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Dexian ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Equitable Advisors ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- EY ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Fidelity Investments ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- FIS ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Florida Financial Advisors ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
- Florida State University ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Grant Thornton ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- KPMG ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Marsh & McLennan Agency ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- PricewaterhouseCoopers ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Raymond James ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Reliaquest ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- RSM ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Techtronic Industries ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2025
- Thomas Howell Ferguson ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Tom James Company ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2025
- Wells Fargo ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2025
How Florida Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Florida State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Florida State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,297/year ($45,188 total). Graduates earn $61,675 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,617,662 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,572,474 (35.8× your investment). The median debt is $18,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 84% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $45,188
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,617,662
- Net Return
- $1,572,474
- ROI Multiple
- 35.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,297
- Median Debt
- $18,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 84%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Florida State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Florida State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.16%, among the highest in the country. About 6.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.16%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 34.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $136,544
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 40/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 65/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 32/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-34,859,726
Top Programs
The fields Florida State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 25% $72,739 early-career
- Social Sciences 13% $48,393 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $35,271 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $70,012 early-career
- Psychology 7% $33,885 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $38,014 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $64,462 early-career
- Engineering 4% $85,126 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Florida State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Florida State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Florida State University, located in Tallahassee, Florida, sets a competitive bar: about 24% of applicants get an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,361. The graduation rate is roughly 84%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Florida State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Florida State University is $18,786, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,297. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,938 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.
Is Florida State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Florida State University earn a median of $61,675, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Florida State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Florida State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.16%, among the highest in the country. About 6.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Florida State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Florida State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.55, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Florida State University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Florida State University at #201-250 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 40/100, teaching at 39/100, and citation impact of 65/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Florida State University offer Early Decision?
No. Florida State University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (unknown Common Data Set).
Compare Florida State University
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Florida State University.
- California State University-Long BeachLong Beach, CA · Close peer69% grad $64,403 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA · Close peer77% grad $64,909 earn 36% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · Close peer89% grad $68,726 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South FloridaTampa, FL · Close peer76% grad $57,743 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville, TN · Close peer74% grad $60,249 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- University of California-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer86% grad $80,735 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Florida State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Florida State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.55, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note