How to Apply
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete ONE of the applications below. Florida State does not have an application preference.
Please note the following when completing your application:
- We use email as our official method of communication. Please ensure that we always have your most up-to-date email address and include admissions@fsu.edu in your address book.
- University Honors Program: Students should select Yes to the question "Are you interested in applying to the University Honors Program?" on the admissions application to populate a separate Honors supplemental application on the Application Status Check. Visit the University Honors Program website for detailed instructions on how to complete your supplemental Honors/Presidential Scholars Application. The deadline to complete the supplemental Honors/Presidential Scholars Application is December 1, 2025.
- CARE Summer Bridge Program: To apply for the CARE Summer Bridge Program, students should select Yes to the question "Are you interested in applying to the CARE Summer Bridge Program?" on the admissions application and complete the separate CARE supplemental application on the Application Status Check. For detailed information about the CARE Summer Bridge Program and eligibility requirements, visit the CARE website.
- If you plan to major in dance, film (animation or production), music, studio art, or theatre, contact the academic department directly for specific major requirements.
Step 2: Log into the Application Status Check
After submitting the application, you will gain access to your Application Status Check. (Note: If you apply using the Common App, you will receive an email within 2-3 business days that provides instructions for accessing your Application Status Check.) On the Application Status Check, you will:
- Self-report all your test scores.
- Please note: FSU does not accept self-reported test scores from the Common App. Students should self-report their test scores on the Application Status Check using the Self-reported Test Scores form.
- Link your Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS). Please allow one to two business days after linking for the checklist item to be satisfied.
- Upload your essay and resume/list of activities.
- Florida Residents must complete the Residency Declaration form.
Additional supplemental applications or materials may be added to your checklist, so it is important that you frequently review your Application Status Check throughout the application process.
Deadlines and Decisions
Your admissions application and all required supporting documents must be received by your preferred application deadline.
- At least one test score must be submitted before the material deadline, but additional tests may be considered if provided by the test score deadlines.
Please note: FSU does not accept self-reported test scores from the Common App.
Students should self-report their test scores on the Application Status Check using the Self-reported Test Scores form. - February test scores are the last exam date that can be used for admissions purposes.
- Admissions decisions are made available through the Application Status Check.
Dates & Deadlines
Early Action (Florida Residents)
| Application Deadline | October 15, 2025 |
| Materials Deadline | October 22, 2025 |
| Additional Test Score Deadline | December 1, 2025 |
| Decision Release Date | December 11, 2025 |
Regular Decision (All Students)
| Application Deadline | December 1, 2025 |
| Materials Deadline | December 8, 2025 |
| Additional Test Score Deadline | January 1, 2026 |
| Decision Release Date | February 12, 2026 |
Rolling Decision (All Students)
| Application Deadline | March 1, 2026 |
| Materials Deadline | March 8, 2026 |
| Additional Test Score Deadline | March 8, 2026 |
| Decision Release Date | Rolling Basis in April |
For information about potential decisions for each release, please visit https://admissions.fsu.edu/first-year/decisions.
Application Fee & Waivers
Florida State University's first-year application fee is $30.
Students who qualify for an ACT, College Board, or NACAC application fee waiver or who meet other indicators of economic need may have the application fee waived by selecting the qualifying application fee waiver category on the admissions application.
Test Score Information
FSU, along with Florida's 11 other public universities, is subject to Florida Board of Governors admissions regulation 6.002 which requires first-year students seeking admission to submit an ACT, CLT, or SAT test score.
FSU does not accept self-reported test scores from the Common App. Students should self-report their test scores on the Application Status Page using the Self-reported Test Scores form.
At least one test score must be submitted before the application deadline, but additional tests may be considered if provided by the test score deadline. Since accuracy is critical, students must have a copy of their score report(s) available to reference when self-reporting their scores. We strongly recommend using your complete score report when completing the Self-reported Test Scores form. To complete this form, you must list at least one set of test scores. If admitted, students will be required to submit official test score reports prior to enrollment at FSU.
In May 2023, the Classic Learning Initiatives, Inc. published The Concordance Relationship Between the Classic Learning Test (CLT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), establishing a concordance table between the CLT and the SAT.
Starting in April 2025, the ACT exam no longer requires the Science subsection, though the 1-36 scoring scale remains unchanged. Beginning with the 2025-26 application cycle, FSU will no longer require a Science score to be eligible for admission. The ACT composite score (or, if using multiple test attempts, the composite superscore) used by FSU for admissions will now only include the English, Mathematics, and Reading subsections.
Guidance from the state of Florida is:
| Florida Board of Governors | The ACT Science subsection is not required for admission to Florida public universities under FL BOG 6.008. |
| Florida Department of Education | The ACT Science subsection is required for students to be eligible to receive the Bright Futures scholarship. |
Therefore, while the Science subsection will not be used in our composite superscoring calculations, we encourage Florida students to continue to take the Science subsection if they hope to receive the Bright Futures scholarship.
Earning both a High School Diploma and an Associate in Arts (AA) degree
A high school student earning both the standard high school diploma and an Associate in Arts (AA) degree must apply to FSU as a first-year student and must adhere to the first-year admission deadlines. In addition, applicants may be subject to additional major deadlines/requirements. Carefully review all major requirements at Academic Program Guide.
Those students who are receiving an AA degree through dual enrollment from the Florida College System or the State University System of Florida no later than the date of their high school graduation but do not meet the admissions requirements under the Florida Board of Governors Admission Regulation 6.002, may be considered for admission under Florida Board of Governors Admission Regulation 6.005. Students admitted under this regulation are first-time-in-college (FTIC) students although they are not required to submit ACT, CLT, or SAT scores. However, they should meet the requirements for their selected major as listed in FSU's Academic Program Guide. If admitted, they must submit a $200 enrollment deposit, attend a first-year orientation session, and are eligible to apply for on-campus housing. Admitted students without a test score are not eligible to be considered for first-year merit scholarships from the Office of Admissions. Students considered for admission under FL BOG 6.005 will be required to submit a final official college transcript displaying the A.A. before enrolling at FSU. Any FTIC student admitted under this regulation must immediately notify the Office of Admissions if they will not receive their degree. All first-year students admitted under this regulation who do not receive the Associate in Arts degree will have their offer of admission revoked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there additional costs associated with submitting the Common App?
Florida State University's first-year application fee is $30. The Common App carries an additional $5 processing fee. If a student qualifies for a College Board, ACT, or NACAC fee waiver, the entire amount, including the processing fee, is waived.
What is the next step after submitting the Common App?
Please allow up to two business days to receive an email confirmation from Florida State University. That message will contain instructions about how to access the Application Status Check.
What sections does FSU require from the Common App?
FSU requires the Profile, Family, Education (excluding Grades and Current / Most Recent Year Courses), Writing, Institution-Specific Questions, and Recommenders & FERPA sections of the Common App.
Does FSU require letters of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation are not required and will not be used in the decision-making process.