Here’s a look at FSU, FAMU’s increasing application and acceptance rates for fall 2024

Florida State and Florida A&M universities have thousands of applications rolling in from students interested in becoming a Seminole or Rattler in fall 2024.

And there’s a larger pool of students being considered this time around.

While FAMU currently has over 13,400 applications for fall 2024 compared to 12,905 at this time last year, over 22,000 applications have been submitted to FSU during its early action phase.

The overall increase in applications follows fall commencement ceremonies that were recently held at both universities, where over 650 students from FAMU and nearly 2,000 from FSU crossed stages, earning their degrees.

FAMU’s Vice President of Student Affairs William E. Hudson Jr. says the university receives weekly reports about application rates as students continue to apply.

“We’ve jumped each year for the past three years,” Hudson told the Tallahassee Democrat.

William Hudson, Jr., vice president for student affairs, Florida A&M University
William Hudson, Jr., vice president for student affairs, Florida A&M University

Other FAMU news: 'Nothing concrete': Plans for FAMU, FSU championship celebrations evolving amid debate

When it comes to FAMU’s applications from students for fall 2024 — which were made available as early as Aug. 1 — there has been a 4% increase in first-time-in-college submissions compared to last year, according to Hudson.

When fall 2022 applications were being submitted in 2021, Hudson says the university only had 5,451 students show an interest in attending the HBCU, or historically Black college and university.

In addition, FAMU has sent out 1,295 early acceptance letters to prospective freshmen as of Dec. 19 compared to a close 1,265 that were sent out this time last year, which is a 2% increase.

The Westcott Building at FSU.
The Westcott Building at FSU.

On the other hand, with FSU having what is called an "Early Action" plan available for applicants — an application process exclusively for students who are Florida residents — the university received about 22,000 applications for fall 2024 and 39% of the students who applied early have been accepted.

Early Action applications were due Oct. 15 while acceptance notifications were sent to students Dec. 14.

Last year, about 17,000 FSU applications came in during the Early Action period, with 47% of them being accepted. This means there has been a 28% increase in Early Action applications this year compared to last year, according to a university spokesperson.

Other FSU news: Florida State Board of Trustees approves lawsuit against ACC, challenging Grant of Rights

When taking a brief look at FSU’s early admitted class of students:

  • 22% will be first in their family to attend a university

  • Every Florida county (67) had at least one admitted student

  • 88% of the admitted students were ranked in the top 10% of their senior class in high school

  • Top majors of the admitted students are business, engineering, biology, exploratory/undecided and computer science

  • The early admitted class has a 4.4 average GPA (grade point average)

  • The early admitted class has a 31 average test score on the ACT and a 1404 average on the SAT

And more applications are still on the horizon: FSU’s final deadline for applications is March 1, and FAMU’s deadline is April 1.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU, FAMU have more applications this year for the fall 2024 semester