At a Glance
FIU admits 60.9% of applicants.
What You'll Actually Pay
See what families at different income levels actually pay after aid.
What families actually pay, by income level
After grants and scholarships. Before loans. Public school prices shown at in-state rates.
Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS, 2024-25
Where the Sticker Price Goes
Based on average need-based grant. Actual cost varies by family income — see chart above.
Shown at in-state rates.
Debt at Graduation
50.8%
receive need-based grant aid
$18,003
average debt at graduation
FIU graduates carry an average of $18,003 in debt.
Merit Aid
1,438
students received merit aid
$2,044
average merit award
Getting In
FIU admits 60.9% of applicants.
SAT — Middle 50% of those who submitted · 92% of the class submitted
ACT — Middle 50% of those who submitted · 8% of the class submitted
23% were in the top 10% of their high school class.
What They Value
Academic
Nonacademic
Florida International University gives essays less weight than many schools — academics drive most admissions decisions here. Demonstrated interest is Considered — showing genuine engagement with this school may help your application.
Student Life
46.7% of FIU classes have fewer than 20 students.
Share of undergraduate class sections at each size, from CDS Section I-3. More red = more large lectures.
At FIU, 46.7% of your classes will have fewer than 20 students.
Class size data reflects all undergraduate sections including labs, seminars, and lectures. Large research universities often have smaller upper-division and graduate-level sections that improve the overall distribution. First and second-year students typically experience larger classes than these averages suggest.
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, Section I-3 (class sizes)
25:1
student:faculty ratio
Campus Life
From out of state (freshman class)
5.6%
Live on campus
7%
Who Attends
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduates, as reported in each school's Common Data Set. "Unknown / Other" includes students who did not report or selected "other."
FIU's student body is 8.3% white.
Popular Majors
Will They Graduate?
FIU graduates 64% of students in 4 years.
Graduating late means paying for extra semesters. The 6-year rate tells you who eventually finishes — the 4-year rate tells you what it actually costs.
FIU graduates 64% of students in 4 years.
What finishing late actually costs
Based on each school's published cost of attendance. Public school costs shown at in-state rates.
FIU
64%
4-yr grad rate
Extra year cost: $21,462*
* In-state cost of attendance. Out-of-state students pay significantly more.
Graduation rate data from Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2018 cohort (most recent available). 4-year rate = students completing in 4 years or less. 6-year rate = students completing within 6 years.
78%
Overall 6-yr rate
77%
Pell recipient rate
Lower-income students graduate at nearly the same rate as their peers — a sign of strong institutional support.
Freshman Retention
91.7%
91.7% of first-year students return for sophomore year.
City & Culture
Beyond the data — what it's actually like to spend four years in Miami.
FIU's Modesto A. Maidique Campus sits in suburban West Miami-Dade, on the site of a former airfield, rather than in downtown Miami — a commuter-shaped campus inside one of the country's largest and most international metro areas. Miami itself is the leading U.S. gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, home to more multinational regional headquarters than any other American city.
Notable Alumni
Pitbull (Armando Christian Pérez)
Global recording artist who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide; attended FIU in the early 2000s.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Became the first Hispanic woman elected to the U.S. Congress, representing South Florida for nearly three decades.
Class of 1975
Barbara Lagoa
Became the first Latina to sit on the Florida Supreme Court, later confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Class of 1989
T.Y. Hilton
NFL wide receiver drafted in 2012; four-time Pro Bowl selection over a decade-plus career with the Indianapolis Colts.
Class of 2012
Alumni selected for name recognition and range of fields. Not from the Common Data Set.
The City
Major city
Miami, FL
Best For
Traditions
Trail of the Torch
Established in 2004, FIU's largest student tradition — a torch relay and ceremony that has grown into the university's signature yearly event.
Roary the Panther
FIU's mascot since the 1970s, with an annual campus birthday celebration among the more visible student-life traditions.
Weekend Escapes
Within driving distance from Miami
Florida Keys
About 1 hour 30 minutes to Key LargoThe northernmost Keys and Everglades National Park's southern entrance, both a short drive south.
Everglades National Park
About 40 minutesThe nearest entrance to Everglades National Park sits just west of the main campus.
South Beach and downtown Miami
About 30-40 minutesMiami's beaches, nightlife, and Brickell financial district.
Getting There & Game Days
Nearest airport
Miami International Airport (MIA)
About 15 minutes from campus
Flies international — you can start a trip abroad from here.
Pro sports nearby
- Miami Dolphins NFLAbout 30 minutes away
- Miami Heat NBAAbout 25 minutes away
- Miami Marlins MLBAbout 25 minutes away
- Inter Miami CF MLSAbout 20 minutes away
Career Proximity
Miami is the leading U.S. gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, and FIU sits directly inside that international trade and finance corridor.
Top Industries Nearby
Major Employers
- Baptist Health South Florida
- American Airlines
- Royal Caribbean Group
- Carnival Corporation
- Brightline
- Numerous Latin America regional headquarters in Brickell and Doral
Downtown Miami and Brickell, about 30-40 minutes from campus
Who Thrives Here
FIU admits 60.9% of applicants and requires SAT or ACT scores for admission rather than making them optional; the middle 50% of submitters scored 1070-1260 on the SAT. In-state tuition and fees run $6,566 against $20,204 for everyone else, and 90.5% of the entering class comes from Florida. The undergraduate body of 46,249 is overwhelmingly Hispanic — 67.5%, against 11.0% Black and 8.3% white — reflecting Miami's own demographics more than a typical American college town. What defines FIU academically is its position: Miami is the country's leading gateway to Latin America, and FIU's business and international programs sit directly inside that trade and finance corridor. Campus life is almost entirely commuter-shaped: only 7.0% of undergraduates live in university housing, and Greek life participation isn't reported. The trade-offs come with scale and access. Teaching runs at 25 students per faculty member and 46.7% of class sections have fewer than 20 students. 64.0% graduate in four years and 78.0% within six, aid covers 48.9% of demonstrated need, and graduates who borrow leave owing $18,003.