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Florida State University
Florida State University seal.svg
Former names
Florida Institute (1854–1857)
Tallahassee Female Academy (1843–1858)
West Florida Seminary (1857–1860; 1865–1901)
The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute (1860–1865)
The Literary College of the University of Florida (1883–1885)
University of Florida (1885-1902)
Florida State College (1901–1905)
Florida Female College (1905)
Florida State College for Women (1905–1947)
Motto Vires, Artes, Mores (Latin)
Motto in English
"Strength, Skill, Character"
Type Public research university
Established January 24, 1851; 174 years ago (January 24, 1851)
Parent institution
State University System of Florida
Accreditation SACS
Academic affiliations
  • ORAU
  • URA
  • Sea-grant
  • Space-grant
Endowment $897.6 million (2021)
Budget $2.17 billion (2021)
President Richard D. McCullough
Provost James J. Clark
Academic staff
5,966
Administrative staff
8,133
Students 45,493 (fall 2021)
Undergraduates 33,486 (fall 2021)
Postgraduates 12,007 (fall 2021)
Location ,
Florida
,
United States

30°26′31″N 84°17′53″W / 30.442°N 84.298°W / 30.442; -84.298
Campus Midsize city, 487.5 acres (1.973 km2) (Main Campus)
Total, 1,715.5 acres (6.942 km2)
Other campuses
Newspaper
  • The Capital Collegian
  • FSView & Florida Flambeau
Colors Garnet and Gold
         
Nickname
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division I FBS – ACC
Mascot
  • Osceola and Renegade
  • Cimarron
Florida State University logo.svg

Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a large public university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a key part of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it stands on Florida's oldest site for higher education.

FSU has 17 different colleges and over 110 centers. It offers more than 360 study programs. In 2021, 45,493 students from all 50 states and 130 countries attended FSU. Florida State is home to the state's only national lab, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. It is also where the anti-cancer drug Taxol was first developed. The university also runs the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which is Florida's State Art Museum.

Florida State University is a top research university. It is known for "Very high research activity." In 2020, the university spent $350.4 million on research and development. This ranked it 75th in the nation. The university has a budget of over $2.17 billion each year. It helps the economy by $14 billion annually.

FSU's sports teams are called the "Florida State Seminoles". They compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. They are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Florida State's teams have won 20 national championships. Seminole athletes have also won 78 individual NCAA national championships.

History of Florida State University

Entry to FSU - panoramio
Main entrance to Dodd Hall, built in 1925. Dodd Hall was the location of Florida State's library until 1956.

Florida State University's beginnings go back to 1823. The U.S. Congress planned to create a system for higher education. In 1845, Florida became a state. This allowed the plans for schools to move forward.

In 1851, Florida's government decided to create two learning institutions. One was to be west of the Suwannee River. These schools would teach people to be teachers. They would also teach skills like mechanics and farming. By 1854, a school for boys called the Florida Institute was in Tallahassee. The state took it over in 1857. This became the State Seminary West of the Suwannee River. In 1858, it joined with the Tallahassee Female Academy. This made it a school for both boys and girls.

The West Florida Seminary was built on a hill. This is where the historic Westcott Building now stands. This area was once known as Gallows Hill.

FSU During the Civil War

In 1860, the school started formal military training. During the American Civil War, it was called The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute. About 250 students attended, making it a large school. In 1865, students from the school helped defeat Union forces at the Battle of Natural Bridge. This kept Tallahassee as the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi River not captured. After the war, the school went back to its original purpose.

Today, the Florida State University Army ROTC honors these cadets. They display a special banner with "NATURAL BRIDGE 1865" on it. This is a rare honor for a college military unit.

Becoming a State University

Rc01122
Chemistry lab in 1900, at what was then known as the West Florida Seminary

In 1883, the West Florida Seminary became The Literary College of the University of Florida. This new university also included a medical college. However, without more money from the state, the university plan struggled. The medical college moved away.

The West Florida Seminary kept growing. It started focusing on college-level education. In 1884, it gave out its first diplomas. By 1897, it became Florida's first liberal arts college. In 1901, it was renamed Florida State College. It offered four-year degrees and even master's degrees. The first master's degree was given in 1902.

The Buckman Act

Florida State College for Women from the air, Tallahassee, Fla.
Florida State College for Women, c. 1930

In 1905, a law called the Buckman Act changed Florida's college system. It created a school for white men (University of Florida), a school for white women (Florida Female College), and a school for African Americans (Florida A&M University). The Florida Female College later became Florida State College for Women. This law was debated because it changed a coeducational school into a women's school.

By 1933, Florida State College for Women was the third largest women's college in the U.S. It was also the first state women's college in the South to get a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a respected honor society.

Becoming Florida State University

After World War II, many soldiers used the G.I. Bill to go to college. This put a lot of pressure on the state university system. A branch of the University of Florida opened at the Florida State College for Women. Men lived in temporary housing nearby. In 1947, the Florida Legislature made the FSCW coeducational again. It was then officially named Florida State University. The years after the war brought much growth. Many new departments and colleges were added.

Student Activism and Fairness

FSU protest Tallahassee rc01458
Student protest in Tallahassee, 1970

During the 1960s and 1970s, FSU became a place for student protests. Students spoke out for racial integration and women's rights. They also protested the Vietnam War. In 1969, students protested against censorship in school newspapers. This led to the president resigning. In 1972, a professor led a lawsuit. It claimed unfair treatment against women in pay. The university later agreed to study and fix these issues.

FSU was sometimes called "Berkeley of the South." This was because of similar student activities at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1962, Maxwell Courtney became the first African-American undergraduate student at Florida State. In 1968, Calvin Patterson became the first African-American player on the university football team. Today, Florida State has the highest graduation rate for African-American students among all Florida universities.

In 1969, a student group wanted to use university facilities. The university administration did not allow it. This led to a protest and the arrest of 58 students. This event was later called the "Night of the Bayonets." The university's faculty later said the administration's actions made the situation worse. Another big event happened when students protested deaths at Kent State University. Classes were canceled. About 1000 students marched. Governor Claude Kirk even joined them to discuss politics.

CFEC 001
Rally at Westcott, February 13, 2008

The Pride Student Union (PSU) was started in 1969. It supports LGBTQ students. In 2010, the University Board of Trustees passed a rule. It protects students based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

FSU in the 21st Century

In 2002, FSU students held a protest called "Tent City." They camped for 114 days. They wanted the university to join the Worker's Rights Consortium (WRC). This group checks labor rights worldwide. The protest ended when the university agreed to meet with the WRC.

Florida State University College of Medicine
Florida State University College of Medicine

The Florida State University College of Medicine was created in 2000. It trains future doctors. The King Life Sciences Building opened in 2008. It brought all biology departments together.

In 2013, Florida's Governor Rick Scott named FSU and the University of Florida as "preeminent universities." This means they are top schools in the state. This status brought more state funding to FSU.

FSU Campus

Tallahassee Campus

FSU Landisgreen
Landis Green is located in the center of the main campus

The main campus covers about 489 acres. It has over 14.8 million square feet of buildings. Florida State University owns more than 1,600 acres in total. The Westcott Building is a very famous structure. It stands on the oldest site of higher education in Florida. It is also home to Ruby Diamond Auditorium, a main performance hall. Dodd Hall, the first library, is also a historic building.

Student dorms like Broward and Landis are on the eastern side of campus. There are also newer dorms like Ragans. Heritage Grove is FSU's Greek community area. It is a short walk away.

FSU has nine libraries on and around campus. The Robert Manning Strozier Library is the main one. It is the only library in Florida open 24 hours Sunday through Thursday. The Dirac Science Library is for science students. The Claude Pepper Library holds documents from famous politicians.

FSU greenspace 16June2007
A green space near Landis and Gilchrist residence halls, on the main campus. These oak trees were planted by students in 1932

The College of Law is near the Donald L. Tucker Center. The College of Business is in the center of campus. Science and research buildings are in the northwest part. The College of Medicine is on the west side.

Doak Campbell Stadium is in the southwest area. It holds about 84,000 fans for football games. This stadium is unique because it is part of the University Center. This is the largest continuous brick structure in the world. It also holds university offices and classrooms.

Florida State University Wellness Center
The Mary B. Coburn Health and Wellness Center

The FSU Southwest Campus has another 850 acres. It is home to the Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering. This is a joint facility with Florida A&M University. The Don Veller Seminole Golf Course is also here. The Florida State University Reservation is a lakeside retreat for students.

FSU kingbuilding back
James E. King Life Sciences Teaching & Research Center

Florida State University has been growing a lot since 2003. Many buildings have been renovated or built new. These include sports fields, dorms, and research spaces. The campus is also being made more beautiful.

Panama City Campus

FSUPlaza
The center of campus. Live Oak trees with hanging Spanish Moss are found everywhere on campus

Florida State University Panama City is about 100 miles from the main campus. It started in the early 1980s. Now, it has almost 1,500 students. It offers 15 bachelor's and 19 graduate degree programs.

Over 4,000 students have graduated from FSU Panama City. All courses are taught by professors from the main FSU campus. This campus has a ratio of 25 students to each professor.

How FSU is Organized

College/school founding
College/school Year founded

College of Arts & Sciences 1901
College of Human Sciences 1901
College of Education 1901
College of Music 1901
College of Social Work 1928
School of Dance 1930
College of Fine Arts 1943
College of Communication and Information 1947
School of Information 1947
Askew School of Public Administration and Policy 1947
Dedman School of Hospitality 1947
College of Business 1950
College of Nursing 1950
College of Law 1966
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy 1973
School of Theatre 1973
College of Criminology and Criminal Justice 1974
College of Engineering 1983
College of Motion Picture Arts 1989
College of Medicine 2000
School of Communication 2009
School of Communication Science and Disorders 2009
Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship 2017
School of Physician Assistant Practice 2017

Florida State University is part of the State University System of Florida. It is overseen by the Florida Board of Governors. A 13-member Board of Trustees helps guide the university.

Jim Clark became the provost of FSU in 2022. He is in charge of the university's daily operations.

FSU has 16 colleges and over 110 centers. They offer more than 300 degree programs. The Florida State University College of Medicine trains doctors. It focuses on helping people in areas with fewer medical services. Students learn on campus for two years. Then they train in hospitals in different cities.

FSU Finances

Fitch Ratings gave FSU a strong financial rating of "AA+" in 2022. This means the university is very stable financially. It shows FSU has good fundraising and manages its money well.

In 2021, FSU's total financial endowment was $897.8 million. The Florida State University Foundation also helps. Its endowment was $669 million in 2021. This money helps pay for student scholarships. It also supports teaching and research.

Seminole Boosters

Seminole Boosters, Inc. supports Florida State University athletics. They raise over $14 million each year. They also get at least $15 million in gifts for buildings. The Boosters help with scholarships and building sports facilities.

Student Government

College of Law Rotunda
The D'Alemberte Rotunda, part of the College of Law, is used to host special events.

The Florida State University Student Government Association (SGA) represents the university's students. It has a yearly budget of over $14 million. This money comes from student fees.

The student government started in 1935. It has three parts: executive, judicial, and legislative. The student body president leads the executive branch. The legislative branch has eighty senators. The judicial branch has a chief justice and four other justices.

Academics at FSU

Florida State University wants to be a top 25 public research university. It aims for many of its PhD programs to be in the top 15 nationally. The university is home to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. It also has other advanced research facilities. FSU was home to one of the fastest supercomputers in 1989. It also helped develop the anti-cancer drug Taxol.

FSU has 16 colleges and schools. These include colleges for Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Law, and Medicine. Florida State offers many degree programs.

  • 104 bachelor's degree programs.
  • 112 master's degree programs.
  • 70 doctorate degree programs.
  • 3 professional degree programs.

The most popular colleges for students are Arts and Sciences, Business, and Social Sciences.

Tuition Costs

For the 2018–2019 school year, tuition was:

  • Undergraduate: $215.55 per credit hour for Florida residents. $721.10 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
  • Graduate: $479.32 per credit hour for Florida residents. $1,110.72 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
  • Law School: $688.11 per credit hour for Florida residents. $1,355.18 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
  • Medical School: $479.32 per credit hour for Florida residents. $1,110.72 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

Admissions to FSU

Fall first-time freshman admission statistics
  2022 2021 2020 2019
Applicants 78,088 65,256 63,691 58,936
Admits 19,552 24,184 20,668 21,202
Enrolls 6,033 7,619 6,009 7,106
Admit rate 25.0% 37.1% 32.5% 36.0%
Yield rate 30.9% 31.5% 29.1% 33.5%
SAT composite* 1220⁠–1360
(68%†)
1200⁠–1330
(65%†)
1230⁠–1350
(65%†)
1220⁠–1330
(70%†)
ACT composite* 26–31
(32%†)
26–30
(35%†)
27–31
(35%†)
26–30
(30%†)
* middle 50% range
† percentage of first-time freshmen who chose to submit

For students starting in Fall 2021, the middle 50% of freshmen had a GPA between 4.1 and 4.5. Their SAT scores ranged from 1230 to 1360. Their ACT scores were between 27 and 31. In 2020, FSU accepted about 32.4% of freshman applicants.

FSU's retention rate for first-year students is 95.1%. This means most students return for their second year. In 2019, 72% of students graduated in four years. This was the highest rate in Florida's state university system.

Student Enrollment

Enrollment in FSU (2017–2022)
Academic Year Undergraduates Graduate Total Enrollment
2017–2018 33,008 8,354 41,362
2018–2019 32,472 8,533 41,005
2019–2020 33,270 9,180 42,250
2020–2021 32,543 11,026 43,569
2021–2022 33,593 11,537 45,130
2022–2023 32,936 11,225 44,161

In Fall 2021, Florida State University had 45,493 students. They came from over 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states. About 57% of students are women and 43% are men. About 22.6% are graduate students.

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022
Race and ethnicity Total
White 59% 59
 
Hispanic 22% 22
 
Black 9% 9
 
Other 5% 5
 
Asian 3% 3
 
Foreign national 1% 1
 
Economic diversity
Low-income 26% 26
 
Affluent 74% 74
 

In 2017, 7.1% of FSU students were international students. Most came from China, Panama, and India.

Many in-state students come from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, and Leon counties. The Miami area sends the most students to FSU. For out-of-state students, many come from Georgia, Virginia, and New York.

University Rankings

U.S. university rankings

ARWU World 201–300
ARWU National 66–94
THES World 251–300
USNWR National University 55
Washington Monthly National University 73
Forbes 67

USNWR graduate school rankings

Business 85
Education 21
Engineering 92
Law 47
Medicine: Primary Care 78
Medicine: Research 93–123
Nursing: Doctorate 33

USNWR departmental rankings

Biological Sciences 80
Chemistry 49
Clinical Psychology 27
Computer Science 82
Criminology 5
Earth Sciences 62
Economics 65
English 62
Fine Arts 42
History 81
Library and Information Studies 11
Mathematics 70
Physics 53
Political Science 41
Psychology 62
Public Affairs 46
Public Health 79
Social Work 42
Sociology 49
Speech-Language Pathology 20
Statistics 30

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida State University as the 19th best public university in the U.S. It was ranked 55th overall among all national universities.

The FSU College of Business was ranked 27th among public universities in 2019.

Florida State is ranked 16th for the most African American doctorate degrees awarded. The FSU College of Medicine is also ranked among the top 10 for Hispanic and Latino American students.

In 2012, Princeton Review and USA Today called Florida State the fourth "Best Value" public university. FSU is one of Florida's two "preeminent" universities. It also receives the highest research funding from the National Science Foundation in the state.

Honors Program

Landis Hall FSU 2013-09-05 16-16
Landis Hall dormitory, the traditional home of honors students since 1955.

Admission to the University Honors Program is by invitation. Students usually have high GPAs and test scores. The Honors in the Major Program is for students with at least 60 college hours and a good GPA.

The Presidential Scholars Program is a top scholarship at FSU.

International Programs

Fountain in FSU, Tallahassee, Florida
Fountain on Landis Green

Florida State University's International Programs (FSU IP) is ranked 11th in the nation. Each year, over 2,379 students study abroad. Students can take classes for their major or minor. They learn from experts in different fields.

FSU has permanent study centers in London, Florence (Italy), Valencia (Spain), and Panama City (Panama). These centers offer places to live and study.

Career Support

Dunlap Student Success Center at Florida State University
The Dunlap Student Success Center at Florida State University

The Florida State University Career Center helps students find jobs. It offers job interviews, career planning, and help with applying to graduate schools. It also helps with internships and fellowships.

Academic Support for First-Generation Students

The FSU Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) helps first-generation college students. These are students whose parents did not go to college. CARE provides tutoring, advising, and life coaching. It started in 2000. By 2017, over 5,500 students had used its services.

CARE students have a high first-year retention rate of 97%. Their six-year graduation rate is 81%. The Summer Bridge Program (SBP) is an admission program for these students. The Unconquered Scholars Program helps students who have been in foster care or experienced homelessness.

FSU Libraries

FSUStrozier
The Robert M. Strozier Library

The Florida State University Libraries have one of the largest collections in Florida. They have over 3.75 million books. Their website offers access to over 400 databases and 200,000 e-journals. FSU has 15 libraries in total. Eight are on the main campus in Tallahassee. The others are around the world.

Dodd Hall FSU
Dodd Hall

The Robert M. Strozier Library is FSU's main library. It is in the center of campus. It focuses on Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education. It is open 24 hours on weekdays during fall and spring.

The Paul A. M. Dirac Science Library is for science students. It has over 500,000 books. It also has computers for students to use.

The Claude Pepper Center has a library with documents from Claude Pepper, a famous politician. It also has a collection from former Florida Governor Rubin Askew. This center helps older Americans.

The Warren D. Allen Music Library is in the Housewright Music Building. It has over 150,000 music scores, recordings, and books.

The Florida State University College of Law Research Center is the law school's library. It has over 500,000 volumes of law books.

FSU also has libraries at its Panama City campus, in Panama, and at its study centers in Florence, Italy, and London. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art also has a library.

Museums at FSU

John and Mable Ringling Art Museum Courtyard Aerial
Ringling Museum of Art courtyard

The Ringling is Florida's State Art Museum. It is in Sarasota, Florida. Florida State University manages it. The museum started in 1927. It has 21 galleries of European paintings. It also has art from Cyprus, Asia, and America. The museum has over 10,000 art objects. Its most famous pieces are paintings by Peter Paul Rubens. The Ringling Museum is the largest university museum complex in the U.S.

The Ringling campus has grown. It includes the art museum, a circus museum, and the Ringlings' mansion, Cà d'Zan. New buildings have been added for visitors and learning.

Florida State University also has the FSU Museum of Fine Arts (MoFA) on its Tallahassee campus. MoFA has over 4,000 art items. These include ancient pottery and modern art. It has many prints by famous artists like Rembrandt and Pablo Picasso.

Research at FSU

Florida State University is one of Florida's main research universities. It does a lot of scientific research. FSU conducts research at all levels, from undergraduate to postdoctoral.

CMS Hcal 26 01 2007
The Hadron Calorimeter

In 2020, Florida State University received $350.4 million for research. This ranked it 75th in the nation. FSU is also one of the top 15 universities to get funding for physical sciences from the National Science Foundation.

FSU has 19 graduate degree programs that combine different research fields. This means experts from different areas work together. This helps them make new discoveries.

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

NHMFLbuildingtallahassee
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory building

The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL), or "Mag Lab," is at Florida State. It creates strong magnetic fields for scientists to use. They do research in physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering. It is the only lab of its kind in the U.S. It is one of only nine in the world. The Mag Lab has set 14 world records. It is the largest and most powerful lab of its kind.

Large Hadron Collider Research

FSU faculty helped design and build the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS). This is a detector for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC is a huge particle accelerator near Geneva, Switzerland. Some parts of the LHC were put together at Florida State. Then they were shipped to Switzerland. FSU faculty helped with key parts of the CMS detector.

High-Performance Materials Institute

FSU e-school
FSU College of Engineering

The High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) is a research center. It focuses on new materials. These include strong composite materials and tiny nanomaterials. They also work on ways to check the health of structures.

Center for Advanced Power Systems

Florida State University's Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) is a special test site. The U.S. Navy trusts it to test new power technology for ships.

CAPS researches power systems technology. It works with public utilities, defense, and transportation. CAPS helps train future power system engineers. Their research includes power system models, power electronics, and superconductors. In 2015, CAPS built a 24,000-volt direct current power test system. This is the most powerful system at a university research center worldwide.

Coastal and Marine Laboratory

The FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory (FSUCML) is about 45 miles from the main campus. It is on the coast of St. Teresa, Florida. The FSUCML studies the ocean and coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico. It helps solve environmental problems. It also helps make public policy decisions.

FSU has done marine research since 1949. The lab moved to its current location in the 1960s. In 2006, it was renamed to reflect its broader research and education goals.

Student Life at FSU

Traditions

FSUWestcottBuilding-2
It is traditional for students to be dunked in the Westcott fountain on special occasions

The university's colors are garnet and gold. These colors represent FSU's history. In the early 1900s, the football team wore purple and gold. Later, the students chose crimson. In 1905, crimson was combined with purple to make garnet. After World War II, garnet and gold became the official colors. Florida State University's marching band is the Marching Chiefs.

Alma Mater

The alma mater for Florida State University is "High O'er Towering Pines." Charlie Carter wrote it in 1956.

Other popular FSU songs include:

  • Hymn – "Hymn To the Garnet and Gold"
  • Fight Song – "FSU Fight Song"

Residential Life

New Dorman & Deviney Halls
New Dorman & Deviney Halls complex, constructed 2015

Florida State University offers housing for 6,733 students. This number will soon increase to 7,283. Most students live on campus in dorms. Some live in private housing nearby. FSU also has Living–Learning Communities (LLC). These are dorms where students with similar interests live together.

Student Clubs and Activities

Florida State University has over 750 student organizations. These include groups for culture, sports, and charity. Some popular groups are Phi Beta Kappa, AcaBelles, and the Marching Chiefs. Students can also create their own groups. All groups get funding from the student government.

Fitness and Sports

The Bobby E. Leach Student Recreation Center is a large fitness facility. It has basketball courts, racquetball courts, and an indoor track. The Leach Pool is an indoor swimming facility.

Florida State University also has an intramural sports program. Students can play sports like flag football, basketball, and recreational soccer. Sports clubs like equestrian and water sailing compete against other colleges.

A new area for intramural sports, the RecSports Plex, opened in 2007. It is the largest in the nation. It has many fields for football, soccer, and softball.

Entertainment

FSUStudentUnion
The new Student Union, opened 2022

Much of student life happens at the FSU Student Union. It was built in 1952 and expanded in 1964. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2022. Crenshaw Lanes is a bowling alley inside the Union. It also has billiard tables.

Club Downunder hosts bands and comedians. These shows are free for FSU students. Past performers include The White Stripes and Modest Mouse.

The Askew Student Life Center has the Student Life Cinema. This is a movie theater run by students. Movies are free for students. The center also has a ceramic painting program and a video game area.

Florida State's Reservation is a 73-acre lakeside area. It is a place for students to relax. It was founded in 1920.

FSU is one of only two colleges in the country with a circus. The FSU Flying High Circus started in 1947. It is an extracurricular activity.

A Cappella Groups

FSU has five student-run a cappella groups. These include Acaphiliacs, All-Night Yahtzee, and AcaBelles. All groups compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA). All-Night Yahtzee has competed in the finals five times.

Greek Life

ZBT House 11
Zeta Beta Tau House

About 14% of undergraduate men are in a fraternity. About 23% of undergraduate women are in a sorority. FSU has many Greek organizations. These include fraternities and sororities.

In 2017, the university president stopped all Greek activities for a time. This was to create new policies. The goal was to improve student culture.

Reserve Officer Training Corps

Florida State University's Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) trains students to become military officers. The FSU ROTC unit is one of only four college military units allowed to display a battle streamer. This is for the students' service in the Battle of Natural Bridge in 1865.

ROTC offers training for the United States Army and the United States Air Force. FSU students can also train with Florida A&M University's Navy ROTC. This allows them to join the Navy or Marine Corps.

Campus Transportation

The Seminole Express Bus Service has eight bus routes. It provides transportation around campus and to nearby Tallahassee areas. Students, faculty, and staff can ride any StarMetro bus for free with their FSUCard. FSU also offers other services like the Spirit Shuttle for football games.

The Tallahassee International Airport serves Florida State University. It has daily flights to major cities like Miami and Atlanta.

Student Media

WFSUBuilding
WFSU Public Broadcast Center

The campus newspaper is the FSView & Florida Flambeau. It publishes weekly or semiweekly. FSU also runs two TV stations, WFSU and WFSG. It operates three radio stations, WFSU-FM, WFSQ-FM and WFSW-FM.

FSU also has a student-run radio station, WVFS (V89). It plays independent music. The English Department publishes a literary journal called The Southeast Review.

FSU Athletics

Florida State Seminoles alternate logo
Florida State Seminoles alternate athletic programs logo

The school's athletic teams are called the Seminoles. This name comes from the Seminole people. The students chose the name in 1947. The Seminole Tribe of Florida officially approves its use.

FSU athletes compete in the NCAA's Division I. They are part of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Chief Osceola on Renegade FSU
FSU's Chief Osceola on Renegade

For the 2017–2018 school year, the Florida State Athletics Department had a budget of $103.2 million. It brought in over $121.3 million in revenue. Florida State University is known for its strong sports teams.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, and football. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, and softball. FSU also has club sports like rugby and lacrosse.

FSU has three main sports venues on campus:

  • Doak Campbell Stadium for football.
  • Dick Howser Stadium for men's baseball.
  • Donald L. Tucker Center for men's and women's basketball.

The Mike Long Track is home to the men's track and field team. The Seminole Soccer Complex is home to women's soccer. The Seminole Softball Complex is home to the women's softball team.

Seminole Baseball

Seminole baseball is one of the most successful college baseball programs. They have been to the College World Series 20 times. They reached the national championship final three times. Under Coach Mike Martin, Florida State is the second-winningest program in college baseball history. Since 1990, FSU has had more 50-win seasons than almost any other team.

Seminole Football

Doak Campbell Stadium Entrance FSU
Doak Campbell Stadium from Langford Green

The Florida State Seminoles football program has played in 49 bowl games. They have won three national championships. They also won eighteen Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships. FSU football has produced 218 All-Americans. It has also had 47 players chosen in the first round of the National Football League (NFL) draft. Three FSU players have won the Heisman Trophy. The Seminoles had 14 straight years ranked in the top five of the AP Poll.

The Seminoles' home field is Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. It can hold 79,560 fans.

Florida State's first official football team played in 1902. They were called "The Eleven." In 1904, they became the first state champions of Florida.

Under head coach Bobby Bowden, the Seminole football team became one of the best. They played in five national championship games between 1993 and 2001. They won championships in 1993 and 1999. Coach Bowden retired with the most career wins in Division I football. Jimbo Fisher took over in 2010 and won a national championship in 2013. The current head coach is Mike Norvell. Many FSU football players have gone on to play in the NFL. These include Deion Sanders and Jameis Winston.

Seminole Track and Field

The FSU men's Track & Field team won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship four times in a row. They also won the NCAA National Championship three years in a row. In 2006, Coach Bob Braman led individual champions in various events. In 2007, FSU won its second straight men's Track & Field NCAA National Championship.

FSU Faculty

Harold Kroto 2007
Sir Harold Kroto, a Nobel Prize Laureate, Francis Eppes Professor of Chemistry, FSU

Florida State University has 2,548 faculty members and over 8,133 staff. FSU students get to learn from amazing professors. These include a Nobel Laureate and members of the National Academy of Sciences. Many faculty members have won major awards in arts and sciences.

Robert A. Holton, a chemistry professor, developed the first way to create the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel. This drug was previously only found in a rare tree. FSU made a deal with a company to use this invention.

FSU's Department of Art has many famous artists. Mark Messersmith, Lillian Garcia-Roig, and Ray Burggraf are known for their art. Their work often focuses on the environment.

FSU Alumni

FSUPearlTynerHouse
The Pearl Tyner House, located in the Florida State University Alumni Center

Florida State University has over 400,000 former students. They live in all 50 states and many countries. Many FSU alumni are college presidents. Over 15 have served in the United States Congress. Four have been governors. More than 20 have become generals or admirals in the United States Armed Forces.

Florida State University has had five Rhodes Scholarship recipients. This is a very high honor. Garrett Johnson, Joe O'Shea, and Myron Rolle are FSU alumni who won this award. Only 32 students in the U.S. get this award each year.

Many FSU graduates have become important people.

As a top sports school, FSU has many famous alumni in sports. Many are in FSU's Hall of Fame. Over 123 alumni play professional sports. FSU has produced three Heisman Trophy winners: Chris Weinke, Charlie Ward, and Jameis Winston. Famous professional golfers include Brooks Koepka and Hubert Green.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Florida para niños

  • Burning Spear Society
  • Florida State University School
  • Florida State University Police Department
  • List of colleges and universities in Florida
  • Marching Chiefs
  • Master Craftsman Studio
  • National Center for Choreography
  • The War Chant
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