Florida State University – History, Ranking and Cost

Overview

Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a public research institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. As a senior member of the State University System of Florida, it was established in 1851 on the state’s longest-standing site for higher education.

FSU comprises 17 colleges and hosts 58 centers, institutes, laboratories, facilities, and professional training programs. In 2023, the university enrolled 43,701 students representing all 50 states and 135 countries. It is home to Florida’s only national laboratory, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and played a key role in the commercial development of the anti-cancer drug Taxol. Additionally, the university manages the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which serves as Florida’s State Art Museum and is part of one of the largest museum-university complexes in the nation. FSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Classified as an “R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity,” FSU reported $414 million in research and development (R&D) expenditures, ranking 82nd among 890 institutions according to 2022 National Science Foundation data. The university operates on a $3 billion annual budget and contributes an estimated $15.5 billion to the economy each year.

FSU maintains a cooperative relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, granting it the rights to use the Seminoles name and associated imagery. The university’s athletic teams, known as the Florida State Seminoles, compete in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The program has secured 19 national championships across nine different sports.