FAU vs. FIU vs. BC

Should I go to Florida Atlantic University or Florida International University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if FAU or FIU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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FGCU UCF Miami MDC Florida State Nova University of South Florida St. Petersburg UNF USF Main Campus UT Lynn University Florida
Florida Atlantic University vs. Florida International University vs. Broward College comparison
Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Broward College College 4
Florida Atlantic University Florida International University Broward College
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Overview

 FAU FIU BC
Location Boca Raton, FL Miami, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL
Setting Small City Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 30,790 53,953 29,140
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #678 #628
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit
Website fau.edu fiu.edu broward.edu
Team Colors                              

Costs

 FAU FIU BC
Tuition (In State) $2,522 $4,721 $1,968
Tuition (Out of State) $14,374 $16,529 $7,402
Room & Board $12,536 $12,156 $19,500
Avg Net Price $9,839 $10,742 $18,934
Avg Grant Aid $10,786 $10,012 $3,192
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 90% 78%

Admission

 FAU FIU BC
Applied 27,612 25,034 -
Admitted 20,279 14,729 -
Acceptance Rate 73.4% 58.8% Open
Enrolled % 21.8% 35.1% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.74 4.0 -
Typical High School Grades A- A/A+ -
Admissions Standards Moderate Average Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/26 20/26
SAT Range 1040/1210 1060/1250
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2026 Apr 1, 2026

Academics

 FAU FIU BC
Student to Faculty Ratio 23:1 24:1 30:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Engineering (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (68%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (3%)
  • Business (3%)
  • Transportation and Materials Moving (2%)

Outcomes

 FAU FIU BC
Graduation Rate 43% 43% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $49,900 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 53% 37%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,861 $17,228 $6,000
Median Loan Payment $174 $178 $62

Diversity

 FAU FIU BC
% Men 9% 7% 7%
% Women 12% 11% 11%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium Very High
HBCU No No No
% White 43% 9% 18%
% Black 20% 12% 35%
% Hispanic 26% 67% 35%
% Native American 0% 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2% 2%
% International 2% 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 1% 4%

Students

 FAU FIU BC
% In-State 72% 94% 98%
% Out-of-State 22% 4% 0%

Campus

 FAU FIU BC
Campus Housing Yes Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida International University is larger than than FAU based on total student enrollment (53,953 students vs. 30,790 students)

FAU vs. FIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FAU or FIU?

  • Florida International University is 87.2% more expensive to attend than FAU for in-state tuition ($4,721.00 vs. $2,522.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15% higher at FIU than Florida Atlantic University ($16,529.00 vs. $14,374.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida Atlantic University than FIU ($9,839 vs. $10,742)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida International University are 3.1% lower than costs at Florida Atlantic University ($12,156 vs. $12,536)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Florida International University than Florida Atlantic University (90% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Atlantic University students is 7.7% larger than aid received Florida International University ($10,786 vs. $10,012)

FAU vs. FIU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FAU or FIU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between FIU or FAU .

  • The average SAT score at Florida International University (1090) is 43 points higher than at FAU (1047)
  • Incoming FIU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at FAU (23)
  • Accepted freshman FIU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at FAU (3.74)
  • FAU has a higher acceptance rate (73.4%) than FIU (58.8%)

FAU vs. FIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, FAU or FIU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between FIU and FAU.

  • The graduation rate at FAU is the same as at Florida International University (43% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Florida International University earn on average $3,700 more per year than FAU graduates after ten years. ($49,900 vs. $46,200)
  • Florida Atlantic University students graduate with a $367 lower median federal student loan debt than FIU graduates. ($16,861 vs. $17,228)
  • FAU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than FIU graduates. ($174 vs. $178)
  • More FAU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/