Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Lakeland, Florida
59.1% Acceptance Rate
Florida Southern College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
59.1%Acceptance Rate
3.73Avg GPA
1263Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$57,174Annual Cost
$55,294Grad Salary
26%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
59.1%
Avg GPA
3.73
Avg SAT
1263
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1170–1310
ACT Middle 50%
25–30
Need-Based Aid
26% receive Pell
Florida Southern College, established in 1883 in Lakeland, is home to the world's largest Frank Lloyd Wright architecture collection. It ranks for business and design programs.
The lakeside campus includes citrus groves, a nursing simulation center, and Wright-designed buildings. Its internships with Disney and other firms boost career readiness.
Florida Southern College Acceptance Rate
Florida Southern College takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 59.1% each year.
What FSC Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 59.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.73 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.53 – 3.72
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.28
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Florida Southern College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Florida Southern College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 93 days left — Early Decision/Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
FSC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Decision/Early Action
November 1
Decision by: December 15
Priority Decision
March 1
Rolling (final)
July 15
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
FSC GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at FSC is 3.73. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.43 and 3.73? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.93–4.13.FSC GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.73 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.53 – 3.72
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.33 – 3.52
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.32
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Founded 1883 in Lakeland, FL; NCAA Division II athletics.
- No essay, no application fee; test-optional for first-year admission.
- Over 70 degree programs; strong reputation in business and architecture/design.
- Automatic scholarship consideration up to $26,000 built into the standard application review.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at FSC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Florida Southern College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Florida Southern College (FSC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if FSC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into FSC Without SAT or ACT?
FSC considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Florida Southern College Average SAT Score: 1263
The average SAT score of admitted students at Florida Southern College is 1263 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1263 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1310 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Florida Southern College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1170, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at FSC. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 615 | 580 | 650 |
| SAT Reading | 625 | 590 | 660 |
| SAT Composite | 1263 | 1170 | 1310 |
Below 1170, you're behind most admitted students; at 1310 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1250
Can I get into Florida Southern College (FSC) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of FSC's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Florida Southern College (FSC) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at FSC is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 23 | 28 |
| ACT English | 27 | 24 | 30 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 30 |
Can I get into Florida Southern College with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of FSC's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at FSC.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for FSC
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
FSC is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Use the free, essay-free application to apply broadly and early
FSC's first-year application is explicitly free with no essay required and test-optional admission - remove any hesitation about "wasting" an application here; there's no cost or writing barrier, and students are automatically considered for scholarships up to $26,000 without a separate scholarship application.
Architecture applicants should reference the Frank Lloyd Wright campus directly
FSC holds the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings in the world, and the School of Architecture explicitly builds its curriculum around Wright's design philosophy toward certified-architect licensure. Any architecture-track applicant should name this legacy specifically in optional materials - it's a genuine structural differentiator, not campus-tour flavor text.
Highlight interest in the internship pipeline for career-focused majors
FSC has direct internship relationships with employers like Disney and other regional/national firms as part of its "engaged learning" model. Business, communications, and hospitality-track applicants should reference specific internship interests by name where possible - it signals fit with FSC's applied-learning identity.
Confirm current GPA/test benchmarks before assuming automatic admission
Admitted-student average GPA runs around 3.7, with GPAs around 3.4+ landing in the standard admit pool; students below that range should lean harder on essays, extracurriculars, and any available test scores to provide context, even though the school is broadly test-optional.
Expert Insight:
Because the application is free and requires no essay, some students under-research the specific major's requirements (like architecture's studio/portfolio expectations) and are surprised by additional program-level steps after general admission - confirm major-specific requirements separately from the general application.
FSC Profile
Full Name
Florida Southern College (FSC)
City
Lakeland
State
Florida
ZIP Code
33801-5698
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a FSC Degree Worth It?
Whether FSC is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $60,800, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.97%.
How much does a degree from FSC Cost?
The sticker price is $57,174/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
26% of students receive a Pell Grant and 54.1% take federal loans at FSC — file your FAFSA early and list FSC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a FSC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $55,294 — about 36% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Florida Southern College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1213 | 26 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | 1223 | 26 |
| Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA | 1230 | 27 |
| Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 1237 | 28 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Florida Southern College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Eckerd College | Saint Petersburg, FL | 1256 | 27 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | Daytona Beach, FL | 1256 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Florida Southern College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
Degree Programs at FSC
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About FSC Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Florida Southern College run about $55,294 a year.
At about $57,174 a year, Florida Southern College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
About 26.0% receive a Pell Grant at Florida Southern College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 59.1%, Florida Southern College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Florida Southern College average a 3.73 GPA.
Florida Southern College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 3.43 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.33, Florida Southern College becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Florida Southern College — aim above 1263, ideally within the 1170–1310 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Florida Southern College is November 1 for Early Decision/Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.