Florida Atlantic University vs Florida International University

Florida Atlantic University vs Florida International University

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is a public research university in Boca Raton, Florida, with several campuses in South Florida. It has around 30,000 students. The admissions are moderately selective with an acceptance rate of around 73%. The most popular courses are Business, Psychology, Education, Health Professions, and Biology. The graduation rate is around 62%, and FAU alumni have a median salary of around INR 46,00,000 (equivalents of $55,200 median earnings ten years after graduation).

Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university located in Miami, Florida. FIU is among the largest universities in the state and has an enrollment of approximately 56,000 students. The university admissions are moderately selective with a rate of about 59%. Some of the popular majors at the university are Business, Hospitality Management, Engineering, Computer Science, and International Relations. The graduation rate is around 67%, and the graduates of FIU have a median salary of about INR 49,80,000 (equivalent to $59,800 median earnings ten years after graduation).

Overview Comparison
Florida Atlantic UniversityFlorida International University
Collegedunia Score4.1 Out of 104.4 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 801 Times Higher Education 2026
# 1001 QS World University 2026
# 601 Times Higher Education 2025
# 401 Times Higher Education 2026
# 582 QS World University 2026
# 401 Times Higher Education 2025
Subject Strength# 145 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 701 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 94 for Engineering by US News 2025
# 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025
# 84 for Law by US News 2025
ProgramsUG Programs -40
PG Programs -30
UG Programs -41
PG Programs -31
Acceptance Rate73.0 %59.0 %
Exam ScoreIELTS-6.5
SAT-1060
TOEFL-80
IELTS-6.5
SAT-1080
TOEFL-80
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   19342
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  20429
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 29090 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   18566
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  18428
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 30368 Per Year
placement (average package)

The average salary recived by students after graduation is around $50,478. 


Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows:

Executive MBA: $179,000

BBA: $142,000

MBA: $121,000

Masters in Finance: $101,000

Masters in Science: $94,000

Bachelor (Other): $90,000 


application requirements

Submit official transcripts of all previous education

Submit English language proficiency test scores

Check program specific requirements

Submit official transcripts

Submit personal statement

Submit English language proficiency scores

Check program specific requirements

CollegeDunia Reviews8.0/10 Read 6 reviews8.1/10 Read 5 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

Top Courses Comparison

ranking# 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
# 601 for Business by QS World University 2025
# 131 for Business by QS World University 2026
# 122 for Business by US News 2025
# 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025
application--
exam scoresDuolingo - 110/160IELTS - 6/9TOEFL - 79/120Duolingo - 110/160GRE - 304/340IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120
cost to studyTotal Cost (Tuition + Living) -20429Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -54000
application datesJan 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For 2025 Intake)
Dec 1, 2025 (Admissions Deadline)
General Facts Comparison
General FactsFlorida Atlantic UniversityFlorida International University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1961
1968
Student:Faculty Ratio23:1
21:1
Male:Female44% Male, 56% Female44% Male, 56% Female
Location Facts

Florida Atlantic University's geographical distribution is located on six campuses spread across Palm Beach, Broward, and St. Lucie counties. The university's main campus is located in the City of Boca Raton in Palm Beach County.


Florida International's 344-acre (139 ha) campus is in the census-designated place of Westchester, a suburban residential area in Miami-Dade County. The Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) in North Miami is Florida International's 200-acre (91 ha) waterfront branch campus.  FIU also has other smaller regional centers located throughout South Florida in both Miami-Dade County and Broward County, serving the local communities in research, continuing studies, and in culture.


Library

The University/College library (U/CL) is a four-story building that serves as a joint-use facility for students, faculty, and staff of Florida Atlantic University and Broward College.Fort Lauderdale students can have direct access to library spaces and materials through FAU partnership with Broward County Library.The Broward County Library is a public library system in Broward County. The system circulates over 10.5 million items annually. The Main Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale is next to the FAU Fort Lauderdale campus, and it contains materials specific to FAU students.


FIU has six libraries, Green Library, FIU's main library; the Glenn Hubert Library (Biscayne Bay Campus), the Wolfsonian Library, the Engineering Library, the Law Library, and the Medical Library. Together, the entire FIU university-wide Library holdings include over 2,097,207 volumes, 52,511 current serials, 3,587,663 microform units, and 163,715 audio visual units. 


Campus Life

Students make the most of their time at FAU by participating in any of our 400 clubs and organizations, recreational sports, volunteer activities and more. Each year more than 5,000 student-led events create a lively and enriching campus experience. The Boca Raton campus is home to more than 4,000 on-campus residents in nine apartment and suite-style residence halls. The University delivers impactful, residence hall-based programming through which students develop skills for lifelong learning. FAU’s Dining Services serves students, faculty, staff and visitors through 16 dining locations, including Pizza Hut, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Pollo Tropical and Subway. FAU offers a wide range of resources including award-winning peer education and health promotion programs. In addition to its facilities and classes, Campus Rec hosts intramural and club sports, as well as an outdoor adventures program that takes students on excursions throughout the country.


The Student Government Association presides over and funds the over 300 student clubs and organizations and honor societies at the university. Florida International University's student housing facilities are managed by the Office of Housing and Residential Life located on the Modesto Maidique Campus (MMC). There are 3,300 students living on campus throughout 10 apartment buildings and 6 residence halls. FIU has many traditions from student spirit groups, alumni association events, and student spirit events. Incoming students can attend Panther Camp, originally a weekend retreat in the summer and now a two-day on-campus event, which began in 2006. FIU has three museums, the Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum and the Jewish Museum of Florida. Florida International University has seventeen varsity sports teams, named the Panthers and they compete in the NCAA Division I. 


Hostel#Off campus (not with family) - $11466
#On campus - $11906
#Off campus (with family) - $5718
#On campus - $10882
#Off campus (not with family) - $12090
#Off campus (with family) - $7396
Famous Alumni

Mark Dean: (M.S.E.E. 1982) Engineering Professor at the University of Tennessee; Co-developer of the IBM PC; Former Vice President of the Technical Strategy and Worldwide Operations, IBM Research[11]

Richard DiMarchi: (B.S. 1974) Former Vice President at Eli Lilly and Company, and current Chairman in Biomolecular Sciences and Professor of Chemistry at Indiana University[12]

Joshua Kosoy: (MBA 2015) Former Senior Business Analyst at Royal Caribbean Group, and current Senior Business Intelligence Analyst in operations/strategy at Citrix Systems, Inc.

Patricia McKay: (B.B.A. 1978) Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer of Office Depot[13]


Carlos Alvarado-Larroucau, francophone writer, poet, essayist, professor

Liz Balmaseda, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Steve Benen, political writer and contributor to and producer of The Rachel Maddow Show

Aimee Carrero, actress, Young & Hungry, Elena of Avalor

Janet Dacal, Broadway actress and singer, known for her role as Carla in In the Heights

Allie DiMeco, actress and musician, known for her role as Rosalina in Nickelodeon's The Naked Brothers Band


City Life

Considered one of the best places to live on Florida’s southeastern coast, the gorgeous city of Boca Raton, Florida is both popular and desirable. Known for its world-famous beaches on the Palm Coast, a plethora of golf courses, and access to some of the most sought-after dining and entertainment, living in Boca Raton is a dream come true. Now with a population of 97,000 people, there are approximately 1,000 new residents moving to the city each year in search of all of the opportunities that Boca Raton can offer its residents. Prized for being a safe community with a crime rate that is 38% lower than the Florida average, young professionals and retirees are making the move to Boca Raton. Prized for its small-town old Florida charm and luxurious living, Boca Raton could be just the place for you.


Miami is one of the most vibrant metro areas in the U.S., and it's well on its way to becoming one of the largest international business hubs in the world. In Miami, each neighborhood reflects its diverse communities and adds to the character of the area and Miami-Dade County. Miami proper draws young professionals with a multitude of trade and banking careers, while Miami Beach still has a party-hard atmosphere. Miami residents can be found taking advantage of their coveted weather by relaxing on the beach or enjoying nearby natural areas, including Biscayne National Park and the Everglades. The cost of living in Miami is higher than the national average, with the most expensive investment being housing. Residents often enjoy many of the same activities as vacationers, including lounging on the beach. Sports fans fill the metro area's stadiums to cheer on professional basketball, baseball and football teams, while active residents pass the time playing golf, deep-sea fishing and scuba diving.


Weather
Comparison Notes

Florida Atlantic University vs Florida International University

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Florida International University (FIU): Placed in the 582 bracket in QS World University Rankings 2026, FIU is well-stocked in subjects like business, hospitality & tourism management (ranked in the top 10 worldwide), international relations, public affairs, and engineering.Florida Atlantic University (FAU): In the1001-1200 bracket internationally, FAU is expanding its research base but is better known regionally, with good strengths in ocean engineering, business, nursing, and education.

General Information

FIU: A major public research university located in Miami, Florida, with an overall enrollment of approximately 55,000 students, making it one of the biggest universities in the country. A majority-minority institution, it has close relations to Latin America and the Caribbean.FAU: A medium-sized public university in Boca Raton, Florida, with approximately 30,000 students. It is one of the member institutions of Florida's State University System and renowned for its tight-knit campus culture and oceanfront research labs.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

FIU: Moderately competitive, with an acceptance rate of roughly 59%. Highly competitive fields of study are business, law, and engineering.FAU: Somewhat more open, with a roughly 73% acceptance rate, and as such is a viable choice for in-state and foreign students wishing to gain access to U.S. postsecondary education

Research Impact & Facilities

FIU: As an R1 (Very High Research Activity) university, FIU boasts excellent research in hospitality, business, international studies, environmental science, and engineering. It hosts the Wall of Wind hurricane simulator.

FAU: As an R2 (High Research Activity) university, FAU excels particularly in marine and ocean engineering, biomedical science, and nursing, with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute as a special feature.

Cost & Financial Aid

FIU: International student tuition is USD $18,500–$20,500 per year, and in-state tuition is considerably lower (~$6,500). Offers competitive scholarship awards, particularly for Latin American and Caribbean students.

FAU: Less expensive than FIU, with international student tuition at around USD $17,500–$19,000 per year. Offers merit scholarships and in-state tuition waivers to qualified students.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

FIU: Grads have excellent career opportunities in business, hospitality, engineering, and public service with good placement in the Miami metro area and Latin America. FIU's worldwide alumni pool is considerable.

FAU: Grads perform well within Florida, especially in nursing, education, ocean engineering, and business. Alumni networks are strongest within Florida, albeit less so internationally than FIU's.