Florida International University Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on March 30, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~59%
- Middle 50% ACT: 23
- Middle 50% SAT: 1150
- Average GPA: 4.1
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 Florida International University at a Glance
Florida International is one of the best “value-first” schools in the country — but only if you understand how the money actually works. Admission is accessible, and for Florida residents, programs like Bright Futures can dramatically reduce the cost. This isn’t a school where you need elite stats to make it affordable — it’s built for solid, steady students.
For out-of-state families, though, the story is different. FIU doesn’t lean heavily on large automatic merit packages the way some Southern schools do. Instead, it’s more about overall affordability than big headline scholarships. If your goal is a strong academic option in a major city without taking on heavy debt, FIU deserves a serious look — just go in with the right expectations about merit aid.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — Florida International University is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 23; SAT: 1150.
Average net price? About $10,742/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes — participates in ACM.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Florida International University 2026-2027
📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2026–2027 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
| Category (2026–2027) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) | $6,565 | $18,964 |
| Housing & Meals (typical) | $12,156 | $12,156 |
| Total (Direct Costs) | $18,721 | $31,120 |
Average Federal Net Price: $10,742 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
FAQ — Understanding FIU’s Cost of Attendance
Why does this table only include tuition and housing?
Because these are the direct, billed charges families pay to FIU. Other items like books, transportation, and personal expenses vary by student and aren’t billed by the university, so they’re not included in the table.
How accurate are these estimates?
They reflect the current 2025–26 official rates published by the Florida Board of Governors and FIU’s OneStop office. Costs can vary slightly depending on housing type, meal plan, or number of credits taken.
What’s the difference between total cost and net price?
The total cost (≈ $19K in-state / $31K out-of-state) shows what’s charged before aid. The net price is what families actually pay after grants and scholarships. FIU’s average net price is about $10,742 per year.
Are books, travel, and personal costs really that high?
FIU estimates around $6,500 combined for those expenses—but they’re flexible. Students living close to campus or commuting can spend far less; out-of-state students traveling home often spend more.
Does FIU offer payment plans?
Yes. FIU allows families to split tuition and housing charges into multiple payments throughout the term. Plans can be set up through the OneStop Student Center before each semester’s deadline.
Can out-of-state students reduce their tuition?
Possibly. While Florida doesn’t participate in ACM/WUE for undergraduates, FIU offers several nonresident tuition waivers tied to academic merit or National Merit status. Some can bring OOS tuition close to in-state levels.
Does FIU require the CSS Profile?
No. FIU only requires the FAFSA for financial aid and scholarships. The CSS Profile is not used for need-based aid at FIU.
Will tuition increase next year?
Florida’s public universities are subject to annual state approval for tuition and fees. While changes are generally modest, families should recheck FIU’s tuition and housing pages each summer for the newest rates.
What if my student lives off campus?
The “Housing & Meals” line changes based on living arrangement. Commuters typically spend less than the on-campus estimate, though total costs can vary depending on rent, transportation, and meal choices.
https://onestop.fiu.edu/finances/estimate-your-costs/
https://www.flbog.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cost-of-Attendance-2025-26-For-Website.pdf
https://housing.fiu.edu/rates-payments/rental-rates/
https://admissions.fiu.edu/cost-and-aid/
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/florida-international-university/tuition-and-costs
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount (per year) | Eligibility (GPA/Test) | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold & Blue (Florida Residents) | $1,000–$12,000 | FIU weighted GPA (recalculated) + test scores (SAT/ACT superscored). Awards vary within range. | No — automatic with admission review | Yes — typically up to 8 semesters (see renewal terms) | In-state admits with top academics/rigor submitted by priority dates; cannot stack with other FIU merit. | Priority: ~Nov 3 (Florida residents) |
| Gold & Blue (Non-Florida Residents) | $4,000–$24,000 | FIU weighted GPA (recalculated) + test scores (SAT/ACT superscored). Awards vary within range. | No — automatic with admission review | Yes — typically up to 8 semesters (see renewal terms) | Strong OOS admits; higher academics/rigor land the higher end; cannot stack with other FIU merit. | Priority: ~Dec 17 (Non-FL residents) |
Note: Amounts are published as ranges and depend on residency, GPA/test profile (superscored), funding, and timing. Renewal generally requires 30 FIU credits per year and a 3.0 FIU GPA. Gold & Blue awards typically do not stack with other FIU merit awards.
FAQ — Automatic Merit at FIU
Do these scholarships have firm cutoffs?
Not fixed cutoffs. FIU posts ranges (e.g., $1k–$12k in-state; $4k–$24k OOS). Awards scale with your FIU-recalculated weighted GPA, superscored SAT/ACT, rigor, and when you apply.
Which GPA does FIU use?
FIU uses its own weighted, recalculated GPA for admission and scholarship review.
Does FIU superscore?
Yes. FIU superscores SAT/ACT for admission and scholarship review. For ACT, the 2026–2027 superscore uses only English, Math, and Reading (Science is excluded).
When are the automatic merit deadlines?
Priority dates are typically ~Nov 3 for Florida residents and ~Dec 17 for non-residents. Submit scores and materials by the earlier of admission/scholarship dates.
Can Gold & Blue stack with other FIU merit?
Generally no — Gold & Blue do not stack with other FIU merit programs.
What are the renewal requirements?
Plan on maintaining about 30 credits per year and a 3.0 FIU GPA to keep most FIU merit awards.
https://scholarships.fiu.edu/browse-scholarships/merit-scholarships/
https://scholarships.fiu.edu/browse-scholarships/merit-scholarships/policies-renewal/
https://admissions.fiu.edu/cost-and-aid/scholarships/
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
| Scholarship | Award / Coverage | Eligibility & Criteria | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Usually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Merit Scholarship | FL: full tuition & fees + book stipend OOS: large tuition reduction |
Top GPA/test scores (superscored). FIU recalculated weighted GPA. | ✅ | ✅ | Very top admits; strongest academics, early applicants. | Dec 3 (some sources Dec 1) |
| Ambassador Merit Scholarship | Partial tuition support (varies by cohort) | Honors College + leadership/service + academics | ✅ | ✅ | Honors admits with leadership & involvement | Dec 4 |
| National Merit Finalist (FIU) | FL: Benaquisto (full COA minus Bright Futures) OOS: tuition + fees + housing & meals + stipend |
Must be NMSC Finalist, designate FIU #1, meet FIU deadline | ✅ | ✅ | National Merit Finalists selecting FIU | Mar 4 2026 (FIU #1 by May 1) |
- Presidential Merit: Dec 3, (some sources list Dec 1)
- Ambassador Merit: Dec 4, (per Scholarships.com)
- National Merit (via FIU): FIU admission must be complete by March 4, 2026, and FIU must be designated #1 by May 1, 2027
⚠️ These deadlines and amounts are current best approximations—always confirm via FIU’s official Scholarship & Honors pages. See also our National Merit Scholarship guide. FIU is not currently listed as a Stamps partner. (Stamps Scholarship info)
FAQ — Flagship Scholarships at FIU (2026- 2027)
Are there fixed award amounts?
No — FIU publishes ranges (e.g. Presidential and Ambassador vary). Your actual award depends on your academic profile, residency, and when you apply.
Which deadline matters most?
For Presidential and Ambassador, the competitive deadlines align roughly with the non-resident merit deadline (Dec 3) or slightly after. For National Merit, the admission must be complete by March 4, 2026.
How many awards are given?
FIU does not publicly list fixed counts for Presidential or Ambassador awards. They are limited and depend on budget and applicant pool.
When is Gold & Blue considered relative to these?
Gold & Blue automatic merit is considered first (by Nov 3 for FL, Dec 17 for non-FL). Those who meet it and then also apply for competitive awards may be upgraded depending on merit.
https://admissions.fiu.edu/cost-and-aid/scholarships/
https://scholarships.fiu.edu/browse-scholarships/merit-scholarships/
https://admissions.fiu.edu/cost-and-aid/national-merit/
https://scholarships.com/scholarships/florida-international-university-presidential-scholarship
https://scholarships.com/scholarships/florida-international-university-ambassador-scholarship
https://www.scholarshipsads.com/usa-florida-international-university-merit-scholarships-2026
🎖 FIU Honors College Scholarships
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presidential Honors Scholarship | Full in-state tuition & fees | Transfer from select FL community colleges; ≥3.5 GPA; letter from CC president. | Yes | Yes | Top community-college grads endorsed by their president. | FIU portal (Jan–Mar cycle) |
| FIU / Community College Honors Scholarship | $1,000/semester (up to 4 semesters) |
Honors College transfer from MDC or BCC; maintain 3.3 GPA. | Yes | Yes | MDC/BCC Honors transfers who remain active and meet GPA. | FIU Honors portal (Jan–Mar) |
- Vidal-Duart Scholarship: Business or engineering Honors students with financial need.
- Dean’s Advisory Board Scholarship: Academic performance + financial need, for current Honors students.
- Honors Study Abroad Scholarships: Need-based support for Honors students participating in approved study abroad.
FAQ — FIU Honors College Scholarships
Do freshmen qualify for these Honors scholarships?
No. The listed table awards are designed for transfers from Miami-Dade, Broward, or select Florida community colleges. Freshmen from high school are instead considered for FIU’s general automatic and flagship merit.
What GPA is required to renew?
The Presidential Honors expects a 3.5+ GPA, while the Community College Honors scholarship requires a 3.3 GPA minimum. Dropping below these may cancel renewal.
When are the application windows?
Most Honors awards are posted in the FIU Scholarship Search portal during the January–March cycle. Filing FAFSA by March 1 is strongly recommended to ensure eligibility.
How competitive are Vidal-Duart or Dean’s Advisory awards?
Very. They are offered to a limited number of students each cycle, often fewer than a dozen, and focus on high academic achievement plus financial need within Honors majors.
Do Honors awards stack with other scholarships?
Usually yes. They can be combined with Pell, state aid, and departmental awards, but typically cannot stack with FIU’s top flagship merit awards (Presidential Merit, Ambassador).
Where can I ask specific questions?
Honors students can email hcscholarships@fiu.edu or browse the FIU Scholarship Search portal for current listings and deadlines.
https://honors.fiu.edu/college-transfer-scholarships/
https://fiu.academicworks.com/
https://honors.fiu.edu/honors-college-scholarships/
https://honors.fiu.edu/studyabroad/scholarships-funding/
https://news.fiu.edu/2022/cdr-maguire-inc.-ceo-and-cdr-health-care-inc.-ceo,-both-alumni,-give-1.2-million-to-fiu-for-scholarships
https://honors.fiu.edu/deans-advisory-board-scholarship/
⭐ College Specialty
Florida International University (FIU) is Miami’s public research hub, recognized nationally for its student diversity and commitment to hands-on, career-ready learning. Beyond being one of the country’s top producers of minority graduates, FIU has carved out niches in business, hospitality, public health, and international relations—areas that directly connect with Miami’s global economy.
Hospitality & Tourism Management — consistently ranked Top 10 in the nation (Source: QS World Rankings 2024)
Why it matters: Miami’s tourism industry provides students with direct pipelines to global hotel brands, cruise lines, and event management careers.
- International Business — ranked #2 in the nation by U.S. News (2025)
- Law School (Trial Advocacy) — nationally ranked specialty
- Public Health — highly regarded in Florida, strong NIH research funding
- Engineering — particularly civil and biomedical engineering with regional recognition
- Architecture — among the top programs in Florida with strong Latin American design focus