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Fort Myers , FL
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Fort Myers, Florida. Established in 1991, it has rapidly grown to become one of the top regional institutions in the state. FGCU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs across various disciplines, providing students with ample opportunities for academic and professional growth.
FGCU is known for its commitment to environmental sustainability and experiential learning. The campus is nestled in a beautiful and ecologically diverse area, providing a unique natural setting for students. The university actively promotes sustainability and conservation efforts, implementing green initiatives and offering programs in environmental studies and marine science. Additionally, FGCU stands out for its focus on hands-on learning experiences, ensuring that students have ample opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings through internships, co-op programs, and community engagement projects.
The university also boasts state-of-the-art facilities and resources that support student success. From modern classrooms and research centers to a cutting-edge library and student recreation center, FGCU offers a wide range of facilities designed to enhance the learning experience. Moreover, the university's dedicated faculty and staff provide personalized attention and support to students, ensuring a nurturing and supportive environment. With its vibrant campus life, diverse student body, and commitment to quality education, FGCU offers a dynamic and enriching college experience for prospective students.
Located in Fort Myers, FL and set in a suburban environment, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public university. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 63%. The freshman retention rate at Florida Gulf Coast University is 83% and the six-year graduation rate is 57%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is March 1. Explore this school's profile to find out all the essential things about Florida Gulf Coast University.
Quick Facts
14,434
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
57%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Florida Gulf Coast University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 12,956 in 2025. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 79% and ACT scores 45%. 1% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 24% between 1,200 and 1,399, 66% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 9% between 800 and 999. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 3, 32 between 24-29, 59 in the range between 18-23, and 6 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 23 and the average GPA was 4.12. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Florida Gulf Coast University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 576 and an average SAT Math score of 551.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by March 1.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Florida Gulf Coast University was 83%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 57%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the best fit for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 16,648 students.
That year, the institution had 12% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 14,434 students pursuing undergraduate degrees, including 343 international students. The school admitted a total of 1,091 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 5,143 male and 7,264 female full-time students in 2025. 232 full-time graduate men and 593 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Florida Gulf Coast University.
This school had 250 Asian students and 607 Afro-American students in 2025. 3,577 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 333 identified with more than one race. The school also had 10 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 20 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 1,781 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Florida Gulf Coast University? Here is what you need to know.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $4,243.5, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $22,380.9. If you are an international student at Florida Gulf Coast University, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $22,380.9, as well. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,874.7.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $22,381 | $1,875 | $24,255 |
| In-State | $4,244 | $1,875 | $6,118 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to take into consideration is the approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to spend about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Florida Gulf Coast University amounted to $11,107 a year. If you only wanted a dormitory room, it cost $5,062 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 4,244 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,107 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 16,551 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Florida Gulf Coast University.
The most recent records show that 1,211 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $10,285.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
3,891 students were granted some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 4,789. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $22,682,657, and state $4,519,072. The students of Florida Gulf Coast University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $8,330,762, and external in the amount of $10,835.
$2,949
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 2,195 students overall (including freshmen) at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 667 full-time freshman. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $22,682,657 while the state aid is $11,316. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $2,248,401. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,455,355 USD.
Majors
Faculty
20:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Florida Gulf Coast University was 20:1: that means 20 students per one teacher. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 942. Out of that number, there were 461 men and 481 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Florida Gulf Coast University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some information about campus life at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Its campus spans 760 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This school has 250 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The percentage of male students who are members of organizations is 9 and female students 10. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Black Student Alliance, followed by FGCU Car Club and Psychology Club. Other popular organizations at Florida Gulf Coast University are Global Medical Brigades and Student Alumni Association.
If you're interested in acting, you have the option to join a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Florida Gulf Coast University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Florida Gulf Coast University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Florida Gulf Coast University.
All in all, campus life at Florida Gulf Coast University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Career Counselling
At Florida Gulf Coast University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Finding out some information about the expected post-graduation salary can help you decide if a particular school suits your career objectives.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 44,800 USD.
$44,800
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Florida Gulf Coast University is located in Fort Myers, FL.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Florida Gulf Coast University is 63%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Florida Gulf Coast University is 83%.
Contact Information
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Boulevard South
Fort Myers , FL
33965-6565
239 590-1000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
