Acceptance Rate
58%
Avg. SAT
1320
75th percentile
“Space Coast tech hub training rocket scientists amid palm trees and rocket launches.”
Melbourne, FL
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
Florida Institute of Technology, founded in 1958 amid the Space Race, started as a college to train engineers for NASA's early rocket programs and grew into a STEM powerhouse on Florida's east coast. Students who thrive here geek out over circuits, simulations, and simulations, drawn to hands-on labs rather than lecture halls—they're the type building drones in dorms or interning at Cape Canaveral. The campus sits in Melbourne, a laid-back beach town where you can watch rocket launches from the quad, but expect relentless humidity and hurricane season evacuations as part of the deal.
This private university keeps a tight-knit feel with around 3,750 undergrads, fostering a personality that's intensely focused yet collaborative, like a perpetual hackathon. You'll fit if you prioritize lab time over football games, but social butterflies might find the scene quieter than bigger state schools. Melbourne offers affordable off-campus apartments compared to Miami, though car dependency reigns without much public transit.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
Classrooms buzz with projects in aerospace engineering, oceanography, and computer science, where professors pull from Kennedy Space Center experience to demo real-world failures like rocket malfunctions. You'll tackle small upper-level seminars after surviving intro lectures capped at 100 students, and undergrads snag research spots on marine vessels or wind tunnels thanks to the school's location. Competitive majors like aviation fill fast, so undeclared entry helps, but expect rigorous weed-out courses in calculus and physics.
The intellectual vibe rewards tinkerers who join faculty on grants for drone swarms or climate modeling, with opportunities rarer at larger publics. Tradeoffs include fewer humanities options if you're double-majoring outside STEM, and a student-faculty dynamic that's accessible but stretched during peak advising.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
3,666 undergrad • 5,326 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
46%
Black / African American
6%
Hispanic / Latino
17%
Asian
3%
Other / Multi-racial
28%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Melbourne, FL
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week mixes early labs, Rocket Launch Watch Parties, and beach volleyball on nearby sands, with weekends blending club fairs and low-key bar hops in downtown Melbourne. Residential halls guarantee spots for freshmen, housing 70% of undergrads in suites overlooking the Indian River Lagoon, where you bond over late-night study sessions or Panther games. Greek life claims 20% participation, fueling philanthropy drives, but the vibe skews nerdy-professional over wild partying.
Hot, sticky summers test your resolve, and the suburban spread means biking or busing to most spots. Off-campus life draws you to Cocoa Beach surfing or Orlando theme parks an hour away, creating a relaxed coastal rhythm interrupted by launch traffic jams.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Sunshine State Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
No
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$27,009
$30K – $48K
$26,382
$48K – $75K
$32,008
$75K – $110K
$29,730
$110K+
$34,690
Apply for Financial Aid
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
80%
4 Years Graduation Rate
54%
6 Years Graduation Rate
69%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$43,137
80% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Florida Institute of Technology and return in the fall. 54% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 69% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
54%
4-5 years
15%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
30%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$42,770
Acceptance
58%
Undergrads
3,666
4-Year Grad Rate
54%
Endowment
$95M
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
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