Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University vs Florida State University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Florida State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is more selective with a 21.1% acceptance rate compared to Florida State University's 25.4%. Average SAT scores are 1100 and 1323 respectively.

Cost: Florida State University offers a lower average net price at $10,997, which is $4,850 less than Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University ($15,847). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Florida State University earn a median salary of $61,675 ten years after enrollment, which is $17,326 more than Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University graduates ($44,349).

Graduation: Florida State University leads with a 83.9% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 86.3% vs 95.6%.

Campus Size: Florida State University is the larger campus with 31,812 total students, while Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has 7,516.

Bottom Line: Florida State University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.