First Year Pathways

Fall Direct

We designed the “Fall Direct” pathway to meet the needs of high-achieving FTIC students who intend to graduate from FIU in 48 months. This is the most selective of the admission pathways to FIU.

Fall STEP for Engineering, STEM and Business

FIU will admit students who demonstrate a capacity to be successful in college-level coursework but are not yet calculus-ready or must complete College Algebra. Students admitted to this pathway will begin their career at FIU with less than full-time enrollment.  

This pathway has term limits until the spring term. The student will have outside-of-the-classroom activities to supplement traditional classroom instruction.  

Early Fall Direct

To provide many incoming FTIC students with the best opportunity for success during the traditional fall semester, we admit selected students to our Early Fall Direct pathway, and they will register for summer and fall during their Advising & Registration Day.

Early Fall STEP for Engineering, STEM and Business

We admit selected students to our Early Fall STEP Engineering, STEM, and Business pathway to provide incoming FTIC students with the best opportunity for success during the early fall semester. These students demonstrate a capacity to be successful in college-level coursework but require additional preparation for advanced concepts in math and science. Students begin this pathway in the summer term as part-time students; if they complete the summer successfully, they progress to the fall term as part-time. 

 This pathway has term limits until the spring term. The student will have outside-of-the-classroom activities to supplement traditional classroom instruction.   

Early Fall STEP

We admit selected students to our Early Fall STEP pathway to provide incoming FTIC students with the best opportunity for success during the early fall semester. Students begin this pathway in the summer term as part-time students; if they complete the summer successfully, they progress to the fall term as part-time. 

Top 10% Access to FIU

To provide many incoming FTIC students with the best opportunity for success during the traditional Early Fall semester, we admit selected students to our Early Fall STEP pathway who are in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and are graduating from a Florida high school. Applicants considered through this pathway must meet the minimum admission requirements set forth by the Florida Board of Governors under regulation 6.002 and present a test score from the SAT, ACT, or CLT for admission.  

Golden Scholars 

To provide many incoming FTIC students with the best opportunity for success during the traditional fall semester, we will offer some students an opportunity to participate in the Golden Scholars Summer Bridge Program. Student Access and Success will select these students based on supplemental information about their participation in a TRIO or CBO program designed to be a college-bound support program; participation in the national free/reduced lunch program; attendance at a Title 1 school; or students who are the first in their family to attend college. Interested students will be asked to complete a supplemental application.  

Pathways for GED or Homeschooled Applicants 

Under Florida Board of Governors regulation 6.002, FIU considers applicants who have completed high school through home education, GED, or non-traditional programs if they present credentials determined to be equivalent to a standard high school diploma in the State of Florida and a minimum SAT score of 1060 or ACT score of 21 or a CLT score of 67. Minimum scores do not guarantee admission.

HS Diploma AA from FCS Pathway  

High School Applicants earning an AA from a Florida State College or State University

High school students participating in dual enrollment and other acceleration programs, and who are on track to earn an associate in arts (AA) degree from a Florida College System or State University System institution, and who do not meet the requirements of Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.004, may be considered for admission under a special category.

Applicants should complete the general admissions application and the supplemental AA application. All documents, except for the final high school transcripts and the final dual enrollment transcript, are required in accordance with FIU admissions deadlines.

Admission is contingent upon completing all additional requirements for admission:

• Applicants must meet the requirements in Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.002.
• Applicants who would benefit from the AA admissions option have the choice to submit SAT, ACT or CLT scores.
• Applicants must submit proof that they are on track to earn their AA degree through dual enrollment by submitting official college transcripts.
• Applicants must earn their AA degree in the same semester/term as their high school diploma (typically spring of their senior year in high school).
• Applicants must meet all FTIC deadlines for admission.
• You are required to list all colleges and universities attended while in high school; this includes dual enrollment. Should you not include this information, we cannot consider you for this pathway.

Applicants, please note the following information regarding this pathway:

• Failure to complete your AA degree may result in your offer of admission being rescinded.
• AA degrees earned or awarded from non-public schools or colleges, or schools or colleges outside of the State of Florida do not qualify under this admissions pathway.
• Applicants who opt for this pathway may not be eligible for selective admission majors, majors that require specific preparation, or have prerequisites. To understand specialized admissions and academic progression, please visit https://transfer.fiu.edu/transfer-101/admissions/specialized-admissions/index.html

Applicants who would benefit from this pathway will work closely with their school’s college counselor and FIU University Admissions. Those admitted will still participate in first-year programs, orientation, and residence life.

Spring Direct

We designed the “Spring Direct” pathway to meet the needs of FTIC students who may benefit from taking 2-3 courses at the state college in the summer/fall before entering FIU. The recommended number of credit hours is 11. FIU places applicants into the spring term; those applicants who missed the 2025 deadlines are encouraged to enroll at a Florida State College and apply to FIU as a transfer student. We are no longer accepting first-time in college applications for the class of 2025.

Connect4Success

This pathway is designed for applicants attending a member of the State College System of Florida before attending FIU. Applicants will apply to FIU through the Connect4Success application, select a partner college (any member of the FSC in Florida), and apply to that college. During their two years at the state college, FIU will hold their application until they are ready to transition to FIU. Benefits include having an academic advisor at FIU, an FIU OneCard, and access to FIU academic and social events.