Florida college news roundup, September 7th to 13th, 2026. Everything below happened last week at UF, FSU, UCF, FAMU, USF, straight from each university's own newsroom.
This week, September 7 to 13, saw five Florida schools make news that matters to families in the college search. UF opened a new campus in Jacksonville. FSU's marching band earned a historic invitation. UCF climbed the rankings. FAMU launched a national research coalition. And USF admitted its strongest class yet.
The short version
- UF: UF opened a Jacksonville campus on September 10, offering graduate programs in AI, cybersecurity, and other fields, not undergraduate admission.
- FSU: FSU's Marching Chiefs will perform in the 2027 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first collegiate marching band from Florida invited to the iconic parade.
- UCF: UCF ranks 11th among public universities in Washington Monthly's 2026 rankings, which measure social mobility and public service rather than exclusivity.
- FAMU: FAMU launched the Association of HBCU Research Institutions with 14 other HBCUs, expanding research capacity and student access to research opportunities.
- USF: USF's fall 2026 class set records for high school GPA, SAT scores, and National Merit Scholars, with 83 merit scholars, up 38 percent from the prior year.
Can my kid apply to UF's new Jacksonville campus?
UF opened a Jacksonville campus on September 10, offering graduate programs in AI, cybersecurity, and other fields, not undergraduate admission.
The University of Florida officially opened its downtown Jacksonville campus at 801 West Bay Street on Wednesday, September 10. The campus offers graduate-level programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, engineering management, business, law, architecture, and biomedical and health sciences. The opening reflects a partnership among UF, Jacksonville, state leaders, and private partners.
This doesn't change UF's undergraduate selectivity or admission criteria. UF still admits about 19 percent of applicants, and the middle half of admitted students scored between 1380 and 1510 on the SAT. The Jacksonville campus is a graduate expansion, not a path to easier undergraduate admission.
Source: news.ufl.edu · What UF takes to get in
Is FSU's marching band really performing at Macy's Thanksgiving parade?
FSU's Marching Chiefs will perform in the 2027 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first collegiate marching band from Florida invited to the iconic parade.
FSU announced on September 7 that the Marching Chiefs will march in the 101st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2027. The band has 420 members expected to travel to New York. The College of Music is launching a one million dollar fundraising campaign to support the trip.
This is a remarkable honor for FSU's cultural life and reputation, but it doesn't affect undergraduate admission standards. FSU admits about 20 percent of applicants, and the middle half of admitted students scored between 1380 and 1480 on the SAT. Worth celebrating for what it says about FSU's strengths, not because it changes admission odds.
Source: news.fsu.edu · What FSU takes to get in
How does UCF rank against other public universities?
UCF ranks 11th among public universities in Washington Monthly's 2026 rankings, which measure social mobility and public service rather than exclusivity.
Washington Monthly released its 2026 College Guide on September 11, ranking UCF at number 11 among public universities nationally and number 4 in the Southeast. UCF also ranks number 28 for best value, costing 24,567 dollars per degree, the lowest in Florida's State University System. The ranking measures social mobility, research impact, and service to the public good.
A ranking matters only if it tells you which schools are getting harder to compete for. UCF admits about 41 percent of applicants, and the middle half of admitted students scored between 1310 and 1420 on the SAT. This ranking shows UCF serves working and middle-class families well, but admission standards haven't tightened because of the ranking itself.
Source: ucf.edu · What UCF takes to get in
What does FAMU's new research coalition mean for students?
FAMU launched the Association of HBCU Research Institutions with 14 other HBCUs, expanding research capacity and student access to research opportunities.
FAMU announced on September 29 that it is a founding member of the Association of HBCU Research Institutions, a coalition of 15 HBCUs designed to accelerate research and expand institutional capacity. The coalition aims to increase research funding, strengthen infrastructure, enhance faculty recruitment, and expand student access to research and career pathways. Achieving R1 Carnegie Classification is central to FAMU's strategic plan.
This coalition signals FAMU's trajectory as a research institution, which can matter for students pursuing graduate school or research-focused careers. FAMU admits about 36 percent of applicants, and the middle half of admitted students scored between 900 and 1080 on the SAT. The research expansion reflects institutional ambition, but it doesn't change undergraduate admission standards.
Source: news.famu.edu · What FAMU takes to get in
Are USF's incoming students getting smarter each year?
USF's fall 2026 class set records for high school GPA, SAT scores, and National Merit Scholars, with 83 merit scholars, up 38 percent from the prior year.
USF announced on September 9 that its newest first-year class is the most academically accomplished in the university's history. The class set record-high averages for high school GPA and SAT scores. There are 83 National Merit Scholars, a 38 percent increase from fall 2025. Total enrollment is up 9.3 percent from the prior year.
USF is admitting stronger students than it did last year. The bar moves with them. USF admits about 43 percent of applicants, and the middle half of admitted students scored between 1260 and 1410 on the SAT. If USF is on your kid's list, competitive test scores and grades matter more this cycle than they did before.
Source: usf.edu · What USF takes to get in
What this week means for your student
Not sure what these schools actually require? Our Florida College Playbook has the SAT scores and GPAs for the top five, plus the Bright Futures cutoffs and a checklist by grade. Book a free SAT Game Plan call and we will map the score your student needs for the school on their list.
This roundup covers September 7th to 13th, 2026. We publish one every week, compiled from the Florida universities' own newsrooms.