Florida public university application deadlines for fall 2027 have a new twist this year: the University of Florida and Florida State both added binding Early Decision, due October 15, 2026. As of October 18, those deadlines and the October 15 Early Action deadlines at FSU, UCF and FAU have passed. But UF's Early Action (November 1), USF's and FIU's (November 2) and several other early rounds are still open.
Every date below is from each university's own admissions website or its September 2026 presentation to Florida high school counselors, published by the Board of Governors.
Fall 2027 freshman deadlines, all 12 universities
| University | Early deadline(s) | Decision | Later deadline(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | ED Oct. 15 (binding); EA Nov. 1 | Dec. 11 (ED); Jan. 22 (EA) | RD Jan. 15 (decision Mar. 19) |
| Florida State | ED Oct. 15 (binding); EA Oct. 15 (Florida residents only) | Dec. 17 | RD Dec. 1 (Feb. 18); rolling Mar. 1 (April) |
| UCF | EA Oct. 15 (materials Nov. 15) | Dec. 4 | Rolling through May 1 |
| Florida Atlantic | EA Oct. 15 (materials Oct. 22) | Dec. 4 | Rolling, Mar. 12 |
| Florida A&M | EA Nov. 1 (documents Nov. 14) | Dec. 4 | RD Feb. 1 (Mar. 5); rolling May 1 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | EA Nov. 1 | -- | RD Mar. 1 |
| New College of Florida | EA Nov. 1 (documents Nov. 15) | By Dec. 15 | Regular Apr. 1 |
| South Florida | EA Nov. 2 (materials Nov. 16) | Dec. 9 | RD Dec. 16 (Feb. 10); rolling Mar. 1 |
| Florida International | EA Nov. 2 (complete with documents) | Dec. 10 | Dec. 16 (Jan. 21) |
| Florida Polytechnic | EA I Nov. 15; EA II Jan. 15 | -- | RD Mar. 1 |
| North Florida | Priority Nov. 18 | Dec. 9 | Standard Dec. 16 (Jan. 13); final Apr. 1 |
| West Florida | Scholarship priority Dec. 1 | -- | Apr. 1 |
ED = Early Decision (binding). EA = Early Action (non-binding). RD = Regular Decision. Deadlines from October through December are in 2026; January onward, 2027. The enrollment deposit deadline is May 1 at most schools.
A few details the table can't hold:
- UF: materials are due a week after each application deadline (Oct. 22, Nov. 8, Jan. 22). Regular Decision outcomes can include a Pathway offer instead of standard admission. ED admits must confirm by January 8.
- FSU: Early Decision runs "concurrently with Early Action" starting this cycle, per FSU. ED is for domestic applicants and excludes talent-based majors and the CARE Summer Bridge program. FSU says it makes no Seminole Pathways or FSU Next offers in ED or EA. All Honors applications are due December 1.
- UNF: its admissions page also lists a non-binding early round that closed September 2.
- UWF: December 1 is the deadline for priority scholarship consideration, including its Pace Presidential full-ride invitations.
UF and FSU's new Early Decision
This is the first cycle with binding Early Decision at Florida's two most selective public universities. ED is a commitment: if admitted, you agree to attend and withdraw other applications. For how the two plans compare, see Early Decision vs. Early Action.
For fall 2027 applicants who missed October 15:
- At UF, Early Action is still open until November 1, with decisions January 22.
- At FSU, the next deadline is Regular Decision on December 1 (decisions February 18), then the March 1 rolling deadline.
Which early deadlines are still open
As of October 18, 2026:
- November 1: UF (EA), FAMU (EA), FGCU (EA), New College (EA)
- November 2: USF (EA), FIU (EA)
- November 15: Florida Polytechnic (EA I)
- November 18: UNF (priority)
- December 1: FSU (Regular Decision), UWF (scholarship priority)
Several Florida universities tie merit scholarship priority to applying early. UCF says this explicitly for its Early Action applicants, and FGCU's counselor presentation encourages students to apply by its Early Action date for merit awards.
What to have ready
- An SAT, ACT or CLT score. All 12 universities require one for freshman admission. See admitted GPA and SAT ranges at all 12 schools.
- A STARS record (self-reported grades) at the schools that use it. FAMU said it isn't using STARS this cycle and wants official transcripts.
- Your financial aid applications. Admission deadlines are separate from Florida's state aid deadlines: the FAFSA by each college's date for FSAG, and the FFAA by August 31, 2027 for Bright Futures. See Florida state financial aid deadlines.
Sources
- Freshman Dates & Deadlines — University of Florida Admissions
- First-Year Apply: Deadlines & Fees — Florida State University Admissions
- 2026 SUS Admissions Tour: university presentations — Florida Board of Governors (USF, FAMU, Florida Polytechnic, New College, UWF and FGCU presentations)
- What are the application deadlines & decision dates? — UCF Undergraduate Admissions
- Freshman Deadlines — Florida Atlantic University
- Freshman Admissions — FIU
- Admission Deadlines — University of North Florida
- Freshman/FTIC — Florida Gulf Coast University