Florida Atlantic University
On the 15th of July 1961, the Florida state legislature passed an act authorizing a new university in Boca Raton. This decision came to meet the growing educational needs of South Florida during a period of rapid population growth. The land chosen for this institution was not empty fields but the remnants of the Boca Raton Army Airfield. During World War II, this airbase served as the Army Air Corps' sole radar training facility. A majority of the land had been acquired from Japanese-American farmers who were part of the failing Yamato Colony. These farmers lost their property through eminent domain in the early days of the war with little recourse.
Thomas F. Fleming Jr., founder of Boca Raton's First Bank and Trust Company, negotiated with the federal government to secure title to these former military lands. He also established the Endowment Corporation to raise money for planning the new school. By early 1947, the military decided to transfer future radar training operations to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. The departure of the air force left the Boca Raton Army Airfield essentially abandoned. The base had four runways that are still visible on the current campus today, though they are now mainly used for parking.
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors on the 14th of September 1964, with an initial student body of only 867 students. It offered only upper-division and graduate-level courses at first. The state intended the institution to complement the community college system by accepting students who had already earned associate degrees. On the 25th of October 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson received an honorary doctorate during the university's dedication ceremony. At the time of opening, there were 350 employees, including 120 faculty members.
In 1989, the Florida Legislature designated Florida Atlantic as the lead state university serving Broward County. To fulfill this role, the university established a campus in the City of Davie in western Broward County in 1990. Another campus followed in Dania Beach in 1997. In 1994, Florida Atlantic purchased 50 acres of land in Port St. Lucie to establish a fifth campus on the Treasure Coast. This campus later ended operations in spring 2012 after a partnership with Indian River State College concluded.
The university continued its expansion in 1999 by opening its Jupiter Campus, named for the late John D. MacArthur. This campus houses the university's honors college and occupies 45 acres. It includes eight classroom buildings, a library, three residence halls, and a dining hall. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution joined the university in 2007, creating a seventh campus. The Florida Legislature allocated $44 million to acquire the institution and its 600-acre campus. Today, more than 30,000 students attend classes across seven campuses spread over 120 miles.
As of 2021, the student body consisted of 24,663 undergraduates, 3,380 graduate students, 440 doctoral students, and 254 medical students. The university has ten colleges offering over 180 different bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. These include the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, and the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. The average class size for undergraduates is 33 students, while graduate
classes average 12 students.
In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida Atlantic University as the 103rd best public university in the United States and 189th overall among all national universities. Forbes ranked FAU 188th out of the top 500 rated private and public colleges for the 2024-25 report. The university was named one of the Best Southeastern Colleges by the Princeton Review for 2023. Washington Monthly ranked FAU 41st in the nation in their 2024 National University Rankings.
FAU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research University with Very High Research Activity. The university hosts two centers of excellence: the Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology and the Center for Ocean Energy Technology. These centers received grants from Florida's Emerging Technology Commission after beating out other top research universities like the University of Florida and Florida State University. Since receiving startup funding, both centers have secured additional funds from federal and private sources.
In 2010, the United States Department of Energy designated FAU as one of three national centers for ocean energy research and development. The Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center works on technologies capable of generating renewable power from ocean currents and thermal energy. Researchers at these centers design technologies to explore the sea, harvest renewable energy, discover new medicines, and develop therapeutics against bioterrorism agents.
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university houses an Imaging Technology Center and a NASA Imaging Technology Space Center within the College of Engineering and Computer Science. These centers specialize in digital imaging research for government and commercial applications including medical technology, surveillance, and visual recognition. In 2007, the university and Lockheed Martin announced an exclusive licensing agreement to develop an autonomous mooring buoy system for military and scientific uses.
Florida Atlantic's intercollegiate sports teams, known as the Owls, began sponsoring intercollegiate teams in 1979. The program now includes 19 varsity athletic teams competing in NCAA Division I. The Owls joined Conference USA for the 2013-14 season after working to expand the quality of its program by attracting coaches like Howard Schnellenberger and Lane Kiffin. On the 21st of October 2021, Florida Atlantic accepted an invitation to join the American Athletic Conference. It became a full member on the 1st of July 2023.
Every fall before the first football game, FAU sponsors an annual football Bonfire where the opposing team's mascot is burned in effigy. This event typically includes a concert and a speech by the head football coach. The university challenges rival Florida International in the annual Shula Bowl, named after legendary coach Don Shula. Even though both universities have moved on to new
head coaches, the rivalry continues.
The official spirit group supporting athletics is called the prOWLers. This group began in February 2002 to support the men's basketball program during their run for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. Since 2002, students have used Owl Fingers, the OK hand sign, to show school pride during football point-after-attempts and basketball free throws.
Residential housing at FAU is available on the Boca Raton and John D. MacArthur campuses. All full-time freshmen are required to reside in university housing unless they meet specific exemption criteria such as being 21 or older. As of 2021, over 4,000 students live on-campus in Boca Raton. The Wilkes Honors College requires all students to live on-campus within its three residence halls with limited exceptions for those aged 26 or married.
Boca Raton's on-campus housing facilities include Indian River Towers which opened in 2001, Heritage Park Towers from 2004, and Parliament Hall which opened in 2013. The Innovation Village Apartments consist of two buildings offering 1,200 beds for upperclassmen and graduate students. These apartments feature amenities like lounges, retail dining, fitness centers, and a pool. Parliament Hall offers 614 beds with views of the nearby Atlantic Ocean from top floors.
FAU has approximately 300
registered student organizations ranging from sailing clubs to video game groups. These clubs generate approximately $10 million per year through an activities fee of $12.32 per credit hour. Homecoming, also known as the Owl Prowl, is celebrated annually in the fall semester with events including tailgating at the Rat's Mouth area. The university completed an $18.6 million Recreation and Wellness Center in spring 2010 that won the NIRSA Outstanding Sports Facilities Award.
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Common questions
When was Florida Atlantic University founded and where is it located?
Florida state legislature passed an act authorizing a new university in Boca Raton on the 15th of July 1961. The institution opened its doors to students on the 14th of September 1964.
What historical site does the main campus of Florida Atlantic University occupy?
The land chosen for this institution was the remnants of the Boca Raton Army Airfield from World War II. This airbase served as the Army Air Corps' sole radar training facility during that conflict.
How many campuses does Florida Atlantic University operate today?
Today, more than 30,000 students attend classes across seven campuses spread over 120 miles. These locations include the main Boca Raton campus plus additional sites in Davie, Dania Beach, Port St. Lucie, Jupiter, and Oceanographic facilities.
What are the enrollment numbers for Florida Atlantic University as of 2021?
As of 2021, the student body consisted of 24,663 undergraduates, 3,380 graduate students, 440 doctoral students, and 254 medical students. The university has ten colleges offering over 180 different bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs.
When did Florida Atlantic University join the American Athletic Conference?
On the 21st of October 2021, Florida Atlantic accepted an invitation to join the American Athletic Conference. It became a full member on the 1st of July 2023 after previously joining Conference USA for the 2013-14 season.