![\"First-year](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Retention2026-1200x800.jpg\")
First-year students enjoy community and shared activities in the Exploration and Discovery Living-Learning Community housed in Bryan Hall. (Brittany Mobley\/Undergraduate Studies)\t\t<\/p>\n\t\tFirst-year students enjoy community and shared activities in the Exploration and Discovery Living-Learning Community housed in Bryan Hall. (Brittany Mobley\/Undergraduate Studies)\t\t<\/p>\n
Florida State University\u00a0has\u00a0retained\u00a0first-year students from their fall to spring semester at a\u00a0record\u00a099.2% rate,\u00a0one of the highest in the country, and\u00a0a\u00a0testament to\u00a0the\u00a0school\u2019s commitment to undergraduate\u00a0student\u00a0success.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
First-semester retention measures the number of students who\u00a0stay enrolled at the university\u00a0from\u00a0their first fall semester to spring semester.\u00a0During the 2025-2026 academic\u00a0year,\u00a06,425\u00a0entered\u00a0as first-year students\u00a0and 6,374 stayed enrolled for the spring.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re proud to sustain nationally\u00a0recognized graduation\u00a0and retention\u00a0rates and\u00a0to have\u00a0a\u00a0new university record with a\u00a099.2% fall-to-spring retention,\u201d said FSU President Richard McCullough. \u201cThese outcomes\u00a0reflect\u00a0the holistic support and engagement we\u00a0provide\u00a0students, helping\u00a0them feel\u00a0at home at FSU and\u00a0succeed in\u00a0an academically invigorating environment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
FSU broke a record in first-semester retention during the 2022-2023 academic year,\u00a0reaching 99%<\/a>\u00a0for the first time.\u00a0FSU\u2019s investments in student success\u00a0continue to result in\u00a0record-breaking retention\u00a0and graduation\u00a0rates<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The university recently\u00a0established\u00a0the new Student Academic Success division, appointing former Dean of Undergraduate Studies Joe O\u2019Shea as its new vice president<\/a>. He leads the\u00a0university\u2019s\u00a0comprehensive efforts to recruit,\u00a0retain\u00a0and\u00a0graduate\u00a0an accomplished student body.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAcross our university, we are collaborating and thinking strategically about how to deliver a rewarding\u00a0college\u00a0experience to our students,\u201d said O\u2019Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success. \u201cOur fall-to-spring retention rates show that we take our commitment seriously to give all students from all backgrounds a world-class education at FSU and to set them up for success right away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n In Fall 2025,\u00a0FSU\u00a0achieved\u00a0its\u00a0highest-ever\u00a097%\u00a0overall\u00a0retention\u00a0rate,\u00a0which calculates\u00a0how many first-year students stay enrolled\u00a0from their first to second fall semesters.\u00a0That\u00a0number\u00a0landed FSU\u00a0No.\u00a04 nationally among public universities.\u00a0The most recently recorded\u00a0national\u00a0average retention rate from first to second fall was 82%, according to the U.S. Department of Education.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur fall-to-spring retention rates show that we take our commitment seriously to give all students from all backgrounds a world-class education at FSU and to set them up for success right away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2013 Joe O\u2019Shea, vice president for Student Academic Success<\/p>\n Earlier this\u00a0year,\u00a0the\u00a0university\u00a0also\u00a0reached a\u00a0four-year graduation rate record at 78%,\u00a0placing\u00a0FSU\u00a0No. 9\u00a0nationally\u00a0among public universities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFall-to-spring retention rates offer insight into a uniquely important chapter in a student\u2019s life,\u201d said\u00a0DeOnte\u00a0Brown, dean of Undergraduate Studies and acting director of\u00a0the\u00a0Center for\u00a0Academic\u00a0Retention and\u00a0Enhancement (CARE). \u201cThe fact that so many of our students who complete their first semester return to school after winter break shows that they are finding\u00a0community, connecting with their professors, and accessing the resources that help them succeed.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0proud of the work we do to help students feel at home from Day 1.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n FSU\u00a0ranks\u00a0No. 1 for Best First-Year Experiences among public institutions in Florida in U.S. News & World Report\u2019s \u201cBest Colleges 2026\u201d guidebook, a testament to the university\u2019s exceptional support programs that drive student success and foster positive learning outcomes.\u00a0<\/p>\n FSU runs an Office of Retention, which supports undergraduate students by helping them stay on track toward earning their degrees. It offers first\u2011year college transition and engagement programs, helping students overcome course registration challenges and connecting directly with students to offer additional guidance or resources.<\/p>\n Through the Office of Retention,\u00a0the\u00a0Engage 100<\/a>\u00a0program\u00a0manages\u00a0first-year courses that introduce students to campus resources, academic\u00a0skills\u00a0and university life. Noles Everywhere connects students\u00a0from out of state\u00a0to peer\u00a0leaders who help build\u00a0support networks both on and off campus. The\u00a0office also\u00a0leads\u00a0programs to support students\u00a0who are\u00a0repeating courses and\u00a0campaigns that encourage\u00a0timely\u00a0graduation by promoting balanced course loads.<\/p>\n \u201cOur mission\u00a0is to ensure every undergraduate student feels supported as they navigate their academic journey,\u00a0especially during the first year,\u201d said\u00a0Allison Peters,\u00a0assistant dean of retention and\u00a0academic\u00a0engagement. \u201cFrom\u00a0innovative\u00a0engagement programs\u00a0to\u00a0personalized outreach, we strive to help students build strong connections,\u00a0effectively\u00a0utilize\u00a0university resources,\u00a0and\u00a0engage in meaningful\u00a0educational activities.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Recent investments in undergraduate student success have\u00a0powered\u00a0growth in\u00a0the\u00a0University\u00a0Honors Program<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Presidential Scholars Program<\/a>,\u00a0which serve high-achieving students\u00a0with signature interdisciplinary courses, specialized advising, and dedicated housing,\u00a0classroom\u00a0and study space.\u00a0The Honors Program was recently\u00a0named No. 1<\/a>\u00a0in the state of Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n FSU\u2019s CARE<\/a> for first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students has grown to support nearly all students who qualify with funding, advising, mentoring, life coaching, study spaces and enrichment programming.\u00a0<\/p>\n FSU offers 11 living-learning communities<\/a>\u00a0for first-year students, which\u00a0allow\u00a0students to live on campus with peers who share similar interests.\u00a0FSU has earned the No. 1 spot among public schools in Florida on U.S. News & World Report\u2019s\u00a0Learning Communities list in the publication\u2019s 2026 Best Colleges rankings.\u00a0<\/p>\n The\u00a0university\u00a0operates\u00a0the Advising First network of academic advising and guidance for students before they are admitted into their majors.\u00a0Advising First runs\u00a0specialized programs that include\u00a0College Life Coaching<\/a>,\u00a0the\u00a0Center for Academic Guidance<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0advising\u00a0for students in the\u00a0Exploratory major<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/P-Schols2025-26-512x341.jpg\")
The Class of 2029 Presidential Scholars cohort gathers together before starting the 2025-2026 academic year. (Brittany Mobley\/Undergraduate Studies)<\/p>\n