Largest freshman class starts at FIU, soars to new heights

The Class of 2029 is brilliant.

Among the thousands of students starting their journey at FIU this academic year are National Merit Scholars; leaders in the Top 10% of their graduating class; students who scored in the 99^th percentile in the SAT; a co-author of a published medical paper; and a student whose community service project received local media attention — not to mention recognition from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

FIU welcomed nearly 6,000 freshmen to campus this summer and fall, effectively breaking records set in recent years. This is the largest incoming freshman class in FIU history.

The entire admissions cycle has been one for the books: The 2024-2025 cycle saw the largest group of high school seniors apply to FIU, with a more than 10% increase in applications for summer and fall admissions. The university received applications from all 50 states and the number of students who accepted early admissions also represented an all-time high for FIU.

“Demand for an FIU education is soaring,” says Jody Glassman, assistant vice president of Enrollment and University Admissions. “And our newest Panthers are proof of that. The Class of 2029 is intelligent, involved and committed to excellence. These students are excited to be Panthers because they know that FIU will help them achieve their dreams.”

Students starting in the fall boast an average GPA of 4.28 and an average SAT score of 1300. Forty-four percent of freshmen are first-generation college students. Nearly half of the class selected STEM majors, with disciplines in health and technology among the top choices.

Freshmen represent 44 states and 46 countries around the world. An eye-popping 89% of freshmen are Florida residents coming from all parts of the state. This speaks to FIU’s increasing reputation as a top choice school for students across Florida, adds Glassman, and to Panther alumni's impact on the state's talent pipeline, as most graduates stay to work in Florida after completing their studies at FIU. 

Among the freshmen are scholars passionate about areas such as marine conservation, space exploration, computer science, education, entertainment and the arts, engineering, the hospitality industry and much more.

The class includes six National Merit Scholars, seven Silver Knight Honorable Mentions, valedictorians and leaders who’ve logged countless hours of community service. Whether going on mission trips around the world, starting service-oriented clubs, leading food drives for local folks in need or volunteering at hospitals and animal shelters, these freshmen are committed to giving back.

In fact, many of the students cite FIU's service-related clubs or activities as one of the key things they hope to get involved in during their time on campus. And they proudly say that service is one of the things that keeps them grounded in living a life of purpose. 

In honor of the Class of 2029 and in celebration of the first week of the fall semester, FIU News will be sharing a series of stories highlighting just a few of the thousands of freshmen who are starting their journeys at FIU.

Class of 2029: Sebastian Lopez, eye doctor in the making

Sebastian Lopez is on a mission to save people’s eyes. When he was a child, Lopez developed a temporary eye illness that doctors initially had trouble diagnosing. He spent three days going in and out of the hospital.

“Instead of being freaked out about it, I fell in love with everything the doctors were doing,” Lopez recalls. “I started asking all the doctors and medical students questions. I’ve been interested in ophthalmology ever since.”

Throughout high school, he became deeply involved with a number of service activities (often related to eye health) and eventually interned at the eye clinic at the Miami Veteran’s Affairs Healthcare System. The icing on the cake: he became the co-author of a paper published in Vision, an international, peer-reviewed journal.

Read more about his story.