Southeast Florida, with an estimated population of over 5.1 million in 2006, is one of the most artistically expressive, ethnically diverse, and cosmopolitan regions in the United States. As the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, it is a global center for trade, finance, health care, tourism, and manufacturing. In this milieu, Florida International University (FIU) was created by the Florida Legislature in 1965 to offer upper division and graduate programs. Classes began in September 1972, with 5,667 students enrolled – the largest opening day enrollment in the history of American higher education. FIU received authority to offer lower division courses in 1981 and doctoral programs in 1984.

FIU, a member of the State University System (SUS) of Florida, is one of America’s most dynamic institutions of higher learning. The University's mission is to impart knowledge through excellent teaching, promote public service, discover new knowledge, solve problems through research, and foster creativity.

Since opening in 1972, FIU has achieved many benchmarks of excellence that have taken other universities more than a century to reach. Under the leadership of Modesto A. (Mitch) Maidique, FIU’s fourth president, FIU was classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Research University/High Research Activity in 2005. FIU receives approximately $100 million annually in research funding. Research is funded by 41 federal agencies and more than 200 public and private organizations. 

FIU offers more than 200 baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degree programs in eleven colleges and schools: College of Architecture and the Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Law, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of Social Work, Justice, and Public Affairs, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Stempel School of Public Health. The College of Medicine was approved for implementation in March 2006.

FIU has more than 38,500 students, 1,200 full-time faculty, and 120,000 alumni, making it the largest university in southeast Florida and placing it among the nation’s largest colleges and universities. The University has two campuses – University Park Campus (UPC) in southwest Miami-Dade County and the Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC) in northeast Miami-Dade County – as well as an educational facility at the Pines Educational Center in nearby Broward County. Numerous programs are offered at off-campus locations and online.

FIU recently ranked among the best values in public higher education in the country, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s 2006 survey, “100 Best Values in Public Colleges.” FIU ranked among the top 50 nationally for in-state students and among the top 100 nationally for out-of-state and international students. FIU recently ranked 3rd in granting bachelors degrees to minorities and 9th in granting masters degrees to minorities (among the top 100 degree producing colleges and universities), according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, June 1, 2006. U.S. News & World Report ranked FIU’s undergraduate international business programs 7th in the nation and their graduate programs among the top 20 in 2006. FIU is the youngest university to have been awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most distinguished academic honor society.

All academic programs of the University are approved by the Florida Board of Governors and the FIU Board of Trustees. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. SACS reaffirmed FIU’s accreditation on December 5, 2000. Degree programs at FIU are accredited or approved by the appropriate specialized accreditation agency, or are pursuing full accreditation or approval, if such exists.