Facts and Figures

Quick Facts

Nation's
1st
Public Normal School Founded in 1839
4,126
Undergraduates
1,565
Graduate & Professional students
334
Faculty, 89% with terminal degrees
347
Staff
39 bachelor's degrees with 80 concentrations 70 minors, 24 master degree programs

Superior Education

  • 1st by CollegeChoice.net among 9 universities in the Massachusetts State University system, and 15th overall of all colleges and universities in MA.
  • 10th in Massachusetts for Business Majors by Zippia.com, a website dedicated to helping recent college grads with their careers.
  • 2nd in student participation of all public universities in Massachusetts at the Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Conference held annually at UMass.
  • FSU College of Education is ranked at the highest national level.
14:1
student-faculty ratio
72%
of classes have less than 30 students
48%
of entering 1st year students have a 3.00 GPA or better

Inclusive Excellence

  • 3rd year in a row FSU awarded the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from INSIGHT Into Diversity—Oldest, largest, diversity-focused publication in higher education. Only college in the Commonwealth to be recognized for 3 straight years.
  • One of 44 institutions chosen nationally to participate in Re-Imagining the First Year (RFY): a project aimed at ensuring success for all students, particularly those who have historically been underserved by higher education: low income, first generation, and students of color.
  • The Diverse Scholars Program at Framingham State University provides opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities, ages 18-22, to come to campus and engage in FSU courses, internships, and student life.
  • Affinity groups for students, staff and faculty; student clubs; Center for Inclusive Excellence; gender inclusive housing and facilities; interfaith prayer and reflection center and the MetroWest College Planning Center all combine to strengthen diversity, access, and support at FSU.
  • 30% of Framingham State University undergraduate students identify as students of color.

Student Success

76%
Retention after 1st year
54%
Graduate within six years
506
Completed an off-campus internship
197
Completed an international experience

Research & Innovation

  • Three-year groundbreaking food study, FS2, with Boston Children’s Hospital funded by a $3 million dollar grant to investigate whether a “calorie is just a calorie”.
  • MetroWest Economic Research Center provides economic & business research data to regional and town planners.
  • FSU’s efforts to “Go Green” have resulted in being on the Princeton Review list of Green Colleges every year since 2010.
  • FSU faculty have received Fulbright awards to pursue research around the world in places such as Africa, Bahrain, China, France, India, Malawi, Netherlands and Palestine.
  • FSU received $12,231,102.05 between FY2012-2016 in public and private grants to support various initiatives and research projects across campus.
  • The Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center offers integrated science learning opportunities that help k-16 students develop the skills and knowledge they will need to meet the challenges of work, life and citizenship for the 21st century.
    • McAuliffe Center manages the FSU Planetarium; FSU is the only state college/university in Massachusetts with a planetarium.
    • We host one of 44 Challenger Learning Centers in the country which simulate space flight missions for students in grades 5-11
    • McAuliffe Center organizes the FSU wide Science on State Street, a science festival for the whole community
  • FSU is one of just six Smithsonian Affiliates in Massachusetts and the only one located at a higher education institution.
  • Metrowest College Planning Center is a regional joint college access initiative with Mass Bay Community College through the Department of Higher Education’s Vision Project. The Center welcomes and serves all members of the community and supports specific outreach focus for underrepresented, low-income, first generation, minority students and their families.

Student Life/First Year Experience

Over
80%
of First Year Students live on campus
90
Student groups on campus!
  • FSU Foundations is a program designed to assist first-year students in their transition to Framingham State.
  • Service/Volunteer opportunities; Special Olympics, Alternative Spring Break; Relay for Life.
  • International Volunteer – past opportunities have been to Guatemala and India.
  • FSU varsity athletic programs offer Division III competition in 10 varsity sports, along with intramural and club sports.
  • GenerationOne brings first-generation freshmen together and connects them to first-generation faculty, staff and other students.