FAMU Welcomes Largest Incoming Class in a Decade at New Student Pinning Ceremony
Enrollment milestone reflects growing demand for the FAMU experience and a continued focus on student success
Florida A&M University (FAMU) welcomed more than 1,900 first-time-in-college students, the largest incoming class in a decade, during the 2026 New Student Pinning Ceremony held Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center.
The University also welcomed 400 students enrolled in fully online programs, 700 transfer students and 1,200 graduate students. They arrive as FAMU celebrates another student success milestone: a record-high 88.8% Academic Progress Rate (APR).
“We are grateful that this class made Florida A&M University their first choice,” said President Marva B. Johnson, J.D. “Each student now belongs to a rich 139-year legacy with more than 75,000 alumni who celebrate with them as they begin their own journey of academic excellence.”
FAMU received more than 32,000 applications for fall 2026. The incoming class represents all 67 Florida counties and 49 states, with an average GPA of 3.9, an average SAT score of 1120, and an average ACT score of 23.
President Marva B. Johnson, J.D., presides over FAMUs historic pinning ceremony on
Monday. (Photo by Jeff Adams/FAMU)
“Students are choosing FAMU because they see an institution where academic excellence, opportunity, and a strong sense of community come together,” said William Hudson Jr., Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “Our record application numbers demonstrate the demand for the FAMU experience, and our focus is ensuring that students who choose FAMU have a clear pathway from enrollment to graduation.”
That focus on student success is reflected in FAMU’s record-high 88.8% Academic Progress Rate (APR), which measures the percentage of students making sufficient academic progress toward timely degree completion.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson L. Watson, Ph.D., said the New Student Pinning Ceremony reinforces that commitment to student success from the very beginning.
“We are welcoming future scholars, researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, health professionals, engineers, and leaders,” Watson said. “From their first day of class to commencement, we want every student to know that their success matters and that an entire academic community is invested in helping them reach their goals.”
Two new FAMU students concentrate as they pin one another during the New Student Pinning
Ceremony. (Photo by Jeff Adams/FAMU)
During the pinning ceremony, Jennifer Collins, Ph.D., associate provost for Student Success reminded students that “success at FAMU is not accidental.”
“It is built through consistent choices: going to class, asking for help early, meeting with your advisor, using academic support, building relationships with faculty and staff, and staying focused on the finish line,” said Collins.
Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Bernard E. Hudson, senior pastor of Arnett Chapel A.M.E. Church, reflected on his own FAMU journey as a computer and information sciences student and challenged the newest Rattlers to consider what’s next by remembering three keys.
“Getting into FAMU is an accomplishment, but it is not the destination,” said Rev. Hudson. “Remember to acknowledge the moment, embrace the process, and pursue what is ahead with discipline, resilience, confidence, and character. Keep your eyes on the goal and finish strong.”
Student Success Directly Influences FAMU’s Performance-Based Funding
President Johnson emphasized that student success has implications beyond individual academic achievement, noting that students’ progress toward graduation directly contributes to how Florida A&M University is evaluated under the State University System’s performance-based funding model.
Each year, the Florida Board of Governors evaluates the state’s public universities using 10 performance metrics tied to outcomes such as graduation and retention, affordability and post-graduation success. Those results help determine the allocation of state funding to institutions.
Students were motivated to show their rattler spirit as they were welcomed to the
'Hill.' (Photo by Jeff Adams/FAMU
Johnson told students that their ability to remain enrolled and complete their degrees on time is therefore an important component of FAMU’s institutional performance.
“When you finish on time — in four years, or in whatever your program requires, because some of ours run longer by design — this University earns the dollars that build the labs you will work in and fund the scholarships that come after you,” Johnson said.
The university has also established its own performance priorities. Under the state’s performance-based funding framework, FAMU’s Board of Trustees selected student internships as one of the university’s signature performance measures. Johnson said the measure reflects FAMU’s emphasis on ensuring students gain professional experience and build networks before completing their degrees.
The pinning ceremony is a tradition that celebrates the beginning of the academic
year. (Photo by Jeff Adams/FAMU)
Johnson also connected those institutional priorities to FAMU in Four, the university’s initiative focused on helping students graduate within four years when their academic programs are designed for a four-year completion timeline.
For students enrolled in programs that require more than four years, Johnson emphasized that the expectation remains timely completion based on the structure of their degree program.
“Your graduation is not just your achievement. It is this institution’s performance,” Johnson said.
She also underscored the economic value of timely graduation, noting that completing a degree on schedule can mean entering the workforce, graduate school or other post-graduation opportunities earlier while avoiding additional semesters of educational expenses.
“Four years instead of six is two additional years of income, of experience, of momentum — two years earlier into your career, into graduate school, into your first home,” Johnson said.
New students were encouraged to wear white for their pinning ceremony. (Photo by Jeff
Adams/FAMU)
Embarking on a New Chapter in a New Home
Before closing the ceremony by singing the University alma mater, students pinned orange and green ribbons on each other, symbolizing their entry into the FAMU community and their connection to generations of Rattlers who came before them.
“The pin you receive today is a visible reminder that you belong here and that your FAMU journey has purpose,” said Dr. Collins.
For Avery McCray, a health education student and FAMU track and field athlete from Miami Dade, Fla., receiving the pin marked the beginning of a new chapter.
“I chose FAMU because it felt like home and offered the opportunity to continue running track,” said McCray. “I’m very excited to make new connections and work toward my goal of opening an indoor track facility where young athletes from my hometown can safely train and grow year-round.”
McCray said, “receiving a pin felt like an achievement that I made it through high school to start an exciting new journey.”
For more information about Student Success programs and initiatives, contact the Office of Student Success at (850) 412-7994 or email studentsuccess@famu.edu.
Media Contact:
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
