Florida Atlantic University

What Florida Atlantic University does

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is a public R1 research university established in 1961 and serving more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses spanning 110 miles of Southeast Florida's coastline. The university offers more than 170 degree programs across ten colleges spanning Arts and Letters, Business, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Medicine, Nursing, Science, and Social Work, and holds three Carnegie Foundation designations (R1 research status, Opportunity College, and Community Engagement Classification). FAU operates multiple research institutes including the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, I-Health, and I-Sense, along with specialized centers such as the Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering (CODE) and the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI). The university recently signed a $20 million agreement with D-Wave Quantum to install the first on-site quantum computer at a Florida public university and is launching federally funded research centers focused on AI, sensing systems, and intelligent infrastructure with $75M in annual research awards.

Name

Florida Atlantic University

Legal name

Florida Atlantic University

Website

https://fau.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

FAU is a public R1 research university with 30,000+ students across six SE Florida campuses, offering 170+ degree programs and operating specialized research institutes spanning brain science, oceanographic, sensing, and quantum computing domains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education & Research Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2) (EDAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intercollegiate Athletics (Varsity Sports Programs) (EDALAIAA), College/University Athletic Departments & Varsity Programs (MPAKACAB)

Keywords

• Public research university
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate research programs
• Federal sponsored research
• Online distance learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Boca Raton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Per-credit-hour tuition charged to students; FL Resident $203.29/credit hour ($5,984 annual tuition & fees); Non-FL Resident $799.72/credit hour ($22,888 annual); recurring across Fall/Spring/Summer terms; $30 non-refundable application fee per applicant
2. Federal and State Research Grants: Sponsored research funding from NIH, NSF, Department of Defense, Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Florida state agencies; $75M in research awards annually; examples include $2.4M NIH IL-1R1 grant, $2.6M NSF cybersecurity scholarship grant, $2.25M AFRL CA-AI grant, $600K FDEP algal bloom grant
3. Athletics Sponsorships and Partnerships: Multi-year sponsorship deals (e.g., Publix Super Markets as Official Supermarket of Florida Atlantic Athletics), ticket sales, athletic merchandise, and corporate sponsorships; previous $26.4M corporate sponsorship donation under former AD
4. Bond Financing for Capital Projects: FAU Finance Corp. issued $117.8 million in bonds (serial and term bonds through 2054) to fund a ~670-bed, 204,000 sq ft student housing project at Boca Raton campus
5. Philanthropic Gifts and Donations: Major gifts from foundations and corporations including $1.5M from Aaron Family Foundation and Ubicquia Inc. for Ubicquia Innovation Center; Longer Tables Fund (José Andrés) for Queen Conch Lab; Broward Health donations; industry sponsorships for research
6. Research Equipment Sales and Installations: One-time procurement of major research equipment (e.g., $20M D-Wave Advantage2 quantum computer purchase and installation); $4.5M Air Force T-1A Jayhawk Mixed Reality flight simulator in-kind grant; micro-CT system from DoD

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Florida Atlantic University is a public R1 research university that delivers more than 170 degree programs across 10 colleges to 30,000+ undergraduate and graduate students at six Southeast Florida campuses, augmented by sponsored research, executive and online education, NCAA Division I athletics, and a network of research institutes and innovation hubs. Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees, federal and state research grants, philanthropic gifts, and athletics/corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Florida Atlantic University is a public R1 research university, established in 1961 and serving more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses in Southeast Florida. Its core offering is a platform-style academic portfolio of more than 170 degree programs spanning ten colleges (Arts and Letters, Business, Social Work and Criminal Justice, Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate College, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Medicine, Nursing, and Science), with a layered set of research institutes and centers (Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, I-Health, I-Sense), specialized labs (Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering / CODE, Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence / CA-AI, Ubicquia Innovation Center for Intelligent Infrastructure), and innovation infrastructure (Tech Runway, Research Park, SBDC at FAU, FAU Wave competition). Specific notable products include the FAU-D-Wave Advantage2 onsite quantum computing system (the first such installation at a Florida public university), the T-1A Jayhawk Mixed Reality flight simulator, the patented Adaptive Cyber Manufacturing (ACM) system, the bench-to-bedside MRI and focused ultrasound platform, the pFedDB federated learning AI framework, the WaveGPT operational intelligence platform (co-developed with Eco Wave Power), the Queen Conch Mobile Lab (field hatchery), and the FAU Lab Schools K-12 STEM Education Facility. The Centers/Institutes function as research-product modules that draw on shared infrastructure such as the Berlin Family Bioimaging Lab's micro-CT system and the Tech Runway simulator, while the academic colleges supply the degree-program catalog and the entrepreneurship programs (Tech Runway, Research Park, SBDC, FAU Wave) act as commercialization channels for student and faculty work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI): FAU's research-dedicated oceanographic institute located in Fort Pierce, Florida, focused on marine ecosystems, ocean health, aquaculture innovation, and ocean engineering.
• SeaTech - Institute for Ocean & Systems Engineering
• D-Wave Quantum Applications Academy

Products and services

• FAU Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Programs More than 170 bachelor's, master's, doctoral, combined, and certificate programs across 10 colleges, serving more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six Southeast Florida campuses.
• FAU Online (Online and Distance Learning)
• FAU-D-Wave Advantage2 Onsite Quantum Computing System On-site D-Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum computer platform at FAU's Boca Raton campus supporting research, hackathons, and the planned D-Wave Quantum Applications Academy workforce development program.
• Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute University-wide research institute at FAU dedicated to improving and addressing diseases of the brain, located on the Jupiter campus alongside Max Planck Florida and Scripps Research, hosting neuroscience training programs and computational neuroscience workshops.
• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) FAU's research-dedicated oceanographic institute in Fort Pierce focused on marine ecosystem conservation, ocean health, aquaculture innovation and global food security, and ocean engineering and applied technology.
• Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-Health) University-wide research institute at FAU focused on enhancing human health and quality of life through interdisciplinary research, located on the Jupiter campus.
• Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-Sense) University-wide research institute at FAU driving sensing and embedded network systems engineering research across disciplines, supporting smart-infrastructure and IoT applications.
• Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI) FAU research center developing networked autonomous systems with edge AI for defense, transportation, and commercial applications including secure UAV operations and intelligent transportation networks.
• Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering (CODE) Interdisciplinary research hub integrating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics with AI/ML tools to build predictive models of biological systems, led by Michael DeGiorgio.
• Ubicquia Innovation Center for Intelligent Infrastructure (UICII) Center developing AI-enabled intelligent infrastructure through advanced sensors, real-time analytics, and resilience-focused solutions with utilities, municipalities, and commercial sectors; directed by Jason Hallstrom.
• FAU NeuroInnovate Center FAU center partnering with Insightec to advance focused ultrasound treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, supported by $1 million in federal funding.
• FAU Harbor Branch Queen Conch Mobile Lab Self-contained solar-powered mobile hatchery developed by FAU Harbor Branch that produces up to 2,000 juvenile queen conch annually for Caribbean restoration, deployed in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Curaçao, and additional sites.
• Bench-to-Bedside MRI and Focused Ultrasound Platform World's first integrated research platform combining advanced MRI and focused ultrasound technologies in a single system to accelerate research and treatment of neurological disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
• T-1A Jayhawk Mixed Reality and 3D Motion Flight Simulator U.S. Air Force T-1A Jayhawk flight simulator ($4.5M value) housed at FAU Tech Runway, serving as a research platform for AI, autonomy, aerospace systems, neuroscience, and interdisciplinary studies.
• FAU Tech Runway Hub at FAU to accelerate technology development and incubate student, faculty, and community startup ventures; houses the T-1A Jayhawk flight simulator and serves as the FAU site for the D-Wave Advantage2 quantum computer deployment.
• Research Park at Florida Atlantic FAU-affiliated research park providing a supportive environment where companies engaged in research and development of new and innovative products can thrive, with resources and infrastructure for tenant companies.
• SBDC at FAU (Small Business Development Center) FAU-based Small Business Development Center providing no-cost, confidential consulting and training to entrepreneurs and business owners in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.
• FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center FAU environmental education center partnering with Sol Systems and REI Co-op on climate resilience education programs for high school students in Palm Beach County, including a Community Impact Program with renewable energy certificates.
• FAU Athletics (NCAA Division I Owls) NCAA Division I athletics program with 21 teams and nearly 500 student-athletes, including multiyear corporate sponsorship deals (e.g., Publix Super Markets as Official Supermarket of Florida Atlantic Athletics) and ticket/merchandise sales.
• FAU Alumni Association Alumni network of 223,000+ FAU graduates globally offering programming, networking, career services, lifelong learning, and philanthropic engagement opportunities.

Named customers18 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability18 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Hydromea SAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Together with Hydromea SA (Swiss subsea optical communication company), FAU won a $1 million grant through the AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge to develop a next-generation underwater communication system combining long-range acoustic links with Hydromea's high-speed LUMA FSO optical modems. Testing will progress from controlled lab environments in Switzerland and Florida to field demonstrations off the coast of Australia.
• Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) - The Island SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute partners with Cape Eleuthera Institute on queen conch conservation; hosts the Queen Conch Mobile Lab on Eleuthera in The Bahamas with goal of producing up to 2,000 juvenile queen conch annually. Strategic partnership established in 2023 builds on 20+ years of CEI's environmental science work in the Caribbean.
• Eco Wave Power Global ABcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Eco Wave Power is advancing discussions with FAU and University of Michigan to develop AI-powered wave energy applications, including WaveGPT operational intelligence platform and a wave-powered coastal data center concept. FAU submitted a TEAMER application focused on data-driven energy flow mapping and predictive analytics. Initiatives aim to combine wave energy generation, advanced cooling, digital twins, and intelligent workload management for AI data centers and edge computing.
• University of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Multi-institutional collaboration including FAU, University at Buffalo, and University of Minnesota developing networked autonomous systems with edge AI for military and commercial applications such as secure UAV operations and intelligent transportation networks. Supported by $2.25M AFRL grant to FAU CA-AI.
• EducationDynamicsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026EducationDynamics CEO Brent Ramdin (FAU alumnus) delivered commencement address at Florida Atlantic University on May 7, 2026, for graduates of the College of Business and College of Education's master's and doctoral programs. Spoke on navigating evolving professional landscape shaped by AI and shifting global dynamics.
• Publix Super MarketscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 February 2026Multiyear partnership with FAU Athletics and FAU Sports Properties naming Publix as Official Supermarket of Florida Atlantic Athletics. Includes exclusive mascot jersey patches, Publix Fan Zone presenting sponsorship, and $5,000 donation to Boca Helping Hands.
• University at BuffalocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Joint Florida-New York Air Force University Center with University at Buffalo to advance secure, software-programmable wireless networks for AI-enabled autonomous systems. FAU and UB have received >$8M in prior AFRL investments in programmable wireless networking. Award includes $2M from DoD/U.S. Air Force for wireless network research and autonomous systems.
• InsighteccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026FAU NeuroInnovate Center partners with medical technology company Insightec to advance focused ultrasound treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The center receives $1M in federal funding to expand this research collaboration.
• D-Wave Quantum Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026FAU signed $20 million agreement with D-Wave to acquire and install Advantage2 annealing quantum computer on Boca Raton campus, making FAU the first university in Florida to publicly host a large dedicated quantum computer. D-Wave is also establishing its new corporate headquarters at Boca Raton Innovation Center as part of the partnership, with on-site research opportunities and paid internships for FAU students. Plans include a D-Wave Quantum Applications Academy and workforce development initiatives supported by state and city incentives to expand Florida's quantum talent pool.
• Anduril Industries and Davidson TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026D-Wave, Anduril, and Davidson Technologies collaborate on quantum-classical hybrid applications for U.S. air and missile defense planning, demonstrating 10x faster time-to-solution and 9-12% improvement in threat mitigation in missile defense simulations using D-Wave's Stride hybrid solver on Advantage2 system installed at FAU.
• City of West Palm Beach and NSF Engineering Research Center for Smart StreetscapescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science collaborates with the City of West Palm Beach and the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Smart Streetscapes on smart-infrastructure work. The Ubicquia Innovation Center for Intelligent Infrastructure builds on this existing partnership.
• Max Planck Florida Institute for NeuroscienceflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-located on FAU's Jupiter campus; one of the world's leading research organizations offering high school, undergraduate, and graduate students transformational research experiences not found anywhere else in the world. Long-standing partnership for neuroscience research, training programs, and shared facilities including the Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute.
• The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology (formerly Scripps Research Florida)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-located on FAU's Jupiter campus; one of the world's leading biomedical research organizations offering transformational educational and research experiences for FAU students through the Max Planck Partner Programs and shared infrastructure.
• Broward College (South Florida Education Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026FAU Davie campus co-located with Broward College as part of South Florida Education Center enabling shared library, joint academic pathways, and Link transfer success program. FAU Fort Lauderdale campus also part of FAU/Broward College Higher Education Complex on Las Olas Boulevard.
• Aaron Family Foundation and Ubicquia, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025FAU received $1.5 million philanthropic gift from Aaron Family Foundation and Ubicquia, Inc. to establish the Ubicquia Innovation Center for Intelligent Infrastructure (UICII). The center develops advanced sensors, AI, and real-time analytics for infrastructure resilience, efficiency, and safety with collaborations involving utilities, municipalities, and commercial sectors. Director: Jason Hallstrom.
• Sol Systems and REI Co-opcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 October 2025Sol Systems and REI Co-op partnered with FAU's Pine Jog Center to expand climate resilience and environmental education for high school students in Palm Beach County through a Community Impact Program. Initiative involves renewable energy certificates from Sol Systems' solar projects including Silver Palm Solar Energy Center.
• Broward HealthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 16 October 2025Partnership between Broward Health and FAU to collaborate on clinical training and research ended prematurely after two years due to disagreements over contractual terms and unpaid invoices. Disruption affected nearly 200 medical and nursing students seeking alternative clinical placements.
• Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 October 2025CIEE sponsors FAU's 8th Annual Paradise Invitational Women's Collegiate Golf Tournament in Boca Raton (February 1-4, 2026). Event promotes cultural exchange and peaceful collaboration through golf and international education, with CIEE awarding scholarships and engaging with participants.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Florida: Florida's flagship public R1 university with comparable degree program breadth and large sponsored-research portfolio. Same State University System of Florida and overlapping employer pipeline, but larger scale and stronger national ranking; serves as FAU's primary in-state R1 benchmark.
• Florida State University: Sister public R1 in the State University System of Florida with similar Carnegie research designation and similar mix of federal research funding. Comparable in scale and degree program diversity, and competes with FAU for the same in-state applicant pool and state appropriations.
• University of Central Florida: Florida's largest public university by enrollment with strong engineering, optics, and computer science programs. Directly competes with FAU for Florida-resident applicants, sponsored research funding, and tech employer partnerships across Central and South Florida.
• University of South Florida: Pre-eminent public R1 in the Tampa Bay area with overlapping R1 research portfolio, medical school, and athletics presence. Competes with FAU for federal grants, in-state talent, and industry partnerships in Florida's Gulf and Atlantic corridors.
• Florida International University: Large public R1 in Miami with similarly diverse student body, Hispanic-Serving designation, and similar scale. Directly comparable in tuition tier, social mobility positioning, and Carnegie Opportunity designation, and overlaps with FAU on shared cybersecurity state funding programs.
• Florida Institute of Technology: Private Florida university with strong engineering, computing, and aeronautics programs including a partnership with Kennedy Space Center. Comparable in technical research focus and South Florida footprint, but smaller scale and primarily undergraduate residential model.

Broad incumbents

• University of Miami: Private R1 university in South Florida with overlapping degree programs, research centers, and athletics profile. Comparable in employer pipeline and graduate program prestige, but operates as a private institution with substantially higher tuition and different funding model.
• Georgia Institute of Technology: Public R1 with elite engineering and computer science programs, large sponsored-research base, and direct overlap with FAU's AI, autonomy, and cybersecurity research. Establishes the high end of comparable public R1 benchmarks in the Southeast, especially in defense and federal research.

Regional players

• University of North Florida: Florida public university in Jacksonville with overlapping undergraduate and select graduate programs. Comparable in regional employer engagement and state funding model, but smaller research portfolio and serves a different metro.
• Florida Gulf Coast University: Florida public university in Southwest Florida with comparable size, tuition structure, and emphasis on undergraduate research and community engagement. Competes for Florida-resident applicants but has a smaller research footprint and limited R1 funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FlaAtlanticU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/floridaatlanticu
• Facebookfacebook.com/FloridaAtlantic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-atlantic-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/FloridaAtlantic
• Pinterestpinterest.com/floridaatlantic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds10 records

Investors12 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Florida Atlantic University