# Florida A&M University

> public, historically black university in Tallahassee, Florida (U.S.)

**Wikidata**: [Q1430048](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1430048)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_A&M_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/florida-a-m-university

## Summary
Florida A&M University (FAMU) is a public, historically black land-grant university located in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, it serves as a major doctoral research institution and a member of the State University System of Florida. The university is defined by its motto, "Excellence With Caring," and its designation as a land-grant institution serving the African American community.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (also known as FAMU).
- **Location:** 1500 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tallahassee, Florida, 32307, United States.
- **Founded:** 1887.
- **Institution Type:** Public historically black college or university (HBCU) and land-grant university.
- **Enrollment:** 9,184 students (as of September 2020).
- **Admission Rate:** 33% (as of 2020).
- **Endowment:** $111,477,293 USD (as of June 30, 2022).
- **Employees:** 1,830 (as of September 2020).
- **Academic Calendar:** Semester system.
- **Athletics:** Florida A&M Rattlers and Lady Rattlers.

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of university is Florida A&M?
A: Florida A&M University is a public, historically black land-grant university. It is classified as a doctoral university with higher research activity.

### Q: Where is Florida A&M University located?
A: The university is located at 1500 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd in Tallahassee, Florida. Its geographic coordinates are 30.4178° N, 84.2845° W.

### Q: How hard is it to get into Florida A&M University?
A: Based on 2020 data, the university had an admission rate of 33% and an admission yield rate of 33%.

### Q: What is the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering?
A: It is a subsidiary academic institution operated jointly by Florida A&M University and Florida State University.

## Why It Matters
Florida A&M University holds a vital role in American higher education as a prominent public historically black college or university (HBCU) and a land-grant institution. As a member of the State University System of Florida, it provides critical educational access and contributes significantly to research, classified by the Carnegie Classification system as a "doctoral university: higher research activity."

The institution plays a key economic and social role in Tallahassee and the broader region, employing nearly 2,000 people and serving a student body of over 9,000. Its history reflects the broader narrative of civil rights and educational evolution in the United States; for instance, the tenure of President George W. Gore ended in 1968 amidst student protests following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., signaling a shift in leadership methods during a tumultuous era. Today, FAMU continues to uphold its mission of "Excellence With Caring" through its comprehensive academic programs, including unique partnerships like the shared College of Engineering with Florida State University.

## Notable For
- **Classification:** Being a public HBCU with "higher research activity" doctoral classification.
- **Shared Resources:** Operating the **Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering** as a subsidiary.
- **History:** A leadership history that includes figures like **Frederick S. Humphries** (President 1985–2001) and **George W. Gore** (President 1950–1968).
- **Academic Excellence:** High academic standards with an admission rate of 33% as of 2020.
- **Associations:** Membership in major academic organizations such as the **Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)** and the **American Council on Education (ACE)**.

## Body

### History and Leadership
Florida A&M University was founded in **1887**. It operates under the parent organization of the **State University System of Florida**.

The university has been led by several notable figures, including:
*   **George W. Gore:** Served from 1950 to 1968. He resigned following student protests that took hold at FAMU after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
*   **Frederick S. Humphries:** Served as chairperson/president from 1985 to 2001.

### Campus and Location
The university is situated in **Tallahassee, Florida**, at coordinates 30.4178° N, 84.2845° W. The primary street address is 1500 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tallahassee, FL, 32307. The campus includes the **Samuel H. Coleman Memorial Library**, which has been recognized as a library of the year.

### Academic Profile
FAMU is a **doctoral university** with "higher research activity." It utilizes a **semester**-based academic calendar.
*   **Carnegie Classification:** The institution is noted for "professions plus arts & sciences" and "some graduate coexistence" within its undergraduate profile. It is characterized as a "four-year, full-time, inclusive, higher transfer-in" institution.
*   **Memberships:** The university is a member of the **Association of American Colleges and Universities**, **American Council on Education**, **Association of Public and Land-grant Universities**, and the **Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations**.
*   **Subsidiaries:** The university operates the **Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering**.

### Student and Staff Demographics
*   **Student Body:** As of September 2020, the university had **9,184** students. In 2021, the full-time equivalent (FTE) student count was recorded as 8,077.
*   **Admissions:** For the year 2020, the admission rate was **0.33** (33%) with a yield rate of 0.33.
*   **Employees:** The institution employed **1,830** people as of September 2020.

### Finance and Operations
*   **Endowment:** As of June 30, 2022, the university's endowment market value was **$111,477,293** (USD). This was a decrease from the previous fiscal year (June 30, 2021), where the endowment was valued at $118,997,187.
*   **Social Media Presence:** As of February 2023, the university's social media following stood at 60,316. Official handles include `@FAMU_1887` on Twitter and Instagram, and `FAMU1887` on Facebook.

### Athletics
The university's athletic program is known as the **Florida A&M Rattlers and Lady Rattlers**. The team is often referred to simply as the "Rattlers" or "FAMU Rattlers."

## References

1. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
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13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
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15. [Source](http://www.famu.edu)
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22. [U.S. and Canadian 2022 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2022 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY21 to FY22, and FY22 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student (Excel). 2023](https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2022/Public-NTSE-Tables)
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