Florida State University (commonly referred to as Florida State or FSU) is a public research university located in Tallahassee. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation. The university comprises 16 separate colleges and 39 centers, facilities, labs and institutes that offer more than 300 programs of study, including professional programs.

As one of Florida's primary graduate research universities, Florida State University awards over 2,000 graduate and professional degrees each year. Florida State is one of two flagship universities in the State University System of Florida. In 2007 Florida State was placed in the first tier of research universities by the Florida Legislature, a distinction allowing FSU, along with the University of Florida, to charge 40% higher tuition than other institutions in the State University System of Florida. While FSU was officially established in 1851 and is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida, at least one predecessor institution may be traced back to 1843, two years before Florida was admitted as a state in the United States.

Florida State University is also home to nationally ranked programs in many academic areas, including the sciences, social policy, film, engineering, the Arts, business, political science, medicine and law. Florida State is home to Florida's only National Laboratory - the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and is the birthplace of the commercially-viable anti-cancer drug Taxol. The Florida State University athletics programs are favorites of passionate students, fans and alumni across the United States, especially when led by the Marching Chiefs of the FSU College of Music. Florida State is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eleven national athletic championships as well as multiple individual competitor NCAA championship awards.