TALLAHASSEE – Today’s release of higher education rankings by the U.S. News and World Report highlight the excellence of Florida’s public universities across the country. The University of Florida rose one spot and is now the No. 5 public university in the country, advancing a record nine spots on the Top 25 list since 2017. Florida International University climbed 17 spots to No. 78, the largest rise in Florida’s public universities this year. The University of Central Florida rose ten spots to No. 67. Additionally, Florida State University was recognized for providing a top-quality education at an affordable price, ranking FSU the No. 5 Best Value College in the nation among public universities.
Florida Polytechnic University has been ranked the number one public college in the Southern region of the U.S. It is Florida Poly’s first appearance on that list.
Today’s announcement means six of our universities have improved their rankings from the previous year. Florida has three public universities in the Top 50, second-most in the nation – one university in the Top 5, another in the Top 20, with Florida State University ranked at No. 19 and in the Top 20 for the third year in a row. The University of South Florida fills out the Top 50 for the third consecutive year, coming in at No. 46.
Florida now has five public institutions ranked in the Top 100, the fourth-most in the country. The University of Central Florida and Florida International University round out the Top 100 at No. 67 and No. 78. Florida has eight universities in the top 140, with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University rising 13 spots, ranked No. 104, Florida Atlantic University at No. 140, and the University of North Florida ranked at No. 132.
“We are extremely thankful that Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have continued to support higher education in Florida. The result of that commitment is in these rankings,” said Syd Kitson, Chair of the Board of Governors. “I am thrilled with the success all of our universities have achieved, and I know this will only motivate us to continue pushing to provide a top-quality education at an affordable price for our students.”
The U.S. News rankings are based on key quality measures, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources (including class size, the percentage of faculty with the top academic degree, student-faculty ratio), student selectivity, and financial resources, and alumni giving.
Other highlights include:
- U.S. News & World Report also recognized FAMU as the No. 1 public HBCU in the country for the third year in a row.
- No other university in the country, public or private, has risen more in the rankings over the past ten years than USF, which comes in at No. 46.
- New College of Florida is ranked among the Top 5 Public Liberal Arts Colleges in the nation.
- The University of West Florida ranked in the top 15 Best Colleges for Veterans, recognizing institutions that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.
- The University of Central Florida has been named the No. 15 most innovative university and is the top-ranked school in Florida.
- Florida Gulf Coast University ranked No. 7 in Most Innovative Schools – regional universities.
- For the third consecutive year, the University of North Florida is ranked as a ‘Best National University’ in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 edition of Best Colleges for the third consecutive year.
“We are extremely proud that the University of Florida has achieved the No. 5 spot in the country,” said Marshall M. Criser III, State University System Chancellor. “The rise of UF, as well as the many great achievements of our universities, is a reflection of the hard work done in this state, and it all points back to the opportunities we are creating for our students.”
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Facts about the State University System of Florida and the Board of Governors
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors. The System has 12 universities and more than 430,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and managing the System’s coordination and operation. The Board appoints a Chancellor who serves as the System’s chief executive. For more, visit flbog.edu or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.