Florida Universities Excel in US News & World Report Rankings

Each year, U.S. News & World Report releases its rankings of colleges and universities, providing prospective students and their families with a guide to academic quality. The rankings evaluate nearly 1,700 institutions based on up to 17 measures. The rankings feature Florida State University at No.

This year, Florida schools have earned an assortment of bragging rights, with the University of South Florida (USF), University of Florida (UF), and Florida State University (FSU) posting top marks. The U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of universities provided Florida schools with an assortment of bragging rights, with the University of South Florida, University of Florida and Florida State University posting top marks.

Top Public University Rankings

When focusing solely on public universities, Florida boasts a strong presence in the top 100, with seven institutions making the list. Florida now has four schools in the top 50 for public universities, second most among all states, and six in the top 100.

University of Florida - 7th
Florida State University - 21st
University of South Florida - 43rd
Florida International University - 46th
University of Central Florida - 57th
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University - 92nd
Florida Atlantic University - 100th

University of South Florida (USF)

USF reached an all-time high at No. 88 overall and No. 43 among public universities.USF's climb in the rankings is part of a decade-long surge. News’ 2026 rankings of colleges and universitiesUSF was also ranked No. 12 for “best value” among public universities nationwide, helping to attract a record number of applications for first-time-in-college students in 2025. Other notable rankings include No. 17 for social mobility, No. 19 for most innovative school in the nation, and No. 42 for best colleges for veterans. USF also rose to No. last year, and inside the top 50 for the seventh year in a row. USF has risen an impressive 40 spots among public universities from No. 43, and 71 spots among all universities, from No. 159 to No. Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida,” USF President Rhea Law said. defines our university. the nation. score in university history. 17 for social mobility, No. 42 for best colleges for veterans.

USF ranked as the #1 “best value” among all universities in Florida, public or private.

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University of Florida (UF)

Florida was rated the top state school on the list. It ranked nationally at No. 7 among public universities and No. 30 overall among all public and private universities. University of Florida held its spot in the top 10 in spite of a tumultuous presidential search. UF shares the No. Administrators welcomed this year’s stable ranking after a rocky stretch of leadership. Sen. Ben Sasse, who resigned amid criticism over spending and falling rankings. Donald Landry was approved as interim president this month.

The Gainesville university, No. 30 among all public and private universities, has been without a permanent leader since Ben Sasse resigned in July 2024. Since, various leadership positions have been filled on an interim basis. UF shares the No. The University of Florida is still the top university in the Sunshine State.

UF ranked 24th nationally for its undergraduate business program. UF’s doctoral program in engineering placed 32nd nationally.

Florida State University (FSU)

Florida State rose two spots to No. 21 among public institutions and earned its highest-ever overall ranking among national universities at No. 51. FSU ranked #7 among all national public universities for “First Year Experiences” - placing it at #1 in the Florida SUS.

Florida Polytechnic University

Florida Polytechnic University, with its focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics curricula, continues to impress in its young history. Florida Poly scored its fifth straight No. News rankings. In its 11th year, the Lakeland school was first among southern public schools for the fifth consecutive year.Florida Poly also ranked No. 3 for best value among southern public schools, combining academic performance and affordability, and was listed among the top 30 public engineering programs without a Ph.D. For the fourth consecutive year, Florida Polytechnic University was recognized as the #1 public college in the Southeast. Additionally, Florida Poly ranked among the top 20 public engineering programs without a Ph.D.

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Florida A&M University (FAMU)

For the seventh consecutive year, Florida A&M University was the No. 1 public historically Black college or university in the nation and No. For the seventh consecutive year, Florida A&M University was the No. 1 public historically Black college or university in the nation and No. Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, which dropped 11 spots from last year. But the biggest shift was at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, which dropped 11 spots from last year. There are various measurements that determine the rankings, with one of the key measures being graduation rates. It fell 17 spots from 152 to 169 after rising 18 spots in the national rankings in 2025.

University of Central Florida (UCF)

University of Central Florida in Orlando jumped four spots to No. 57 among publics and No. 117 overall. In other university news, UCF achieved preeminence status this week, its president announced. That status is designated by the state, achieved by reaching metrics such as graduation rate, research expenditures, patents, endowment size, and doctoral degrees awarded and provides additional funding to schools that meet them. Established in 1963 to provide talent to the burgeoning space industry at nearby Kennedy Space Center, UCF has a legacy of providing a talent pipeline to help NASA reach its goals. Since then, our faculty researchers and alumni have led the way in space exploration - from exploring the possibilities of mining the moon to simulating Martian soil. At UCF, bold innovators and changemakers pursue excellence and propel the future. News & World Report. The online rankings are based on the publication’s 2026 Best Online Programs rankings, which assess schools based on student engagement, online learning technologies and support, faculty credentials and training, and the program’s reputation among other universities. UCF is ranked No. 6 in Best Online Undergraduate Programs in the Nation.

Florida International University (FIU)

Florida International University in Miami held steady at No. 46 among public universities and rose to No. 97 overall. It also ranked first in social mobility among national universities. FIU ranked #46 among public universities - breaking into the top 50 for the first time - and #98 among all universities, public and private. FIU was once again crowned the top school for social mobility.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton climbed to No. 100 among public universities and No. 183 overall. It was also rated No. 30 for social mobility, reflecting its support for first-generation and low-income students. Florida Atlantic moved up 20 spots to #146 this year compared to #166 last year in the “Best Value” category for all national universities, public and private.

University of West Florida (UWF)

University of West Florida in Pensacola surged nine spots to No. 9 among overall southern schools and improved from No. 10 to No. 6 among public southern schools. UWF ranked in the top 10 among public regional universities in the South. In addition, it was ranked in the top 10 for Best Colleges for Veterans among Southern universities. The University of West Florida was ranked the No. 6 best public school in the South region and No. 14 among public and private universities in the South.

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New College of Florida

New College of Florida in Sarasota dropped to No. 135 among all liberal arts colleges but remained in the top 10 among public liberal arts colleges. It ranked No. 101 for social mobility. Separate from the top public category, New College of Florida was ranked No. 135 among 207 National Liberal Arts Colleges, tying with the private Eckerd College in St. New College ranked #7 among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Other Florida Institutions

Rankings involving some of the private schools in Florida included:

University of Tampa was rated 13th in the South and 34th among best-value schools.
Florida Southern College in Lakeland ranked No. 11 in the South and No. 24 among best-value schools.
Eckerd College in St. Petersburg was ranked 135th out of 207 national liberal arts colleges.
Rollins College in Winter Park was the top-ranked private regional university in the South, placing second among 133 schools in its category.
Saint Leo University ranked 117th for social mobility among national universities.
University of Miami ranked No. 64 nationally and 19th in lowest acceptance rates. Florida College in Temple Terrace was 46th among South schools.

Factors Influencing Rankings

U.S. News & World Report evaluates universities based on a range of factors including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rates, alumni giving and peer assessment. Most of the scoring is based on graduation rates and student outcomes. News ranked schools in a variety of categories, including by region, value, historical black college and universities, innovation and social mobility. The latter looked at the ability to enroll, retain and graduate students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and help them find career success. This is often measured by the grad rates for students who receive Pell Grants.

State Commitment to Higher Education

“This year’s rankings reflect the unwavering commitment of Florida’s public universities to delivering academic excellence and world-class faculty expertise,” Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb said in a news release. 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.

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