Navigating Higher Education: Understanding College Rankings and Identifying Underperforming Institutions in Florida
Florida is a national leader in higher education, with universities that focus intently on success-and achieve it. The United States of America is home to some of the best educational opportunities that the world has to offer. We have some of the best schools for people of all ages, but our universities and colleges really stand out on the world stage. However, there are fantastic colleges across the country, there are decent colleges across the country, and then there are the colleges on this list… In this list, you will find the worst of the worst colleges in every state in the United States. You won't see many of their graduates proudly displaying these diplomas on the wall! Whether it's tuition costs, job prospects post-graduation, or a host of other things, these colleges simply didn't make the grade.
The Landscape of Higher Education in Florida
Surprised? That’s understandable. Florida is known for many things-theme parks, retirement communities, deer-eating pythons-but academic excellence is typically not one of them. The state boasts no prestigious Ivy League-like schools. Yet, the numbers don’t lie. In the Washington Monthly’s Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars, seven Florida universities rank in the top 100 (out of more than 1,400 schools). These include Florida International University (number eight), University of Central Florida (17), and New College (25), all of them public institutions. Four Florida state universities also make the Monthly’s Best Colleges for Research ranking, including the University of Florida (number 27) and Florida State (76).
Part of it is that Florida is a populous state with lots of universities. But Michigan and Pennsylvania have about the same combined population as Florida (23 million). You might also wonder if Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s famously aggressive crackdown on faculty and curriculum he deems “woke” has anything to do with the state’s high rankings. The answer is no. The real explanation for Florida’s stellar performance is the way the state has traditionally governed its public higher education system. Like other states whose universities are disproportionately represented at the top of the Monthly’s rankings-including California, North Carolina, Texas, and New York-Florida has a long history of centralized state control of its public colleges and universities and an abiding commitment to keeping tuition low, especially for in-state students of modest means.
Florida’s tradition of strong state control of institutions of higher learning goes back more than a century. In 1905, state lawmakers, concerned that a proliferation of colleges was putting a financial drain on the state, cut the number in half and placed them under the thumb of the Florida Board of Control, whose members were appointed by the governor. In the post-World War II years, as college access expanded nationwide, Florida opened dozens of new four-year and two-year campuses. Under a comprehensive plan in 1969, each institution was given a particular role to play within the larger system. For example, Florida Atlantic University was envisioned to be “a general purpose university established to serve the students in its region. Its unique role in the University System, however, is to experiment with new and innovative instructional media and technology.”
In the late 1960s, just on the other side of I-95 from FAU, IBM began building a complex on 550 acres. At roughly the same time, Florida instituted a reform that would profoundly enhance the ability of students to earn four-year degrees while saving money. Dubbed the 2+2 system, it was intended to help students attend lower-cost Florida community colleges for two years and then transfer to bachelor’s degree-granting institutions without losing credits along the way. It did so by, among other things, imposing a common statewide course-numbering system. In practice this meant that the same course-say English (ENC 1101)-counted as credit toward every degree in every two- and four-year public college and university in the state. This deprived four-year universities of revenue they got from demanding that students repeat courses they had taken in community college, and it kept costs down for students and taxpayers.
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The centralized system reduced costs and enhanced student achievement in other ways. When several state universities asked for permission to open law schools-a costly but prestige-enhancing undertaking-the Board of Regents said no, based on a study showing that the state’s need for attorneys was being met by existing Florida law schools and lawyers trained in other states who were moving to Florida and passing the state bar exam. In 1972, the board implemented a process for ending any academic program enrolling too few students to make it viable-decades ahead of similar efforts like those at West Virginia University. The board also cracked down on the practice of universities requiring students to take more courses than necessary for their degree by placing a maximum on the number of credits it would provide state support for an academic program.
Over time, the state adopted other mechanisms that reduced tuition and fees received by the universities but helped keep costs down for students. In other states, flagship universities typically grab the lion’s share of state funding, thanks to greater lobbying power with state legislators, depriving regional public universities of revenue. In Florida, the Board of Regents, not lawmakers, controlled the divvying up of funding among public universities. In other states, universities use so-called merit aid to lure students from affluent families who can pay higher overall tuition, thus depriving students from poorer families of the financial aid they need. In 1997, the Florida legislature created a merit aid program funded by lottery revenues that was specifically targeted to high-achieving students.
The centralized system, which kept the key decisions of Florida’s higher education outside of the battleground of politics (the legislature), never made anyone-universities, legislature, governors, or faculty-fully happy. So, in 2001, university leaders who were aligned with the legislature and incoming Governor Jeb Bush abolished the Board of Regents and devolved power to specific universities, which were given their own boards of trustees. Senator and former Florida Governor Bob Graham led the charge to pass a constitutional amendment recentralizing authority into a new and more powerful board of governors.
Three years later, when the Washington Monthly published its first college rankings, Florida universities did well. The University of Florida ranked 30th out of 245 national universities, ahead of Columbia, Rice, and Dartmouth. Other Florida institutions placed respectably (University of South Florida at 131, Florida International University at 149). In subsequent years, most Florida schools improved their positions, often substantially. Part of the reason was that the magazine incorporated new federal data-for instance, on student earnings after college-that better revealed the superior job Florida universities had long been doing.
One was a performance-funding model that infused hundreds of millions of dollars into the system. Approved in January 2014, and evolving over the ensuing years, the model includes 10 metrics that evaluate schools on statewide goals while leaving space for university boards of trustees to develop metrics important to their own institutions. Other states allow their public universities great leeway to charge different students different prices for the same degrees. This helps maximize tuition revenue for universities but forces students to untangle high sticker prices with discounts and other types of aid, making it hard for them to comparison-shop. Florida doesn’t permit substantially different tuition pricing. With control over tuition and fees, and institutional boards of trustees appointed by the governor, the state leadership has a powerful tool to keep costs down. Rather than have universities compete on tuition sticker prices and the related confusing suite of federal, state, institutional, and private aid, Florida chose to hold prices steady to make college affordable.
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Another advancement was the system’s focus on ensuring students were getting jobs. The Board of Governors leveraged a partnership with the state department of labor to create a report on the post-college outcomes of bachelor’s degree earners. These advancements, and many others over the years, were a direct result of an empowered governing board, with members mostly chosen by the governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The governor and the board also appoint all the trustees of individual public universities, again subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Ron DeSantis has utilized that power in ways no previous governor tried, or perhaps even contemplated. In the past, administrations waded into decisions over curriculum only for the purpose of keeping costs for students down-such as limiting the length of a degree program. DeSantis has fundamentally changed what must and must not be taught in college classrooms, based on conservative views. Previous administrations appointed university presidents and trustees largely based on their professional academic record. In 2023, for instance, he replaced six trustees of New College, a famously progressive (and academically distinguished) institution, vowing to turn the school into a Florida version of conservative Hillsdale College in Michigan. The trustees promptly fired New College’s president, leading 40 percent of the faculty to resign. What this will mean for the future of Florida’s higher education system remains to be seen. Meanwhile, other states with conservative governors and legislatures are trying to follow DeSantis’s lead. Often that involves passing laws that centralize executive authority, as Texas recently did with legislation that weakens the power of faculty-controlled university senates.
Identifying Underperforming Colleges
While Florida boasts several high-ranking universities, it's essential to acknowledge that not all institutions perform equally well. Identifying "worst ranked" colleges involves analyzing various factors that indicate underperformance. These factors often include:
- Low Graduation Rates: A significant indicator of a college's effectiveness is its graduation rate. Colleges with consistently low graduation rates may struggle to provide adequate support and resources for students to complete their degrees.
- High Student Loan Default Rates: High default rates suggest that graduates struggle to repay their student loans, potentially due to limited job prospects or low earning potential.
- Poor Job Prospects Post-Graduation: The ability of a college to prepare students for successful careers is crucial. Colleges with low employment rates or low median salaries for graduates may not be providing the necessary skills and training for the workforce.
- High Tuition Costs Relative to Outcomes: The value of a college education should be weighed against its cost. Colleges with high tuition fees but poor outcomes may not be a worthwhile investment for students.
- Lack of Full-Time Professors: A shortage of full-time faculty can indicate a lack of institutional stability and may negatively impact the quality of education.
Edward Waters College: A Case Study
According to a study done by AlotFinance.com, Edward Waters College located in Jacksonville, FL, coming in at number 8.
There are a lot of bad things about Edward Waters College. First, it has a low 19.6% graduation rate. Second, six-year post-graduation surveys show a $25,900 median salary. Finally, it’s expensive, so students walk out with $22,558 worth of debt. That makes it hard to pay off student loans, so it's no surprise that Edward Waters College’s loan default rate is 21.7%.
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Edward Waters College is one example of a Florida institution that has faced challenges in terms of graduation rates, post-graduation salaries, and student loan default rates.
Florida Memorial University: An Overview
Florida Memorial University is a private institution that was founded in 1879. In the edition of Best Colleges, Florida Memorial University is ranked No. #76 in Regional Colleges South. It's also ranked No. #56 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. The student-faculty ratio at Florida Memorial University is 16:1. Florida Memorial University has a test-flexible admissions policy. The school's tuition and fees are $20,174. The average net price for federal loan recipients is $17,812. The four-year graduation rate is 9%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $28,943.
Factors Influencing College Rankings
It's important to recognize that college rankings are not the definitive measure of an institution's quality. However, they can provide valuable insights into various aspects of the college experience. Some of the key factors that influence college rankings include:
- Student-Faculty Ratio: A lower student-faculty ratio generally indicates more personalized attention for students.
- Graduation and Retention Rates: These metrics reflect the college's ability to support students in completing their degrees.
- Faculty Resources: The qualifications and experience of the faculty contribute to the quality of education.
- Financial Resources: Adequate financial resources enable colleges to invest in facilities, technology, and student support services.
- Alumni Giving: Alumni giving rates can indicate alumni satisfaction and engagement with the institution.
The Role of State Governance in Higher Education
Florida’s stellar performance is the way the state has traditionally governed its public higher education system. Like other states whose universities are disproportionately represented at the top of the Monthly’s rankings-including California, North Carolina, Texas, and New York-Florida has a long history of centralized state control of its public colleges and universities and an abiding commitment to keeping tuition low, especially for in-state students of modest means.
Making Informed Decisions About Higher Education
Choosing a college is a significant investment in one's future. When evaluating colleges in Florida or any other state, it's crucial to consider a range of factors beyond rankings, including:
- Academic Programs: Does the college offer programs that align with your academic and career interests?
- Campus Culture: Does the college environment feel like a good fit for your personality and learning style?
- Location: Is the college located in an area that appeals to you in terms of social and professional opportunities?
- Cost and Financial Aid: Can you afford the tuition and fees, and what financial aid options are available?
- Career Services: Does the college offer robust career counseling, internship programs, and job placement assistance?
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