~Florida’s public universities earn strong rankings in U.S. News & World Report, TIME, Forbes, Washington Monthly, and Niche~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Public universities across the State University System of Florida (System) continue to earn national recognition for academic excellence, affordability, and student outcomes in the latest higher education rankings.
“These rankings reflect years of intentional policymaking, a commitment to accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources,” said Board of Governors Chair Alan Levine. “I am grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for their continued support of higher education and their confidence in Florida’s public universities. Florida has demonstrated that maintaining high accountability and investing strategically can produce exceptional results for students, the economy, and taxpayers.”
“Florida’s public universities continue to lead the nation because they remain focused on their core mission: providing students with a high-quality education that prepares them for meaningful careers, engaged citizenship, and lifelong success,” said System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “These rankings affirm that students do not have to choose between excellence and affordability when attending a Florida public university. I congratulate our university presidents, trustees, faculty, staff, and students whose dedication and commitment have helped establish Florida as the national leader in higher education and a model for the nation.”
The latest rankings recognize Florida’s public universities for excellence across measures including academic quality, student outcomes, affordability, and return on investment. Together, these results underscore the sustained strength of the State University System and reinforce Florida’s standing as the nation’s No. 1 state for higher education.
See the System-wide rankings for the 2026-2027 Academic Year below:
U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings Among Public Universities
- University of Florida: #8, Top 10 for 10 consecutive years
- Florida State University: #24
- University of South Florida: #46 (tied), Top 50 for eight consecutive years
- Florida International University: #46 (tied), Top 50 for three consecutive years
- University of Central Florida: #58
- Florida A&M University: #79, 13-place improvement and largest gain in the System
- Florida Atlantic University: #99
Additional U.S. News Recognition
- Florida A&M University
- #1 Public HBCU among top public schools
- Florida Atlantic University
- #31 Social Mobility
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Top 10 Regional Universities (South)
- Florida International University
- #1 Economic and Social Mobility
- Florida Polytechnic University
- #1 Public Regional Colleges (South), for six consecutive years
- #3 College in the South among public and private institutions
- Top 20 Public Engineering Program without a Ph.D. nationally
- #1 Best Value Public School in the South
- Florida State University
- #5 First-Year Experiences among public universities
- Top 10 Public University for Best Value for In-State Students
- Top 15 Most Innovative Public University
- New College of Florida
- Top 20 Public Liberal Arts College
- University of Central Florida
- #5 Most Innovative Public University in the nation and Florida’s most innovative university
- Top 30 Public University for Best Value for In-State Students
- University of South Florida
- Top 20 Social Mobility
- Top 25 Most Innovative Public University
- Top 25 Public University for Best Value for In-State Students
- Top 50 Best Colleges for Veterans
- University of West Florida
- Top 10 Public Schools, Regional Universities (South) (tied), for five consecutive years
- Top 10 Best Colleges for Veterans, Regional Universities (South) (tied), for five consecutive years
- Top 5 Best Value for In-State Students, Regional Universities (South)
TIME: America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027 Among Public Universities
- University of Florida: #4
- Florida State University: #17
- Florida International University: #23
- University of South Florida: #55
- University of North Florida: #58
- University of Central Florida: #76
Niche Best Colleges 2027 Among Public Universities
- University of Florida: #6
- Florida State University: #12
- University of South Florida: #23
- Florida International University: #27
- University of Central Florida: #38
- University of West Florida: #61
- Florida Atlantic University: #94
- Florida A&M University: #1 Best HBCU Schools in America
Washington Monthly 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars Among Public Universities
- Florida International University: #8
- University of Central Florida: #11
- New College of Florida: #16
- #1 Public Liberal Arts College
- University of Florida: #57
- Florida Atlantic University: #59
- University of South Florida: #61
- Florida State University: #64
- University of North Florida: #67
- University of West Florida: #86
Forbes 2027 America’s Top Colleges Among Public Universities
- University of Florida: #9
- Florida State University: #25
- University of South Florida: #48
- Florida International University: #59
- University of Central Florida: #63
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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 and a Board-appointed Chancellor who serves as the System’s chief executive. The System comprises 12 universities and more than 431,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Florida has ranked number one in higher education by U.S. News & World Report since the inception of the rankings in 2017, recognized for providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable education. For more information, visit flbog.edu or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.