U.S. News & World Report keeps University of Florida as No. 7 in the nation

The University of Florida remains the seventh best public university in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings. 

Those rankings feature Florida State University at No. 21 and the University of South Florida at #43, each rising two spots since last year’s rankings. 

“UF’s standing reflects a decade of concerted effort, supported by historic state investment and federal research funding, leading to stronger student outcomes, inspired research accomplishments and ever-greater impact on the economy of Florida,” UF Interim President Donald Landry said in a news release.

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. Landry took the helm this month as interim president as the university begins a new search after former University of Michigan President Santa Ono was rejected as UF’s president by the Board of Governors.

UF shares the No. 7 spot with University of Texas-Austin.

Florida International University, the best performing university by Florida metrics, was inside the top 50 public institutions at No. 46. 

“FIU is on a clear path to becoming a Top 30 public university by 2030,” FIU President Jeanette Nuñez said in a news release. “We continue to lead in academics, research, student success, and upward economic mobility.”  

Among various rankings throughout the year, U.S. News & World Report are perhaps the most widely cited. 

Most of the scoring is based on graduation rates and student outcomes. Also, 20% is determined by peer assessment, 11% by faculty resources, and the rest by financial resources, student excellence, and faculty research. 

“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. “These remarkable outcomes affirm the hard work and dedication of our university trustees, faculty, students, and staff across the state.”

The schools ahead of UF are the University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; University of Virginia; and University of California, San Diego.

The top 14 schools in the nation are private, according to U.S. News & World Report.

For the seventh consecutive year, Florida A&M University was the No. 1 public historically Black college or university in the nation and No. 5 among all HBCUs.

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. Petersburg.

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. It ranked below other Florida institutions Rollins College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Stetson University, Florida Southern College, and the University of Tampa. 

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. Other preeminent schools include UF, FSU, USF, and FIU.

In a ranking of campus free speech by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression earlier this month, FSU was rated the best in the state in that category.