Most Florida universities fell in national rankings, per U.S. News & World Report

Of the eight Florida universities recognized nationally, five dropped in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual national rankings. Two universities climbed and one stayed steady. 

Florida’s two top-25 public universities, University of Florida and Florida State University, each dropped — UF by one spot, from No. 7 last year to No. 8; and FSU by three spots, from No. 21 last year to No. 24.

Staying in the top 50 were Florida International University, which maintained its place at No. 46, and University of South Florida, which dropped three spots from No. 43 to No. 46. FIU is the best university in Florida, according to state Board of Governors metrics. 

Two universities increased their ranks. Florida A&M University leaped 13 places, from No. 92 to No. 79. Florida Atlantic University moved into the double-digits, improving by one spot to No. 99. 

The University of Central Florida dropped a spot, from 57th to 58th, and the University of North Florida dropped from No. 122 to No. 128.

The rankings consider metrics such as graduation rates, retention rates, student debt, a peer assessment, and Pell Grant recipients’ graduation rates.

The top public school was the University of California, Berkeley, followed by the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Michigan; the University of Virginia; and the University of North Carolina. 

Among various rankings throughout the year, U.S. News & World Report’s are perhaps the most widely cited. In walking around some of the campuses, university display their ranking on light-post banners, for example.

FAMU lost a spot among all historically Black colleges and universities, falling from No. 5 to No. 6. It was passed by North Carolina A&T State University. 

That means FAMU lost its seven-year streak as the No. 1 public HBCU in the nation. 

New College of Florida dropped six places in the national liberal arts colleges category, from No. 10 to No. 16, among 39 schools in that category.

In a new category, UF and FSU rank in the Top 10 for “Best Value Schools for In-State Students,” with the Gainesville university ranked No. 3 and the Tallahassee university No. 7.

FIU maintained its No. 1 rank in the nation as the top performer for social mobility.

Some university leaders not happy with Legislature’s enrollment oversight

Rankings are frequently mentioned by university leaders, including by UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini, in arguing against increasing the ratio of in-state students who attend state institutions.

During a Board of Governors meeting earlier this month, Hosseini said UF is pursuing a Top Five rank, and to do so will decrease enrollment to maintain the state’s required ratio of in-state students to out-of-state students and maintain higher GPA, SAT, and ACT score expectations.

Florida Gulf Coast University was ranked No. 170 last year, but was not ranked this year.