Florida's Universities Rise in National Rankings

TALLAHASSEE -- State lawmakers couldn't be happier, after a much-watched annual report showed the University of Florida and Florida State, as well as other members of the state university system, moving up in national rankings.

U.S. News and World Report named UF the 7th-best public university in the nation. FSU was ranked 18th.

FSU President John Thrasher says his school has been working hard to increase four-year graduation rates. “If you do a four-year graduation rate right, kids are getting out and getting onto further education or a job, and we are bringing in new students,”Thrasher said.

The report prompted Governor Ron DeSantis to visit both campuses Monday morning. While visiting FSU, the governor told reporters a better state university system will lead to more businesses coming to Florida.

The University of South Florida in Tampa is now in the top 50 of public universities at number 44. USF also ranks in the top 10 for how well it retains and graduates low-income students.

The University of Central Florida in Orlando, makes US News and World Report's Top 100 Public Universities at number 79. UCF is also in the top 20 for Most Innovative Universities at number 16.

Florida International University ranks number two in international business... and just missed the top 100 list for public colleges.

In mid-May, Florida held the number-one spot in the U.S. News ranking for higher education, for the third year in a row.

See the 2020 rankings here:

Material from the News Service of Florida was used in this report.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


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