Florida has been ranked first in higher education by U.S. News & World Report for the tenth consecutive year, according to an announcement from Governor Ron DeSantis. The ranking reflects the state’s low in-state tuition and fees, high rates of on-time graduation, and efforts to ensure students complete degrees with little or no debt.
Governor DeSantis said, “Florida has held the #1 spot in higher education for ten years in a row and we have much more to do. Florida’s public universities offer the lowest in-state tuition in the country, allowing students to receive a quality education without a massive debt burden. More than three-quarters of Florida students graduate loan-free, and we ranked #1 for four-year graduation rates. With seven Florida institutions in the top 100 public universities nationwide, we’ve proven that academic achievement does not have to break the bank.”
For 2026, seven Florida institutions are included among the top 100 public universities nationally—a record number for the state—placing Florida among the top two states with the most schools on this list. Additionally, seven of its institutions also rank among the top 100 best public colleges for veterans.
The University of Florida is ranked seventh among public universities nationwide and has remained in the top ten for eight years. It is also ranked thirtieth among all universities, both public and private. Over the past three years, UF produced more than 400 patents and had annual research expenditures over $1 billion. The Wall Street Journal named it as the leading public university nationally for graduating students on time at a low net cost while positively impacting salary outcomes after graduation.
Other highlighted rankings include:
– University of South Florida: Ranked forty-third among public universities (up two spots), twelfth best value among publics nationally, and nineteenth most innovative.
– Florida Atlantic University: Entered into the top 100 at number one hundred.
– Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University: Ranked ninety-second among publics; recognized as top public HBCU for seven straight years.
– Florida International University: Forty-sixth among publics; first nationally for upward economic mobility.
– New College of Florida: Tenth among public liberal arts colleges.
– Florida Polytechnic University: Top regional public college in the South for five years running; second regional college overall (public/private); third best value school in South region.
– Florida State University: Twenty-first among publics (up two spots); twelfth nationally for first-year experiences.
– University of Central Florida: Fifty-seventh among publics (up four spots).
– University of West Florida: Sixth regional public university in South (up four spots).
