UF again tops Florida colleges in U.S. News rankings; UCF climbs 13 spots
The University of Florida again was rated as the state’s top college in the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings released Monday, with the Gainesville university placing in the top 30 for colleges nationwide.
Meanwhile, the University of Central Florida ranked sixth in the state, in ties for the 124th-best college overall and the nation’s 64th-best public school.
UF is the nation’s 28th highest-ranked school, improving one place from its ranking last year. The college was tied with three others in the national ranking: the University of Southern California, the University of California, San Diego and the University of California, Davis.
UF tied for sixth on the ranking of top public schools, and 83rd on the ranking of colleges offering the best value.
Elsewhere in Florida, Florida State University ranked in a tie for No. 53 overall and tied for 23rd overall among public schools, while it ranked ahead of UF in terms of value: 60th.
The University of Miami was Florida’s top-ranked private school, at 67th overall nationally. The University of South Florida ranked No. 89 overall and No. 45 among public schools, while Florida International University ranked No. 124 overall and No. 64 among public schools.
In a statement, UCF touted its 13-place improvement in this year’s national rankings. The university also noted it topped Florida colleges in ranking No. 14 nationally on the list of most innovative schools.
“Our commitment to access, excellence, and innovation provides incredible opportunities for students from all backgrounds to earn success and to positively impact our community and our world,” UCF President Alexander Cartwright said. “Our continued rise in the rankings would not be possible without the incredible work of our faculty, staff, and students, and we will continue to invest in their success.”
UCF also highlighted that it ranked No. 31 among undergraduate nursing programs, a 20-spot year-over-year improvement and 65 places higher than two years ago.
“UCF’s continued rise in national rankings show the value of our nursing degrees to our communities,” Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF’s College of Nursing, said in a statement. “We are fueling the talent pipeline with Knight nurses who receive a high-quality education and are prepared to provide compassionate care and clinical excellence.”
USF in a statement hailed its highest-ever ranking among national universities and best-in-state ranking for “best value.” USF has risen 72 spots in the national rankings in a decade, the college noted.
“The University of South Florida is proud to celebrate our fifth consecutive year as a top 50 public university and our highest overall position in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings,” USF President Rhea Law said in a statement. “Our ranking as a top-tier university and our recent invitation to join the Association of American Universities show that the value of a USF degree is on the rise.”
Regional institutions that offer a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs are ranked separately by U.S. News.
Rollins College in Winter Park ranked first among 136 regional institutions in the south, while Stetson University in DeLand ranked fourth. Both colleges matched their rankings from a year ago.
Stetson in a statement noted its improvement in ranking among the best value schools, best undergraduate teaching programs and on the list of top performers on social mobility.
“We are pleased to see U.S. News & World Report recognize the exceptional quality of a Stetson education,” Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke said. “Our continued improvement in these rankings reflects the deep commitment of our faculty and staff for academic excellence and our students’ success.”
See the full rankings on U.S. News’ website: usnews.com.
