The State University System of Florida has acknowledged the achievements of its universities in the 2025 College Guide and Rankings published by Washington Monthly. The rankings evaluate colleges based on their impact on students and the economy, with criteria including access, affordability, and student outcomes.
Chancellor Ray Rodrigues commented on the recognition: “This year, Florida’s universities are once again recognized as world-class institutions. The Washington Monthly rankings point to key strategies that make our institutions national leaders in higher education: low-cost, high-value degrees, a focus on ensuring students have clear, immediate pathways to careers or continued education, and merit-based aid that supports high-achieving students in reaching their higher education goals. Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we have prioritized quality education over indoctrination, holding our universities to the highest standards in every aspect, from curriculum to faculty, so that students and their families can feel confident in their decision to join the best State University System in the nation.”
According to this year’s results, both the University of Central Florida and Florida Atlantic University placed among the top 25 Best-in-Class Colleges nationally.
Several State University System institutions also performed strongly in other categories. In the Best Bang for the Buck Rankings for the Southeast region, Florida International University was ranked first. Other state universities appeared throughout this list: University of Central Florida (2), New College of Florida (3), Florida Atlantic University (5), University of Florida (6), University of South Florida (8), Florida State University (13), University of North Florida (18), Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (33), University of West Florida (36), and Florida Gulf Coast University (46).
In terms of value for tuition and taxpayer investment, several state universities were recognized as well. These included Florida International University at number eight and others such as the University of Central Florida (17) and New College of Florida (25).
Other distinctions noted include the University of Florida ranking within the top 30 Best Colleges for Research. Additionally, multiple schools—including Florida International University, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of South Florida—were listed among the top 100 research colleges. New College of Florida was highlighted among liberal arts colleges by making it into the top ten nationally. The University of West Florida was included among the top 75 master’s universities.
The full list is available through Washington Monthly’s annual College Guide and Rankings at https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025-college-guide/.
