If you’re reading this and currently mapping out your college plans, you don’t need to look far for top-tier higher education. For the fourth straight year, Florida International University has been named the top-performing institution out of 12 public universities by the Florida Board of Governors.
Securing a near-perfect score, the university has also dominated the rankings for the fifth time in the last six years, cementing its reputation as a local heavyweight in student success.
What the numbers say
FIU earned a whopping 97 out of 100 points when it came to the state’s performance-based metrics, including graduation and retention rates, degrees awarded, post-grad employment and median average wages.
It’s the latest win for Miami’s only public research university, which was recognized in 2024 as the Preeminent State Research University for its research productivity and student success. They’ve also been climbing the national boards, including:
- No. 46 among U.S. public universities (U.S. News and World Report)
- No. 1 university in Florida (The Wall Street Journal)
- Top 10 university nationwide (Washington Monthly)
“This is a testament that FIU delivers results when it comes to academic excellence and student success. Without a doubt, FIU is the place where students will receive a high-quality education that will allow them to lead and succeed,” FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez said in a statement on FIU News.
How did other universities do?
While FIU received a metric score of 97, it was closely followed by the University of Florida (UF) at 96 and the University of South Florida (USF) at 95.
Here’s a breakdown of how every university performed, according to the Florida Board of Governors:
- Florida International University (FIU) – 97
- University of Florida (UF) – 96
- University of South Florida (USF) – 95
- Florida State University (FSU) – 93
- University of West Florida (UWF) – 93
- University of Central Florida (UCF) – 91
- Florida Polytechnic University (FPU) – 87
- University of North Florida (UNF) – 86
- Florida A&M University (FAMU) – 80
- Florida Atlantic University (FAU) – 80
- New College of Florida (NCF) – 75
- Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) – 73
