Gov. Ron DeSantis champions Florida's public education, universities

2026 Best Colleges List: Gov. Ron DeSantis remarks

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis cheered the state's colleges and universities following the release of US News & World Reports' 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis championed the state's colleges and universities after U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 rankings of the Best Colleges in the United States.

"Florida is the education state," read the sign attached to DeSantis' podium. He spoke at the University of Florida alongside several education leaders. DeSantis said the 2026 ranking marks 10 years that Florida institutions have claimed a #1 spot.

You can watch his full remarks in the player above.

US World News & Report: Top Florida Colleges 2026

University of Florida – #7
Florida State University – #21
University of South Florida – #43
Florida International University – #46
University of Central Florida – #57
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University – #92
Florida Atlantic University – #100

2026 Top Performers on Social Mobility: National Universities – Top 3

1. Florida International University

2. University of California, Riverside

3. California State University, Long Beach

2026 Regional Public Colleges: South

Florida Polytechnic University – #1 for five consecutive years

2026 Regional Public Universities: South

University of West Florida – #6, up 4 spots

2026 Public Liberal Arts Colleges

New College of Florida – #10

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

#1 Public HBCU for seven consecutive years

Florida International University

#1 in the nation for social mobility

Florida Polytechnic University

#2 Regional college among both public and private universities
#3 Best value public schools in the South
Top 30 undergraduate engineering program in the nation for public schools without a PhD

Florida State University