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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
- #12 Public universities in the nation for first-year experiences
University of Florida
- Top 10 public universities in the nation for eight consecutive years
University of South Florida
- Top 50 public universities in the nation for five consecutive years
- #12 Best value public universities in the nation
- #19 Most innovative schools in the nation
University of West Florida
- Top 10 best colleges for veterans for regional universities: South
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a press release on Sept. 29, 2025.