Alison Leavitt| Managing Editor
Florida State University jumped seven spots to No. 26 among national public universities in the latestU.S. News & World Reportrankings, markingthe biggest single-year improvement in university history.
This ranking brings FSUone step closer to making the top 25, as part of the university's Top 25 Initiative.
“I couldn’t be happier about our big jump,” said Sally McRorie, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Our ‘drive to 25’ is almost finished and a little earlier than I think any of us expected. That’s a testament to the very hard work of everybody across campus. We’re planning for what comes next!”
In three years, FSU has moved up 17 spots among public universities. FSU rankedNo. 43 in 2016and saw an increase by fivein 2017, making the universityNo. 38. Last year, FSU placed No. 33 among public universities.
“Florida State University is one of the best universities in the nation, and we are excited thatU.S. News & World Reportrecognizes our academic excellence,” said President John Thrasher. “Student success is at the heart of our mission at Florida State, and these rankings are a reflection of that commitment.”
This year's U.S. News report also included undergraduate business program rankings in which FSU moved up one spot to No.26 among public universities and No. 44 among all national universities. These rankings are basedonly peer assessment.
“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the best business schools in the nation,” said Michael Hartline, dean of the FSU College of Business. “We have made — and will continue to make — strategic investments in our people and programs, and these latest rankings are reflective of those focused investments. With our new building, Legacy Hall, coming online in a few short years, our college is poised to continue its upward trajectory. We are firmly committed to our students’ success and to moving farther down the path of preeminence.”
FSU was recognized as one of two Floridauniversities in the top30 among national public universitiesby hiring and creating programs in order to helpstudents excel.
Some ofthe factors resulting in FSU's upward trajectory includeoffering more small classes, improving faculty-student ratiofrom 25-to-1 to 22-to-1 in the past two years andachieving thehighest four-year graduation rate of any Florida public university.
Florida State’s average six-year graduation rate increased 2 percentage points in two years, making it 79.5 percent. The universitycontinues to exceed its predicted graduation rate byU.S. News, which is based on the university’s resources and student profile.FSUranks No. 17 among public universitieswhen comparing the actual graduation rate against the predicted rate.
Additional funding, as well as performance funds from the state, has allowed theuniversity to invest in student success. FSU rose four places to No. 11 among publics in the faculty compensation measure in the past year. This fall alone, FSU welcomed 240 new faculty.
Due to thisinflux of faculty, class size has decreased, allowing for smaller classes that focus on formative experience,post-graduation preparation and engaged learning opportunities such as the Engage 100 initiative.
“The approach we’ve taken is really paying off,” McRorie said. “We have a very data-driven focus and have looked very carefully at how we can best serve our students and best support our faculty and staff. Every dollar has been looked at and every dollar has been a planned investment, and this new ranking of No. 26 is a return on that investment.”
With the fall 2018 semester bringing new initiatives, increasedfacultyandthepromising class of 2022, FSU may achieve a top 25 ranking in next year's report.
U.S. News & World Reportdetermines its national university rankings based on a variety offactors: graduation and retention rates (27 percent); expert opinion, i.e. peer and high school counselor assessment (20 percent); faculty resources (20 percent); student excellence (10 percent); financial resources (10 percent); graduation rate performance (8 percent)and alumni giving (5 percent).
FSU shares the No. 26 spot with three other public universities: University of California-Santa Cruz, University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University of Pittsburgh.
Among all national universities, including private universities, FSU has moved up 11 spots, from No. 81 last year to No. 70.
