FSU moves up to No. 33 among U.S. News & World Report's best public universities ranking

Florida State University edged closer to its goal of becoming a top 25 national public university Tuesday, placing No. 33 in the just released U.S News & World Report rankings.

In the 2017 list, FSU ranked No. 38 and in 2016, placed No. 43.

The 2018 Best College Rankings were released Tuesday.

“We are thrilled that U.S. News & World Report continues to recognize Florida State University as one of the best universities in the nation,” FSU President John Thrasher said. “It means our reputation of academic excellence is rising throughout the state and the nation, and that’s a reflection of our world-class faculty, staff and students.”

FSU shared the No. 33 spot with Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, University of California-Santa Cruz and the University of Delaware.

The University of Florida also moved up five spots, moving from No. 14 to No. 9.

Other state university rankings include University of South Florida (68), University of Central Florida (90) and Florida International University (122).

FSU pointed to its graduation and student retention rates as key categories catapulting it forward.

FSU’s four-year graduation rate is among the top 25 nationally, the six-year graduation rate is 80 percent and the university’s freshman retention rate is nearly 93 percent, which ranks 18th nationally.

“We are clearly recruiting even better students, and the success of our programs is being noticed, and emulated, by our peer institutions,” said Sally McRorie, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs.

Thrasher noted FSU’s designation as one of Florida’s two two preeminent universities has allowed the university to raise faculty salaries and hire more professors, resulting in the university’s improvement in metrics such as faculty compensation and student-faculty ratio.

“We are extremely grateful to the Florida Legislature and Florida Board of Governors in helping our continuing efforts to raise Florida State to a higher level of national prominence,” Thrasher said. “The funding that the Legislature has invested in FSU has allowed us to vigorously pursue our strategic goals.”

McRorie said in a release that FSU’s initiatives in improving student success is paying off in the national rankings.

This includes stressing the importance of taking 15 credit hours each semester and encouraging students to take advantage of co-curricular opportunities available like internships and job shadowing, she said.

With FSU’s 80 percent six-year graduation rate, the university exceeded a prediction by U.S. News that FSU’s graduation rate would be 71 percent.

FSU also saw improvements in reputational ratings by university peers, student selectivity and alumni giving.

Florida State’s undergraduate business program also moved up 14 spots to No. 27 among public universities and 18 spots to No. 45 among all national universities. The undergraduate business rankings are based solely on peer assessment.

“We are determined to continue strategic investments in our people and programs in order to continue further down the path of preeminence,” said Michael D. Hartline, dean of the College of Business.

Among all national universities, including private universities, FSU ranked 81st, up from 92nd last year, the university said.

For more on the report, visit www.usnews.com/best-colleges.

Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.