44 FL Schools Named Among 2021's Best Colleges: U.S. News List
FLORIDA — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes more than 40 schools in Florida.
Despite how the pandemic has forced current and potential students to alter college plans, U.S. News said in a news release that it must “continue providing students and their families with the tools they need to help find the right school for them.”
These Florida colleges and universities were ranked in this year’s list:
National Universities
University of Florida, Gainesville. Ranked 30.
University of Miami, Coral Gables. Ranked 49.
Florida State University, Tallahassee. Ranked 58.
University of South Florida, Tampa. Ranked 103.
University of Central Florida, Orlando. Ranked 160.
Florida International University, Miami. Ranked 187.
Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. Ranked 206.
Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale. Ranked 227.
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee. Ranked 241.
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. Ranked 272. (tie)
University of North Florida, Jacksonville. Ranked 272. (tie)
Keiser University, Fort Lauderdale. Ranked 284.
Barry University, Miami Shores. Ranked in bottom 91 of national universities.
Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach. Ranked in bottom 91 of national universities.
National Liberal Arts Colleges
New College of Florida, Sarasota. Ranked 84.
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg. Ranked 136.
Ave Maria University, Ave Maria. Ranked in bottom 40 of national liberal arts colleges.
Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach. Ranked in bottom 40 of national liberal arts colleges.
Regional Universities
Rollins College, Winter Park. Ranked 1.
Stetson University, DeLand. Ranked 4.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach. Ranked 9. (tie)
Florida Southern College, Lakeland. Ranked 9. (tie)
University of Tampa, Tampa. Ranked 13.
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo. Ranked 26.
Jacksonville University, Jacksonville. Ranked 29.
University of West Florida, Pensacola. Ranked 36.
Lynn University, Boca Raton. Ranked 53.
Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers. Ranked 68.
St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens. Ranked 94.
Everglades University, Boca Raton. Ranked in bottom 30 of national universities.
Hodges University, Naples. Ranked in bottom 30 of national universities.
Southeastern University, Lakeland. Ranked in bottom 30 of national universities.
Regional Colleges
Flagler College, St. Augustine. Ranked 4.
Florida National University-Main Campus, Hialeah. Ranked 16.
Pensacola State College, Pensacola. Ranked 30.
Beacon College, Leesburg. Ranked 31.
South Florida State College, Avon Park. Ranked 33.
Florida Memorial University, Miami. Ranked 54.
Warner University, Lake Wales. Ranked 63.
Florida College, Temple Terrace. Ranked 66.
St. Petersburg College, St. Petersburg. Ranked 68.
Edward Waters College, Jacksonville. Ranked in bottom 20 of regional colleges.
Seminole State College of Florida, Sanford. Ranked in bottom 20 of regional colleges.
Webber International University, Babson Park. Ranked in bottom 20 of regional colleges.
Princeton University is once again No. 1 among National Universities, and Williams College remains in the top spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
For Top Public Schools, the University of California - Los Angeles is No. 1 among National Universities. The United States Naval Academy ranks No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
To rank colleges, U.S. News first placed each school into a category based on its mission and, in some cases, its geographical location in the United States. U.S. News then evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities on 17 indicators of academic quality. The colleges are ranked based on their overall scores.
The data used for this year’s rankings was gathered in spring and early summer 2020; however, the publication noted that the pandemic did not affect the numbers.
This year’s edition also includes several methodology updates. The new measures look at timely topics such as student debt, social mobility and test-blind admissions policies. U.S. News also added new weights and indicators to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and added a new ranking for computer science programs.
See more detailed methodologies and frequently asked questions about the rankings.
See all of 2021’s Best U.S. Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
This article originally appeared on the Tampa Patch