Tuesday, October 17, 2023

FSU slips to no. 23 in U.S. News rankings

 FSU slips to no. 23 in U.S. News rankings

Florida State University’s march to the nation’s Top 15 public universities took a few steps back in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s “2023-2024 Best Colleges" rankings. 

After changes to the media company's methodology, FSU fell four spots to No. 23, tied with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and the College of William & Mary. 

FSU had been ranked in the Top 20 for four consecutive years — where it was No. 19 last year, tied with the University of Maryland, the University of Washington and Rutgers.

The slip comes despite FSU improving in each of the categories measured in the 2022 rankings. In addition, FSU had its highest-ever ranking in the overall list of public and private national universities at No. 53 — tied with Case Western Reserve University, Northeastern University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and William & Mary — which is up two spots from last year. 


The Wall Street Journal and Niche also have their own rankings with vastly different results. Niche, which was founded in 2002, ranked Florida State No. 11 on its list of top national public universities, up two places from No. 13 last year. The rankings site also declared that the university is the No. 1 school for the Best Greek Life and No. 2 on the national list of Top Party Schools among 1,512 other schools.


Rankings reshuffled amid new methodology

The U.S. News & World Report's decision to retool its methodology by changing 22 metrics plays into FSU's lower ranking this year, removing the factors of class size, alumni giving rates, the percentage of faculty with a terminal degree and students’ high school standing — all components that FSU scored well in when they were a part of the metrics, according to a university news release. 

Based on the university's own calculations, FSU would be No. 16 in this year’s U.S. News rankings among national public universities if the metrics did not change, according to McCullough. 

“We’re just trying to be better at everything, and hopefully the rankings will take care of themselves,” McCullough said.

With inclusion in the prestigious Association of American Universities still being a goal of the university, McCullough does not see FSU's placement in this year’s rankings affecting their efforts toward a possible membership in the future since AAU’s metrics are research focused. 

“We’re not going to be driven by the rankings,” McCullough said. “We’re going to be driven by what we think makes a great university.” 


  • 6. University of Florida  
  • 23. Florida State University  
  • 45. University of South Florida  
  • 64. Florida International University  
  • 64. University of Central Florida  
  • 91. Florida A&M University  
  • 112. Florida Atlantic University  
  • 129. University of North Florida  
  • 162. Florida Gulf Coast University  
  • (Not ranked) Florida Polytechnic University 



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