The University of West Florida ranked No. 2 among Florida\u2019s 12 public universities in the Florida Board of Governors\u2019 2025-26 performance-based funding model and was the only institution in the State University System to meet all 11 accountability goals. UWF earned 92 out of 100 points, one point higher than last year, trailing only the University of South Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese rankings aren\u2019t simply numbers; they represent students who persisted, graduated and achieved their goals,\u201d said UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. \u201cThis year, UWF became the only university in Florida to meet every accountability goal we set for ourselves. That\u2019s a testament to our faculty, staff and students, and proof that when we set a vision, we deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the performance-based funding model, the Board of Governors scores each of Florida\u2019s 12 public universities based on 10 metrics, plus an additional metric chosen by each University\u2019s Board of Trustees, designed to incentivize university excellence and improvement. These metrics establish a minimum acceptable level of performance on issues such as graduation and retention rates. The Board of Governors also evaluates a model of normalized scores, which assumes that no changes in methodology occurred this year. Under the normalized version, UWF ranked No. 4 in the system with 93 points.<\/p>\n
UWF ranked No. 1 in Metric 1, which measures the percentage of bachelor\u2019s graduates employed or continuing their education one year after graduation. At 80.1%, UWF led the State University System in the metric for the second time in University history. The high score reflects UWF\u2019s emphasis on workforce preparation, including programs of strategic emphasis in high-demand fields such as STEM and healthcare, as well as strong student participation in internships and other high-impact practices. The University\u2019s close partnerships with employers throughout Northwest Florida also support strong post-graduation outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cUWF has emerged as one of Florida\u2019s top-performing institutions under the state\u2019s performance-based funding model,\u201d said UWF Provost Dr. Jaromy Kuhl. \u201cUWF\u2019s strong performance shows that we\u2019re not only attracting students \u2014 we\u2019re helping them graduate, secure meaningful careers and create value for the state.\u201d<\/p>\n
UWF\u2019s success extended well beyond its overall score, with the University earning top marks across measures of student outcomes and economic mobility. The University ranked No. 3 in Florida for Metric 2, which measures the median wages of bachelor\u2019s graduates employed full-time one year after graduation, with graduates earning an average salary of $54,600. UWF also posted its strongest performance ever in Metric 5, achieving a record academic progress rate of 88.9%, meaning more first-year students are returning for their second year in good academic standing.<\/p>\n
The University achieved all-time highs in Metrics 4, 9A, 9B and 10, which measure four-year graduation rates (54.7%), graduation rates for AA transfers (64.1%) and Pell recipients (58.8%), and the percentage of graduates completing high-impact educational experiences such as internships, undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities (71%). UWF also reached its highest access rate ever in Metric 7, with 41.7% of undergraduates receiving Pell grants during the 2025-26 academic year, reflecting the University\u2019s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunity while helping students succeed once they arrive on campus.<\/p>\n
Additional strong performances include ranking No. 2 statewide in Metric 8, which measures graduate degrees awarded in areas of strategic emphasis at 67.3%, and a No. 4 ranking in Metric 6, which measures the percentage of undergraduate degrees awarded in areas of strategic emphasis at 42.8%. Together, these results demonstrate that more students are choosing UWF, persisting, graduating and launching successful careers than ever before.<\/p>\n