![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-27-TIME-Americas-Best-Colleges-1.1F.jpg\")
Photo by Matthew McConnell\/Florida State University\t\t<\/p>\n\t\tPhoto by Matthew McConnell\/Florida State University\t\t<\/p>\n
Florida State University is one of the nation\u2019s top 20 public universities in TIME\u2019s inaugural ranking of America\u2019s Best Colleges<\/a>.<\/p>\n FSU ranked No. 17 among public universities and No. 53 overall in the 2026-2027 ranking, which places a strong emphasis on student outcomes and the value of a college education.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida State is one of the most sought-after universities in America, and this new ranking confirms that we deliver exceptional value and outstanding results,\u201d President Richard McCullough said. \u201cWe are competing with the best public universities in the nation, and we intend to keep climbing.\u201d<\/p>\n TIME partnered with the research firm Statista to evaluate colleges based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to prospective students. The ranking<\/a> includes the 500 institutions with the highest overall scores.<\/p>\n Student outcomes account for 75% of each university\u2019s score. That category considers graduation rates, graduates\u2019 earnings and return on education. TIME measures return on education by estimating how long it takes a graduate\u2019s earnings advantage to offset the cost of attendance.<\/p>\n Florida State earned an overall score of 82.93. FSU received a score of 88.06 for student outcomes and 92.92 for attractiveness, a measure based on admission rates and enrollment yield that reflects how strongly students seek to attend an institution.<\/p>\n That demand is reflected in FSU\u2019s record pool<\/a> of nearly 97,000 applicants for fall 2026, a 233% increase over the past decade. The university welcomed about 6,000 new freshmen this fall, selected from one of the most competitive applicant pools in its history. The admitted class has an average high school GPA of 4.5, an average SAT score of 1430 and an average ACT score of 32. Ninety-two percent graduated in the top 10% of their high school classes, and 25% are the first in their families to attend college.<\/p>\n The ranking also adds to FSU\u2019s record of strong student outcomes. FSU has a 97% first-year retention rate<\/a>, placing it among the top four universities in the nation; a 78% four-year graduation rate; and an 86% six-year graduation rate.<\/p>\n \u201cDemand for an FSU education has never been stronger, and our students succeed at rates that place us among the nation\u2019s very best universities,\u201d McCullough said. \u201cStudents want to be here because FSU offers an exceptional education, an unforgettable college experience and a clear path to a successful future.\u201d<\/p>\n TIME and Statista used data from the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard, along with state earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The analysis relied on the most recent data available as of April 2026 and generally averaged four years of data to reduce annual fluctuations.<\/p>\n