FSU Moves Up in U.S. News 2025-26 Best Colleges — Lands at No. 21 Among Public Universities

Tallahassee, FL — Big news for Florida State University: in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2026 rankings released September 23, FSU has jumped two spots and is now ranked No. 21 among the nation’s public universities.

FSU now shares that No. 21 position with Texas A&M University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

FSU also achieved its highest-ever overall ranking among all national universities (public + private) at No. 51 — up three places from its position last year.

This climb reflects gains in several key metrics, especially around student success, social mobility, and outcomes for first-generation and Pell Grant students. FSU moved up in the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” among public universities, and improved in Pell Grant graduation rates as well.