Money magazine ranks UF 6th among publics in annual Best Colleges list

The University of Florida has jumped significantly from last year in Money magazine’s ranking of “Best Colleges for Your Money,” coming in at sixth among public institutions and 15^th overall among publics and privates.

Last year, UF ranked eighth among public and 30th overall.

“I am pleased to see that the University of Florida has been recognized once again for not only being such an excellent value, but also for providing an outstanding education,” UF President Kent Fuchs said. “We are clearly in good company, and our students, faculty, staff and alumni have much to be proud of.”

Public universities that ranked higher than UF were:

• University of Michigan (1)
• University of California, Berkeley (2)
• University of Virginia (3)
• Texas A&M (4)
• University of California, San Diego (5)

UF was also the highest ranked university in Florida. Other Florida schools and their ranks were:

• Florida State University (197)
• University of South Florida (356)
• University of Central Florida (408)
• University of North Florida (564)
• Florida International University (572)
• University of West Florida (616)

Money listed 705 schools that it ranked on 24 factors that included in three categories, each carrying one-third weighting:

• Quality of education – graduation rates, instructor quality, peer quality
• Affordability – Net price of degree, debt, value
• Outcomes – Graduate earnings, career services, job meaning

Money magazine reporter Kim Clark singled out UF in her story, writing:

“Low debt is one reason the University of Florida ranks No. 15 this year. Its students graduated with an average debt of $15,000—$8,000 less than is average for other schools on the list and $15,000 less than the typical college grad.”