USF celebrates Florida’s 10th straight year as America’s No. 1 state for higher education

The University of South Florida (USF) is celebrating Florida’s 10th consecutive year as the No. 1 state in the U.S. for higher education, following the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The annual rankings assess states on measures including educational attainment, graduation rates, affordability and student debt, with Florida maintaining the top position for a decade.

The milestone comes as USF continues to strengthen its own national standing. The university recently achieved its highest-ever position in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings and was also recognised as one of America’s best-value universities, reflecting its combination of academic excellence, affordability and strong graduate outcomes.

USF serves more than 50,000 students across its campuses and graduates nearly 15,000 students each year, supplying talent to Florida’s fast-growing industries. The university also secured a record US$750 million in research funding during fiscal year 2025, supporting breakthroughs in healthcare, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and environmental research.

“This recognition affirms what we see every day across our campuses – Florida offers students an exceptional education at an outstanding value,” said USF President Moez Limayem. “At USF, we are proud to contribute to the state’s success through groundbreaking research, student achievement and meaningful partnerships that strengthen our communities and economy.”

According to the State University System of Florida, the state’s higher education success is driven by several key outcomes, including the lowest in-state tuition in the nation, with 80% of in-state students graduating without federal student loans, while nearly 75% of graduates are employed or continuing their education within one year of graduation.

To mark the achievement, the State University System has launched the Florida 10 for 10 scholarship initiative, which will award scholarships of up to US$1,000 to 10 full-time undergraduate students at each participating public university, including USF.