Six public universities in Florida were ranked among the top 50 nationwide by Washington Monthly, with FIU achieving the highest rank at 16th overall.

Five public universities in Florida were ranked among the top 50 in a national assessment conducted by Washington Monthly that evaluates institutions based on social mobility, research, and community service.

Florida International University (FIU) is ranked 16th overall and 3rd among public universities nationwide, driven largely by the social mobility category, where it ranks 3rd overall. The ranking noted the university’s financial aid offerings for students from lower-income backgrounds, including its number of Pell Grant graduates—totaling 4,654. FIU was also lauded by the publication for its net price for students from families with incomes below $75,000.

“These rankings validate what we already know about our FIU: With an unwavering commitment to innovation and progress, FIU students and preeminent faculty take on the world’s most pressing challenges and rise to meet them,” said FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell. “And we happen to offer one of the best returns on your educational investment anywhere.”

The Washington Monthly ranking is among the criteria utilized by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors to designate preeminent state research universities, of which there are four in the state—FIU, University of Florida (UF), Florida State University (FSU), and the University of South Florida (USF).

UF is ranked 33rd overall and 14th among public universities due to a high rate of research output. Last month, the university reported a record $1.26 billion in research expenditures for Fiscal Year 2024, driven by a nearly 10 percent increase in federal funding compared to the year prior. UF also reported 2,584 Pell Grant graduates.

The University of Central Florida (UCF) followed, ranked 36th overall and 15th among public institutions. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) ranked 41st overall and 19th among public universities, USF ranked 47th overall and 22nd among public institutions, and FSU ranked 48th overall and 23rd among public universities.

“Florida Atlantic’s rise in the rankings is a testament to our commitment to offer a high-quality education that is accessible to all students,” FAU President Stacy Volnick said in a prepared statement. “We are proud of the efforts of everyone involved in the success of our students and honored to be recognized by Washington Monthly for this achievement.”

The top five schools overall are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and Princeton University.