The University of Florida dropped one spot to No. 5 among public universities in the nation and remains one of the best values in the country, according to Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Top Colleges.
The magazine ranked 500 schools based on their production of “successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt.” The ranking were based exclusively on outcomes for undergraduates.
Among all universities — public and private — UF dropped dropped four spots to No. 30.
The top overall university was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, followed by Columbia, Princeton and Stanford.
Related news: UF Board of Trustees selects Columbia professor Dr. Donald Landry as interim president
Among public institutions, the University of California’s state system held the top three spots, with Berkeley at No. 1, followed by UCLA and UC San Diego. Berkeley ranked fifth overall.
Moving ahead of UF by one spot on this year’s list was the University of Michigan. UF ranks just ahead of UC Irvine, Georgia Tech, the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina.
Some of UF’s key metrics include:
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Average grant aid: $10,724
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Average debt: $6,562
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Median 20-year salary: $127,500
Florida State University, the next highest ranked Florida college, was ranked 72nd overall and 26th among public institutions.
UF also made Forbes’ top 25 for the best return on investment — “high earnings potential for a relatively low price” — twice.
University of Florida – Online ranked just ahead of Harvard University and was the online-specific school on the list. UF’s on-campus program also made the list, which shows a median pay for those early in their career of just over $70,000.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Forbes ranks University of Florida among top public universities
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