UF named one of Money magazine’s ‘Best Colleges in America’

The University of Florida (UF) has been named a “5-star college” – the highest rating available – by Money magazine’s “Best Colleges in America 2023” list. UF was the only Florida institution included in the list.

Money recently debuted a new star rating system, listing only 34 colleges across the country as “5-star.” To find colleges that combine quality and affordability, Money analyzed dozens of data points, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, and alumni salaries.

“UF is on a rocketship trajectory, and this is another terrific recognition of all the ways we’re positively influencing families and students,” UF President Ben Sasse said. “UF is an incredible university with an incredible mission to provide our students with a life-changing education. Stay tuned: UF is a visionary place, and we’re going to move even faster and get even better.”

Money noted that UF is one of the top five best bargains in higher education and named it one of the top five most affordable schools on this year’s list.

The financial bargain students obtain at UF is just one of the elements Money considered. To be included, universities and colleges had to reach the median graduation rate for their category, which included public, private, or historically black colleges and universities. The ranking also required the university or college to have a higher graduation rate than other institutions of similar size.

Colleges were scored based on 26 factors in the following three categories: quality, affordability, and outcomes.

To determine an institution’s quality of education, Money considered six-year graduation and value-added graduation rates, while also focusing on transfer student populations and Pell Grant recipients. To assess affordability, the cost effectiveness of a university was assessed from both a short- and long-term standpoint, accounting for the net price of a degree and the amount of student loans. As for outcomes, Money reviewed the employment data and typical earnings of the institution’s graduates.

UF also appeared on Money’s “Best Public Colleges” and “Best Colleges in the South” sublists.