Forbes magazine recently named the University of Florida the No. 5 public university in the country – a drop of one spot from its 2024 public university rankings.

Additionally, UF was ranked the No. 30 university overall in the nation and the highest-ranking Florida school, according to Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges.

“This is proof that the University of Florida is going forward at full speed. Our energy and our drive are stronger than ever, and we are not about to slow down,” Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF Board of Trustees, said in a press release. “UF is a gem – a powerhouse of research and economic development, and an outstanding investment for the state of Florida. While other schools are stepping back, UF is leaning in and leading the way.”

For its “Top 25 Public Colleges” rankings, Forbes used the same methodology to determine the 500 institutions on the “America’s Top Colleges” list — a formula that prioritizes high alumni salaries, great academic outcomes (including those for low-income students) and strong returns on student investment. The University of California-Berkeley was ranked No. 1, followed by the University of California-Los Angeles, the University of California-San Diego, the University of Michigan and UF.

“The Forbes recognition, combined with our record-breaking year for research funding and increase in applications, shows just how much UF is thriving and setting the standard for institutions throughout Florida and the world,” UF Interim President Kent Fuchs said in the release.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked UF at No. 7 in September 2024 for public universities. UF was ranked No. 6 by U.S. News and World Report’s top national public universities in September 2023 after back-to-back No. 5 rankings in 2022 and 2021. It marks the seventh year in a row UF has been ranked in the top 10. Florida was No. 6 in 2020, No. 7 in 2019 and No. 9 in 2018 after being No. 14 in 2017.