91ΒιΆΉΣ³» was ranked No. 1 in the nation for higher education for seventh straight year, according to U.S. News & World Report. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»is one of 12 public institutions within the State University System.
U.S. News & World Report has once again named 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» the top state in the country for higher education. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs higher education system has held the top spot since the inception of the rankings in 2017. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»is one of 12 public institutions within the State University System.
βIt is exciting to see how the hard work of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly and our state university peers, as well as the commitment of our elected officials to an excellent higher education experience, are again being recognized as the best in the nation,β said Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly. βAs 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs only all-STEM university, we are proud of being an integral part of the State University System and 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs higher education as a whole. We will continue our focus on our mission to provide a premier education in engineering and applied sciences.β
Metrics considered by include the time it takes students to complete two- and four-year college programs, the cost of in-state tuition and fees, and the debt burden that college graduates carry. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» improved on two of the five metrics, including four-year graduation rate and educational attainment. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» remained #1 for the lowest tuition and fees.
This achievement can be credited to the collective commitment of our elected leaders, the Board of Governors, and the state universities to student success and affordability.
β91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs success would not be possible without the exceptional leadership at our 12 public universities, Governor DeSantisβs commitment to excellence in higher education, and the unwavering support of our legislative leaders. I am truly grateful for their investment and continued support,β said Brian Lamb, chair of the Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System. β91ΒιΆΉΣ³» has long been a national leader in higher education, and retaining this No. 1 ranking proves the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» way is working. By prioritizing student success, with an emphasis on providing all students a high-quality, low-cost education, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs universities are leaning in to produce top-tier talent to meet workforce needs, increase research capabilities, and retain the best and brightest faculty whose excellence and expertise provide the platform from which we create the future.β
The SUS recently announced a 12% five-year increase in graduation rates and a 49% year-over-year drop in the cost-to-the-student for a bachelorβs degree. Due to support from elected leaders and initiatives that drive down costs, the average SUS student pays less than $3,400 for a bachelorβs degree once financial aid is included. Additionally, 75% of resident undergrads had no loans during the 2020-21 academic year, up from 69% the previous year.
βThis recognition affirms the incredible collaboration among our universities, our System, and Governor DeSantis and our State Legislature to prioritize 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs students,β said Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of the State University System. βAccountability is key, and the stateβs investments in performance-based funding have given our System the tools necessary for our students to achieve a higher quality of education, graduate faster, with little to no debt.β
In the fall of 2020, the Board of Governors added the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» ScoreBoard on the homepage to provide a transparent way for all interested parties to monitor the SUSβs performance on the prioritized metrics.
Contact:
Lydia GuzmΓ‘n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
