Florida A&M University steadily climbs the Top 100 of U.S. News & World Report’s “2024-2025 Best Colleges” rankings.
After a big jump last year, FAMU has made another big leap, rising to No. 81 in the latest rankings – up 10 spots from 91st in 2023, when the university rose 12 spots from No. 103 to meet a long-term goal of entering the Top 100.
But this ranking puts the university in a tie for 81st place with nine other universities: Montclair State University, Stockton University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Kansas, the University of Kentucky, the University of Massachusetts (Lowell), the University of Nebraska (Lincoln), the University of North Carolina (Charlotte) and the University of Rhode Island.
FAMU also remains the top public HBCU (historically black college or university) in the country for the sixth year in a row, maintaining its third-place ranking – tied with Tuskegee University – among both public and private HBCUs.
“The rankings confirm what we already knew: that FAMU is moving forward and that FAMU has the infrastructure to continue to be an even greater university, not just for Tallahassee or Florida, but for the entire world,” FAMU interim president Timothy Beard told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“We change students’ lives every day, and they go out and change the world. That information clearly spreads, so we continue to attract students who are the best and the brightest.”
FAMU ranking in 2023: ‘Excellent’: FAMU reaches Top 100 in US News & World Report rankings
While FAMU and Tuskegee now hold the third spot among the nation’s public and private HBCUs — after FAMU Tuskegee dropped to fourth last year — the top spot is still held by Spelman College, with Howard University again in second place.
In addition, FAMU rose from 21 to 20 on the Social Mobility Index of all national universities. This index measures the extent to which universities are able to influence the economic development of students and their families.
In terms of performance-based funding numbers, FAMU continues to exceed one of the Florida Board of Governors’ key expectations for state institutions this year, namely an admission rate of more than 30 percent. This rate is consistent with the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants.
Although FAMU is on the list of best performing universities, its admission rate is 56.1%, which is the highest percentage among the twelve universities.
Kristin Harper, chair of FAMU’s Board of Trustees, complimented former President Larry Robinson in her comments on the rankings, which were released just over two months after Robinson decided to step down after the university was faced with a major gift that had been mishandled and an investigative report found to be fraudulent.
“This tremendous achievement is a testament to FAMU students, faculty and administrators,” Harper said in a prepared statement. “Their collective dedication to academic excellence and student outcomes is changing lives and transforming communities, one student at a time.”
Beard also praised Robinson for his work playing a role in FAMU’s upward trend in the rankings.
“The improvement in the rankings is indicative of the work that our faculty, staff and administrators have been doing for some time,” Beard said. “Of course, I believe it predates my return, and I give credit to former President Robinson, his leadership and the current administration that has instilled a culture of high expectations.”
Beard plans to hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at FAMU’s Will Packer Performing Arts Amphitheater to celebrate the university’s progress in the national rankings.
Here are the placements of the Top 10 public and private HBCUs nationwide in U.S. News & World Report’s “2024-2025 Best Colleges” rankings:
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No. 1: Spelman College, private
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No. 2: Howard University, private
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No. 3: Florida A&M University, public
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No. 3: Tuskegee University, private
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No. 5: Morehouse College, private
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No. 6: Xavier University of Louisiana, private
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No. 7: Hampton University, private
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No. 8 North Carolina A&T University, public
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No. 9: Delaware State University, Public
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No. 10: Morgan State University, Public
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on X: @tarahjean_.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Rises to No. 81 in U.S. News Rankings, Remains Top Public HBCU
