College rankings help students and families weigh their higher education options, but often many lists combine and compare public and private universities with vastly different missions and resources. At Florida Atlantic University, we are laser focused on the public university category, and this year, our community has a reason to celebrate.
Last week, we learned that Florida Atlantic has risen to No. 99 among the nation’s top public universities in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings, the highest position in our history. We also were ranked No. 68 among the nation’s Best Value Schools for in-state students, while several undergraduate programs made significant gains, including nursing, computer science, psychology and business.
U.S. News
also has ranked Florida Atlantic among the nation’s top 30 universities for social mobility. SmartAsset ranked us No. 32 among America’s Best Value Public Universities, and Washington Monthly named Florida Atlantic one of its Top 25 Best-in-Class Colleges.
For a university founded in 1961, these accolades are especially meaningful. In just over six decades, we have achieved what many institutions have taken far longer to accomplish. Our rapid rise reflects a university that has grown alongside South Florida and continually responded to the changing needs of its students, employers and communities.
As chair of the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees, I have enjoyed a front-row seat, observing this rapid growth and development. With 32,000 students, FAU is one of only 13 institutions in the country to earn the Carnegie Classification of R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production, the Carnegie Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. This rare combination speaks to our commitment to research excellence, student access, strong post-graduation earnings, and regional impact.
Approximately 40% of our students are eligible for federal Pell Grants, and about one in four is the first in their family to attend college. Florida Atlantic is committed to opening doors to opportunity and helping students translate a university education into greater economic mobility for themselves and their families.
Of the roughly 7,500 students we graduate each year, more than 80% remain in the area, building their careers, raising their families, and strengthening the communities that helped educate them. They become our nurses, teachers, engineers, business leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs and public servants.
Our new strategic plan, 2031 FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins, is designed to leverage our geographic advantage and accelerate our progress over the next five years. The plan begins with a commitment to deliver a return on investment for every student, aligning academic programs with the opportunities of the future, expanding meaningful career experiences and preparing graduates with the knowledge and skills to contribute from the first day of their careers.
It also calls on FAU to discover solutions to challenges affecting our region, state and nation. Our researchers are advancing neuroscience and healthy aging, quantum computing, environmental and ocean innovation, and national defense and autonomous systems. They have the potential to improve health, protect our coastline, strengthen national security, create new industries and prepare South Florida’s workforce for an economy being rapidly transformed by technology.
The latest rankings show that others are increasingly recognizing what our community has long understood: Florida Atlantic is an exceptional public university on an extraordinary trajectory. We are proud to be among the nation’s Top 100 public universities, but our ambition extends far beyond any single ranking or year.
We are building a university that delivers opportunity and value for every student, produces research that improves lives and serves as an indispensable partner in the continued growth and prosperity of South Florida. This achievement carries a responsibility: to build on our momentum, raise our expectations and continue moving forward together.
Florida Atlantic’s rise is real, and we are just getting started.
Piero Bussani is chair of the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Atlantic University's rise is a win for the region | Opinion
