University of Florida’s national ranking held steady in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings, while other Florida schools are on the rise.

UF, which was ranked the No. 5 best public university in the nation as recently as 2023, remained at No. 7 for the second straight year. UF tied for that spot with the University of Texas-Austin.

The new rankings follow a chaotic turn for UF when school officials hired University of Michigan President Santo Ono to take over as President, only to be overturned by the Florida Board of Governors amid a conservative backlash.

Meanwhile, both Florida State University and the University of South Florida jumped two spots to earn rankings No. 21 and No. 43, respectively, in the best public university ranking.

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