Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Stetson University have once again landed in the top 10 of U.S. News & World Report's Best Regional Universities South.
U.S. News released its 2025 rankings Tuesday, naming Princeton University its top national university after evaluating nearly 1,500 colleges and universities across the United States.
Six of Florida's state universities, including the University of Central Florida, made the top 100 public colleges, while six also improved from the previous year. UCF, based in Orlando with a Daytona Beach regional campus, was also tied for 12th with the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for most innovative school.
On the public college list, UCF was 61st, trailing the University of Florida (7th); Florida State University (23rd); University of South Florida (45th); and Florida International University (46th).
In ranking the institutions, evaluators use a formula, 52% of which is comprised of "outcome measures related to how successful an institution is at enrolling and graduating students from different backgrounds with manageable debt and postgraduation success," according to a U.S. News press release . Such measures include 6-year graduation rate, average first-year student retention rate and social mobility rank.
Who's among ERAU's peers?
Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus finished 5th in its category, regional universities in the South, with an overall score of 91. It was up one spot from a 6th place showing in 2023.
ERAU was named No. 1 most innovative among South regional schools.
“We are proud of our program’s rich history and that it continues to excel and be counted among the nation’s best programs,” Jim Gregory, dean of the College of Engineering, said in a news release. “Our faculty are creating an innovative environment where our students are pushing boundaries and shaping the future of our nation’s aerospace enterprise.”
ERAU also finished 3rd for Best Colleges for Veterans, 5th for aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical programs and tied for 8th for undergraduate teaching.
How did Stetson fare?
Stetson's score was 89, as it finished 7th among regional universities in the South. The DeLand university dropped three spots from 2023.
Stetson earned three other Top 10 finishes: 7th for best value, 8th for best undergraduate teaching and 7th for most innovative. Stetson also ranked as the 32nd top performer for social mobility.
“Our innovative approach to education emphasizes small class sizes, close relationships with faculty and peers, and immersive learning outside the classroom that prepare students for successful careers after graduation,” President Christopher Roellke said.
B-CU edges higher among HBCUs
Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach improved its placement among National Liberal Arts Colleges, tying for 182nd, after falling into a tie for 186th in 2023.
B-CU also moved up, ever-so-slightly, among historically Black colleges and universities, going from tied for 43rd to 42nd this year. The school was recognized as 81st for performance in social mobility, a measure of well a school does in graduating economically disadvantaged students.
UCF climbs list of national universities
UCF rose three spots among national universities, finishing this year at 121.
The university finished tied for 12th in most innovative schools, tied for 39th in nursing and tied for 71st among undergraduate engineering programs.
“To be ranked, once again, among the nation's best undergraduate nursing programs demonstrates UCF's excellence in preparing future nurses for clinical practice and is a testament to our faculty and staff's commitment to student success,” Mary Lou Sole, dean of UCF’s College of Nursing, said in a news release. “UCF will build upon these strengths to unleash potential in the new Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, addressing the nursing shortage and providing increased access to a high-quality nursing education for more future Knight nurses."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Where did ERAU, Stetson, UCF, B-CU finish in U.S. News Best College Rankings 2025?
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