The magazine also ranked UF among the top university investments in the country

Forbes has named the University of Florida the No. 4 public university in the nation and among the top institutions in the country for return on investment, according to rankings released today.  

In lists that include the country’s most renowned educational institutions, UF stood out for its ability “to offer students high earning potential with low debt burdens and a great return on their investment,” according to Forbes. Both the Top 25 Public College list and the Top 25 Colleges with the Highest Payoff list focused on tuition costs, debt burden and earnings potential, and the benefit of attending an excellent public state university.

“The University of Florida accomplishes great things, and we are not slowing down,” said Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF board of trustees. “This ranking is another recognition of our world-changing mission as an elite and practical university. This board of trustees moves forward when we dare to be bold.”

The University of Florida offers students an excellent education at an affordable cost, reduced by generous aid, that prepares students for lucrative careers. Based on wage data from Payscale, Forbes reports that UF students earn a median salary of $56,398 six years after they started school and $123,700 ten years after graduation.

Forbes considered factors such as high alumni salaries, low student debt, and high returns on investment for all four-year public colleges with at least 300 undergraduates. UF is ranked No. 4 among top publics, ahead of Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia.  Three University of California schools (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego) lead the list.

“The University of Florida has had an unparalleled trajectory,” said Interim President Kent Fuchs. “We are going to keep our foot on the gas to enhance our university’s excellence and reputation.”

The achievement is among a long list of accolades from Forbes, which in April named UF as one of only 10 “New Ivy” schools that are “shining in the higher education landscape and churning out smart, driven graduates” who are highly employable.

Further, Forbes Advisor listed UF as the country’s best military-friendly online college of 2024.