U.S. News and World Report's annual list of the country's best national universities is out and, no surprise here, Ivy League schools dominate the top 10.
The University of South Florida made the list for the fourth time, coming in at 170th, unchanged from last year.
USF Tampa and University of Central Florida, which was tied with USF in the overall rankings at 170, were among the 23 schools that earned the "up and comer" label. U.S. News says that title goes to universities "that are making the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty and student life."
USF officials were pleased with the news of the ranking.
In a statement, USF provost and executive vice president Ralph Wilcox says it "strongly suggests that our efforts to build the university's reputation through high-profile, high-impact research and world-class scholarship are working,”
“Coming at a time when we continue to address some new and very difficult financial realities, the university's re-emergence on the list also helps to underscore the hard work and can-do attitude of our faculty and staff,” he added.
The University of Miami was the highest ranked Florida university, placing 47th. University of Florida came in at 49, Florida State at 91 and the Florida Institute of Technology at 67.
Other Florida schools received high marks in their categories.
Rollins College in Winter Park was tied with Elon University (North Carolina) as top regional university in the South. Stetson University came in fifth on that list, University of Tampa 22nd, Saint Leo 55th, and USF St. Petersburg 80th.
New College in Sarasota placed 89th among the country's best liberal arts colleges; Eckerd College in St. Petersburg was 141st.
U.S. News and World Report’s Best National Universities
1. Princeton University
2. Harvard University
3. Yale University
4. Columbia University
5. (tie) Stanford University / University of Chicago
Florida schools
47. University of Miami
49. University of Florida
91. Florida State University
167. Florida Institute of Technology
170. (tie) University of South Florida / University of Central Florida
