Rollins College revealed that, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the nation’s best colleges, Rollins is the top-ranked private institution among regional universities in the South.
The University of Central Florida announced Monday it has met standards to be designated as a “preeminent state research university,” which, in part, would lead to increased funding and recognition.
“At a university of nearly 70,000 students, this accomplishment is truly remarkable and unprecedented at our scale,” UCF President Alexander Cartwright said in a prepared statement. “Like every milestone before, it enables us to do even more to transform lives at scale, propel innovation and fuel Florida’s workforce.”
The announcement said that one of the standards to qualify for the state designation is a 60 percent four-year graduation rate. This summer, UCF reached a four-year graduation rate of 63.8 percent, the Orlando-based university said.
UCF needs to complete steps such as receiving verification from the state university system’s Board of Governors that it has met 12 criteria.
The university expects to receive the preeminent designation in June. The University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida and Florida International University have already received the designation.
Also announced this week, Rollins College in nearby Winter Park revealed that, according to U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the nation’s best colleges, Rollins is the top-ranked private institution among regional universities in the South. The College ranked No. 2 overall among the 133 schools in the regional universities in the South category, composed of schools that provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s level programs.
In total, the organization assessed nearly 1,500 schools across the country on 17 key measures of academic quality. Rollins continues to rank high among the country’s most renowned institutions based on metrics like first-year retention rates, student-faculty ratio, and overall graduation and retention rates. Additionally, Rollins’ undergraduate business and psychology programs were recognized among the nation’s best.
“Our ranking as the No. 1 private regional university in the South affirms our commitment to empowering students to explore boldly, think critically, and lead with integrity in a world that needs their passion and creativity more than ever,” President Brooke Barnett said in a press release.
