Florida’s higher education officials are applauding the state’s number one ranking by U-S News and World Report.
State College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega said a big reason for Florida topping the magazine’s ranking of state colleges and universities is a simple matter of cost.
“The priority around affordability is that higher education in Florida is high quality leads to a high-paying job and it does not require you to be strapped in a lifetime of debt.”
Of course, Pumariega said even an affordable education doesn’t help much if students don’t complete their coursework.
“Our 28 colleges lead the country in completion rates and that was another area that Florida was noted for, the high number of associate degree graduates.”
More than half of those students obtain that degree in either two or three years. Meanwhile, Florida Senate leaders will be pushing for more student financial aid and college faculty pay in the upcoming session.
