FIU Ranked Among the Best Universities in U.S., No. 1 in Florida

Miami-area institutions continue to show that South Florida is more than a sex-obsessed vacation destination. While South Florida's relationship with the vices has been well-established — it was part of the attraction for Playboy's headquarters relocation — its standing as a nationally recognized education hub is growing, with repeated rankings among the most prestigious schools in the U.S.

Following U.S. News & World Report's annual rankings of the best high schools in the nation, including four Miami-Dade County public schools, Washington Monthly recently released its 2025 rankings of the best colleges for your tuition (and tax) dollars in the nation, with Florida International University (FIU) in Miami coming in at No. 8.

The publication touts its list as a response to U.S. News & World Report, which it claims "relies on crude and easily manipulated measures of wealth, exclusivity, and prestige." Washington Monthly ranks schools based on their contribution to the public good in four categories: access, affordability, outcomes, and promoting public service.

The university ranked eighth, behind Berea College in Kentucky (first); three California State University campuses — Fresno (second), Northridge (third), and Los Angeles (fourth); Princeton University in New Jersey (fifth); Sacramento State University (sixth); and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (seventh).

The publication based its rankings on data like the cost of a semester for families with incomes below $75,000, which costs about $6,700 for FIU students. Students can expect to have an average of $17,000 in debt from the university and to make an average of about $52,000 annually nine years after starting college. While the school didn't place in the top 50 for cost per semester, average student debt, or annual salary, it placed seventh for its accessibility to prospective students.

Washington Monthly rated FIU as the best school in the Sunshine State in 2025. Three other Florida schools made the top 50: University of Central Florida at 17th, New College of Florida at 25th, and Florida Atlantic University at 39th. FIU ranked No. 90 for research and earned the title of No. 1 “Best Bang for Your Buck” in the Southeast. The university's eighth-place finish is up eight spots from its No. 16 ranking last year.

"These rankings highlight FIU’s dual mission: delivering world-class research while ensuring opportunity and excellence for our students," FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez said in a statement. "It is deeply rewarding to see FIU recognized not only for impact in research and economic mobility, but also for the outstanding student experience that we create every day."