U.S. News & World Report ranks FAMU top public HBCU – Tallahassee Democrat

Florida A&M University rose to No. 7 on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities” list released Tuesday, moving up three spots from last year.
As a result, the study places FAMU as the top public HBCU in the country.
Topping the list of HBCUs was Spelman College in Atlanta.
FAMU also was listed among the “Best National Universities.”
The rankings were based on several measures, including graduation and retention rates, in addition to peer assessment, faculty resources, student selectivity, and financial resources.
“Moving from No. 10 to No. 7 is validation that FAMU is, in fact, moving forward,” President Elmira Mangum said. “This ranking is the highest we’ve achieved on the U.S. News Best HBCU list in recent history, and I believe it speaks volumes that the work we are doing is being recognized.”
FAMU receiving a 4.1 out of 5 for its peer assessment, Mangum said, is an indication of its reputation among HBCUs around the country.
The university also is expected to announce Diverse Issues In Higher Education has ranked FAMU as the No. 1 HBCU and No. 4 producer among all universities of bachelor’s degrees for black students based on the 2015-16 academic year.
Speaking broadly about rankings within the State University System, chancellor Marshall Criser III said he was pleased with the reports.
“Clearly, the support from the Governor and Legislature and the hard work by our universities is paying off,” Criser said in a release. “Today’s rankings are an affirmation that Florida is headed in the right direction.”
In April, an Essence/Money magazine report rated FAMU the top HBCU in the country and listed it No. 5 among all national universities and colleges in its list of “50 Best Colleges for African-Americans.”
The magazines analyzed more than 1,500 colleges to select the ones offering the best value for black students. Factors included graduation rates, net college costs after financial aid, graduates’ early-career earnings, as well as the racial climate on each campus. The list’s top five universities included Princeton University, Harvard University, Duke University, Cornell University, and FAMU.
Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.
FSU moves up in national ranking
Spelman College, Atlanta
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Hampton University, Hampton, Va.
Morehouse College, Atlanta
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala.
Xavier University, New Orleans
Florida A&M University (public)
Fisk University, Nashville
Claflin University, Orangeburg, S.C.
North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, N.C.(public)
Florida State University: Moved up five places to No. 38 among al national public universities.
University of Florida: Remained at No. 14 among national public universities; No. 50 among overall universities, compared to 47th last year.
University of South Florida: Moved to No. 83 among public universities from No. 84 last year.
University of North Florida: Named a “Best Regional University” for the sixth year in a row, coming in at No. 52, and as the No. 32 best college for veterans.
New College: No. 5 on the “Public Liberal Arts Colleges” list.
University of Central Florida: Tied for 176th overall and tied for 93rd among public universities.
University of Miami: Ranked 44th among national universities.