LAKELAND, FL — Florida Polytechnic University has been ranked the No. 1 public college in the South for the sixth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges Rankings.
Florida Poly also climbed 13 spots nationally to No. 16 among public engineering programs without a Ph.D. and was named the No. 1 best value public school in the South.
“Our strong performance across the U.S. News rankings speaks to the remarkable trajectory of Florida Poly,” University President Dr. Devin Stephenson said. The university ranked No. 3 overall among public and private colleges in the South.
The rankings come as Florida Poly continues to expand. The university welcomed a record student body of more than 2,300 students this fall, representing a 35% increase in enrollment over the past two years.
Florida Poly also recently launched bachelor’s degree programs in aerospace engineering and biomedical sciences, including a pre-med track developed in partnership with the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Construction of a new 138,400-square-foot Student Achievement Center is expected to begin later this year. The facility will provide academic support, career planning, professional development and other student services.
U.S. News evaluated nearly 1,700 colleges and universities nationwide for its 2027 rankings using measures including graduation and retention rates, graduate earnings and peer assessments.
SOURCE: CITY OF LAKELAND
