Florida State University is the top-ranked Best Value public college in Florida, according to The Princeton Review’s 2024 Best Value Colleges list.

FSU is also ranked as the No. 16 Best Value College nationally among public institutions, rising five spots from last year. The leap from last year’s ranking further positions FSU as the leading institution in Florida for exceptional education at an affordable cost.

“Florida State University’s rise in the rankings is a direct reflection of our unwavering focus on reducing financial barriers and prioritizing student success,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “We are honored to be recognized as the top public institution in Florida for making higher education accessible and valuable to all students, regardless of their background.”

The Princeton Review surveyed more than 650 colleges and universities for the Best Value Colleges 2024 list. The schools earning a place on the list received the highest return on investment (ROI) ratings, which are based on the company’s more than 40 data points covering academics, affordability and career preparation.

FSU’s opportunities for students extend beyond an affordably priced education, including nationally recognized career preparation. FSU’s Career Center offers many programs and initiatives to support students navigating all things career-related. This emphasis on career readiness secured FSU the No. 14 spot on The Princeton Review’s list of the Top 20 Best Schools for Internships among public schools across the country.

FSU graduates who completed at least one internship had an 80% predicted probability of securing a job, while those who reported that they did not do an internship had a 68% chance, according to a study conducted by the FSU Office of Institutional Research.

The study also found that minority underrepresented students, Pell Grant recipients and first-generation graduates who participated in internships were as likely as non-underrepresented, non-Pell and continuing generation students to secure employment offers.

“We’ve made it a priority to help all students secure internships – powerful and inspiring learning experiences that bolster students’ academic and career development,” said Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of undergraduate studies. “By making internships possible for every student, we are helping ensure that FSU graduates continue to be highly sought after for their talent and professional acumen. We’re grateful for the thousands of alumni and partners who help provide these learning opportunities for our students.”

The Princeton Review also included FSU in the Top 20 among public schools for Best Alumni Networks at No. 14, up two spots from the previous year.

For more information, visit princetonreview.com.

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Florida State University’s success in coaching college students to thrive, helping to fuel record retention rates, has attracted national attention and brought in hundreds of people over the years to learn from FSU’s experts on the subject.

FSU’s Advising First Center for College Life Coaching hosted its eighth annual College Life Coaching Institute in early June. The event attracted professionals from other universities and non-profits who come from across the country and around the world to learn about the strategies and tools implemented at FSU.

“Research has shown that a student having just one connection to a staff member on campus in any area goes a long way in keeping a student at a university,” said Ivan Myers, assistant director of Advising First and program manager for the College Life Coaching Institute. “Coaching is the opportunity for a student to make the most of their college experience with the support of an individual alongside them. The idea behind this institute is that we’ve been so successful that we want to share our strategies with others.”

Sixty attendees from 28 institutions attended this year’s three-day conference in Tallahassee. The event featured workshops, presentations on essential coaching skills, coaching session observations, a student panel and a keynote address from professional life coach Jen Santoro Cleveland.

“I want to thank you all for choosing to be here,” said Cleveland, director of the Citadel Career Center in Charleston, South Carolina. “Soak it in because you’re the change makers. You’re the ones who are going to bring this to your institution and genuinely have such a positive impact on your students’ lives.”

The institute offered two tracks: one for those in advising or coaching roles who work one-on-one with students and another for deans and other administrators who want to build a similar model to FSU’s or expand an existing program.

One attendee of the institute said she was inspired by what she learned about leading students to be proactive in their own college journeys.

“My biggest takeaway from this weekend is to really encourage students to be the pilot of their own life and ask empowering questions so that they’re able to do deep reflections and think about what they truly want rather than immediately coming in to rescue them and give them all the answers,” said Taylor Larsen, a student success advisor for the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University. “In life in general, we all have the answers within ourselves, and it’s a matter of finding someone to really encourage you to dive deeper and to think honestly.”

The College Life Coaching program at FSU includes 17 members who work with roughly 1,800 students over the academic year to shape individual plans designed to lead to academic and personal success.

Students are invited to meet with their coaches for 20 to 25 minutes biweekly during fall and spring semesters. They may discuss time management strategies or ideas for getting involved on campus or how to balance academic and personal life, among other topics. Coaches can also connect students with relevant on-campus resources, such as the Office of Accessibility Services or Counseling and Psychological Services.

Since FSU launched college life coaching in 2009, retention has improved in the groups it serves, including Pell Grant recipients, out-of-state students and first-generation students in their second year.

“We’re so proud of our work in college life coaching,” said LaShae Roberts, director of Advising First and Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies. “We know students benefit greatly from these meaningful interactions with coaches. Coaches genuinely care about their students’ success and support them through the process of developing habits and tools that will allow them to thrive throughout their college career and beyond.”

For more about College Life Coaching and Advising First, visit advisingfirst.fsu.edu. To learn more about the Division of Undergraduate Studies, visit undergrad.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University students play a pivotal role in supporting the Tallahassee economy. But beyond their economic contributions, students also make a significant impact through community engagement and service.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, more than 4,250 FSU students dedicated nearly 236,000 hours of service, worth an estimated $7.5 million, to nonprofit organizations.

“By volunteering and giving back, students can make a real difference in the lives of others and help build a stronger, more connected community,” said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs. “Acts of service not only benefit the organization and recipients, but also instill a sense of civic responsibility and social awareness in students. Students who volunteer are nurturing their own personal growth and development, as well as helping shape the future of our community.”

Local agencies served by FSU students in recent years include The Kearney Center, Project Annie and Second Harvest of the Big Bend Food Bank.

Positive impact

As the region’s primary source for charitable food, Second Harvest provides healthy food for those facing hunger and food insecurity throughout the 16-county Big Bend service area. They say they could not accomplish their vision without the help of FSU students.

“The value that Florida State students bring to Second Harvest is immeasurable,” said Ashleigh Wilson, communications coordinator at Second Harvest. “Students at FSU often help coordinate food drives, help with our daily operations and commit to consistently serving our community directly.”

Second Harvest’s facility serves as the storage and distribution depot for more than 149 smaller frontline agency partners in their efforts to feed the hungry and educate the community about the fight to end hunger.

Kate Ash, a recent graduate from the Dedman College of Hospitality, found out about Second Harvest through a Leadership in Groups and Communities (LDR 2162) class during her sophomore year. The course is offered through the Leadership Studies program in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences.

During her time with Second Harvest, Ash served as a volunteer and intern, even bringing in groups from her sorority to donate their time. She has helped coordinate volunteers and organized the volunteer appreciation week.

“While it can be hard for students to take the time to volunteer, it gets you outside of your bubble,” Ash said. “You’ll realize that you are not only making a positive impact on the community, but that it can make a positive impact on you.”

How students find opportunities

The Center for Leadership and Service, the campus hub for service, is charged with helping students develop skills and knowledge to become more effective leaders and engage responsibly with communities. Through various programs and resources, the center aims to foster and sustain collaborative relationships among students, the FSU campus and the broader community.

EngageTLH, one program the center offers, fosters meaningful connections between the FSU and Tallahassee communities with the goal of making service accessible for students. The program offers service trips to community partner agencies on various days and times.

Trips have addressed such needs as animal care, K-12 academic development, environmental sustainability, elder care, food insecurity and homelessness.

“Students only commit to one trip when they sign up but often return when they find a cause they are passionate about,” said Maria-Paula McIntyre, who coordinates the EngageTLH program. “Many go on to take leadership roles, guiding other students through service as trained facilitators and helping them understand the community needs their service helps alleviate.”

Last year, about 800 students went on 160 service trips to 19 local agencies through the EngageTLH program, providing an economic impact of $48,700, according to the Independent Sector’s Value of Volunteer Time Report.

Joi Phillips, director of the Center for Leadership & Service, emphasized the importance of the reciprocal relationship between FSU students and the broader community.

“We appreciate the community allowing our students the opportunity to learn from and with them,” Phillips said. “We know that experiential learning as a high-impact practice provides students with the skills to serve as leaders in their communities and to make sustainable change that lasts beyond them and their time in Tallahassee.”

The center also offers programs such as the Service Scholar program, Service Leadership Seminar and the Conversation Café that connect students with opportunities focusing on the areas of leadership, service and civic engagement.

Sophomore Hillary Harbauer has used the center’s resources to get involved. She is a part of the Service Scholar program, is a facilitator for weekly service trips through EngageTLH, serves as a community ambassador and mentors students in service leadership Engage 100 courses.

As a peer mentor through Engage 100, Harbauer facilitates classes that prepare new students to venture into service opportunities in the Tallahassee community.

“Whether we are learning about the Community Ambassadors program or EngageTLH, I support my students by sharing my experiences and sharing the insights I have learned and opportunities that I have found being a part of these programs,” Harbauer said.

She said that a large part of her undergraduate journey so far has been recognizing that there is much to be learned from those in communities different from your own: “My main driving factor is that I understand what it feels like to be overlooked based on your circumstances.”

Solving problems with research

Many FSU students choose to get involved with undergraduate research through the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE) or pursue master’s and doctoral degrees through The Graduate School with a research focus on a particular issue. Some of these research projects grapple with issues that face the greater Tallahassee community, initiate conversations and propose collaborative possible solutions.

“Conducting community-informed research has the potential to benefit the student and the collaborating community in powerful ways,” said Latika Young, director of the CRE. “Beyond the typical research skills of design and analysis, students conducting research with and within communities practice the additional skills of networking and partnership development, self-reflexivity and communication skills, among others. These research projects often have instrumental impacts on communities by encouraging stakeholder engagement, modifying behavior and interventions and even informing policy and legislation.”

Senior Alycia Drapcho worked on the research project “GIS Analysis of Heavy Precipitation Events & Contamination in Lake Munson.” Community wastewater spills have the potential to adversely affect community health and water supplies. Drapcho utilized geographic information systems, to examine the possible spread of contaminants beyond initial spill points and the effectiveness of cleanup efforts.

“I think it means focusing on how the bigger, general issues like pollution are affecting us on a smaller, local scale and presenting that in an effort to raise awareness,” Drapcho said. “I was drawn to this project because, like I said, hearing how big issues affect us and not really being able to see it on a small scale, made me more interested to better grasp those concepts. FSU’s research facilities and connections with local researchers allowed us access to up-to-date data, as well as firsthand experiences and insights from researchers familiar with our subject matter and how it has affected the Tallahassee area.”

Camila Aponte, a recent graduate, worked on the research project “Assessing Public Participation in Redevelopment Projects: A Case Study of Tallahassee, Florida.” Her research focused on the social impact of participatory tools in neighborhoods undergoing redevelopment projects and resulted in proposed policy recommendations for future projects.

She says that the CRE and DeVoe L. Moore Center have provided her invaluable guidance throughout her research journey.

“Engaging in research with the Tallahassee community gave me insight into communities that have been impacted by local decision-making for generations,” Aponte said. “Working on this project allowed me to look at a topic that had never been explored before and having the opportunity to work and learn alongside other students, a team leader and mentor.”

Benefits of experiential learning

FSU student-service opportunities provide immense value to the community while also allowing students to gain valuable insights and have formative experiences that go beyond their time at Florida State University.

Experiential learning allows students to apply and strengthen their knowledge and skills through hands-on experiences outside the classroom. Other community engagement opportunities exist through internships, international study, creative activities and coursework.

“We’re grateful to give FSU students these unique opportunities to get outside the classroom, engage with the broader community and deepen their understanding of the issues that affect our region,” said Joe O’Shea, associate provost and dean of Undergraduate Studies. “This is the kind of work that inspires students to become the leaders of their generation and use their talents to make a lasting impact in the world.”

For more information about experiential learning opportunities at FSU, visit studentsuccess.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University is improving on key measures of academic excellence and student success, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges 2024” guidebook released Monday. 

Outstanding graduation and freshman retention rates, including stellar graduation rates among Pell Grant recipients, continue to bolster Florida State’s recognition as one of the nation’s top national public universities.  

“I am confident that FSU is better today than it has ever been, and we continue to be one of the very best public universities in the nation,” said President Richard McCullough. “That belief is borne out by hard data.” 

In the overall list of national universities, both public and private, Florida State scored its highest-ever ranking at No. 53, up two spots from last year.  

It is another sign of FSU’s continuing pursuit of excellence. Earlier this fall, the online rankings platform Niche ranked Florida State No. 11 on its list of top national public universities, up two places from No. 13 last year. Niche combines verifiable data from the U.S. Department of Education with user input — reviews and ratings from current students, alumni and parents. 

“I am confident that FSU is better today than it has ever been, and we continue to be one of the very best public universities in the nation. That belief is borne out by hard data.”  —President Richard McCullough

This year, U.S. News retooled its methodology, removing key factors from its formula in which FSU has previously scored well — class size, alumni giving rates, the percentage of faculty with a terminal degree, and students’ high school standing.  

Oddly, in the new calculation, FSU fell four spots to No. 23 among national public universities, despite improving in all previous metrics. Based on the previous methodology, administrators estimate FSU would have placed No. 16 among public universities.  

“FSU will continue to strategically invest in areas that will contribute to student success and help advance our goals as we strive for even greater academic and research excellence,” McCullough said. “These are the areas that are most important to our students, their parents, and the Florida taxpayers.”  

Last week, FSU announced a record 96% first-year retention rate, which measures how many first-year students stay enrolled from one fall semester to the next, and an all-time high four-year graduation rate of 75%, according to data that will be part of the State University System’s 2024 Accountability Plan. Both numbers would place in the Top 10 if compared to the data used in this year’s U.S. News methodology.  

“Students and their families know that Florida State University is devoted to seeing our students leave with their degrees in hand,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs.  

Taking a deeper dive into the U.S. News metrics, the university’s focus on student success is evident as FSU moved up or maintained in each related indicator.  

Florida State excelled in the publication’s metric of social mobility, which evaluates how well schools graduate economically disadvantaged students. The category includes measurements of Pell Grant recipient graduation rates as well as graduation rate performance by Pell Grant recipients. In both factors, FSU climbed to No. 12 among public universities.  

New this year, U.S. News is also considering the graduation rate of first-generation students, who are the first in their families to go to college. FSU, which places an emphasis on supporting first-generation students through its nationally recognized Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement (CARE), ranks No. 17 among public universities in the metric.  

“No matter their background, we are supporting our students throughout the entirety of their academic journey,” said Jim Clark, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Student success is our mission — for all students.” 

For the second consecutive year, FSU placed No. 8 among public universities on the Best Value College list, which recognizes institutions that provide academic quality at an affordable price. 

“Our tuition is among the lowest in the nation, and we are committed to reducing the debt load of our graduates,” McCullough said. “That allows most of our graduates to entertain a greater range of employment options or graduate education without the constraint of crippling debt.” 

FSU is tied at No. 53 nationally with Case Western Reserve University, Northeastern University, University of Minnesota, and William & Mary. 

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Florida State University achieved record retention and four-year graduation rates this year, boasting two significant accomplishments in student success as it welcomes one of its most academically advanced freshman classes. 

The retention rate, which measures how many first-year students stay enrolled from one fall semester to the next fall, reached 96% for the first time in FSU history, and the four-year graduation rate landed at a new high of 75%, according to data that will be part of the State University System’s 2024 Accountability Plan. 

“This is exciting news that underscores FSU’s commitment to student success,” said President Richard McCullough. “Faculty, staff and administrators from every corner of campus are focused on seeing our students graduate on time with a degree that will help them pursue a meaningful career and contribute to their communities.” 

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