<p>*Notable Florida schools suffered a drop in rankings in the popular U.S. News and World Report best colleges list set to be released today.</p>
<p>The University of Florida and Florida State University each dropped two spots among the nation's best universities to 49th and 112th respectively.</p>
<p>And New College of Florida, located in Sarasota, fell off its top perch as the nation's best public liberal arts college to No. 4 in its field.</p>
<p>A percentage point off in surveyed categories such as graduation rates and student-faculty ratio can send a college down a slide in the rankings. UF, for instance, lost points when it accepted fewer freshmen who were in the top 10 percent of their high school class.*</p>
<p>Best National Universities</p>
<p>49th, University of Florida (47th)</p>
<p>112th, Florida State University (110th)</p>
<p>Third tier, University of South Florida (third tier)</p>
<p>Third tier, University of Central Florida (fourth tier)</p>
<p>For the complete article, see: <a href="http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB2R231G5F.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB2R231G5F.html</a></p>