The 2019 list reads as follows:
1 – University of California, Los Angeles
2 – University of California, Berkeley
3 – University of Virginia
4 – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
5 – University of California, Santa Barbara *
5 – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill *
7 – University of California, Irvine
8 – University of Florida *
8 – Georgia Institute of Technology *
10 – College of William & Mary *
10 – University of California, Davis *
*= tie
This year, US News made significant changes to it’s formula. It’s increase the weight of graduation rates in the formula from 30 percent to 35% and it added a new element to it’s graduation rates, called Social Mobility. Both factors helped UF, which has a very high graduation rate, and includes a large percentage of Pell Grant recipients (who do well at UF).
http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2018/09/uf-rises-to-no-8-in-us-news-list-of-best-public-universities.php
Interesting and for sure good to see UF moving up in the rankings…Back in my day, the graduation “standard” was 4 years. Now the new standard is 6. this way too long and it only benefits the financial bottom lines of these schools.
Rankings should be viewed with some skepticism. As schools become more selective with their freshmen admissions, the rankings tend to go up. The State of Florida has a large population and schools such as UF can be very selective. FSU and UCF are also becoming more selective as well. Other States such as Missouri, Kansas, South Carolina, Alabama, etc do not benefit from a growing population. Still fine schools. By the end of the day, fit and affordability should be higher on the list than overall rankings
That is awesome…We are praying that OOS Benaquisto NMF is still in play for High school 2021 grads…
Bravo Gators!
I believe USNWR also removed ‘acceptance rate’ from the equation. I think this is the right move considering that many public schools have a mandate to educate as many residents as possible (Social Mobility), thus increasing their acceptance rate. No more punishment in the rankings for doing the right thing. 
Going up in the rankings is huge. A degree from a higher ranked college is valued more than a degree from a lesser school. Although being 8th ranked is a real achievement, UF’s stated goal is to get into the top 5. We have some tough competition!