FIU Again the Top-Performing University, FGCU Lowest, Per State Metrics

fiu — View from the FIU campus. (Photo via FIU)

By Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix | Florida International University again is the best-performing state institution, based on Florida’s performance-based funding metrics.

The Miami school raised its score by one, to 97 out of 100, since last year. The metrics score schools on wages earned by graduates, graduation rates, and retention rates, among other measures.

In the previous two years, the school scored 96 and in 2023, 95.

The lowest scoring was again Florida Gulf Coast University, which raised its score from 67 last year to 73 this year.

FGCU trustees voted this year to renew its president’s contract, pending approval by the system’s Board of Governors.

No institution scored below 70, meaning none has to provide a plan of corrective action to the governors.

Florida A&M University’s and New College of Florida’s scores dropped, with New College the second-lowest scoring institution in the state.

The University of Florida, and then the University of South Florida, were the next-highest performing after FIU.

New College of Florida showed the most dramatic drop in the percentage of graduates earning more than $40,000 within a year of graduating. New College alumni are employed at that salary or higher, or continue their education, at a rate of 53%. That is more than 16% below the next lowest score, the University of Central Florida, at 69%.

Florida Polytechnic University raised its four-year graduation rate by 19%, up to nearly 56%. New College dropped its four-year graduation rate by 16%, to 31%, the lowest in the system.

Overall, Florida Polytechnic raised its score by 13, from 74 to 87.

New College raised its percentage of students receiving Pell Grant by 7%, to nearly 43%.

The system budget as passed for the coming fiscal year includes $645 million for performance-based incentives. Gov. Ron DeSantis has not yet signed the budget.