Florida State among nation’s best public universities

Florida State University is one of the nation’s best public colleges and universities, according to a report compiled by The Business Journals.

Florida State ranked No. 31 on the publication’s list, which rated 484 four-year public institutions based on 19 indicators of academic excellence, affordability and diversity.

The Business Journals’ study was based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. College rankings recently issued by four national publications —Forbes, Kiplinger’s, U.S. News and World Report and Washington Monthly — were also considered.

The publication’s 19-part formula pinpointed the public universities and colleges that offer the best educational experiences to their students. It gave the highest marks to schools with highly selective admissions processes, strong retention and graduation rates, prestigious reputations, affordable tuitions and housing costs, diverse faculties and student bodies, and economically robust communities.

Forty U.S. newspapers are published by The Business Journals, a division ofAmerican City Business Journals Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte.