Garnet and gold filled the Florida Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 21 as the Florida State University community gathered for the annual FSU Day at the Capitol. Students, faculty and state leaders joined alumni and friends to celebrate the university’s impact on the Sunshine State.
This year’s event carried special significance as FSU marks its 175th anniversary — a historic milestone highlighting the university’s ascent as a national leader in student success, groundbreaking research, health advancements and athletic excellence.
“We’ve been part of the American story for nearly two centuries — exemplifying academic excellence, conducting research that changes lives, and demonstrating the unconquered spirit that makes FSU one of the nation’s top universities,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “It’s a remarkable legacy, and we’re just getting started.”
The energy of the university’s 175-year history was on full display throughout booths and interactive displays from FSU’s colleges, schools, departments and programs which occupied the second and third floor rotundas of the Capitol. Throughout the day, attendees connected with students, faculty and staff exploring the university’s contributions to Florida’s education, economy, healthcare and innovation.
An energetic outdoor pep rally took place on the plaza between the historic and new Capitol buildings, emceed for the fourth straight year by Jeff Culhane. FSU cheerleaders and the Seminole Sound pep band provided lively entertainment, while student-athletes from the FSU Women’s Soccer team greeted fans and signed autographs.
Members of the Florida Legislature’s Seminole Caucus joined FSU President Richard McCullough, First Lady Jai Vartikar, Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins, Vice Chair Vivian de las Cuevas-Diaz, Trustees Jim Henderson and Peter Jones, and Trustee and FSU Student Body President Carson Dale.
McCullough opened the program with a speech recognizing the nationwide status FSU has solidified as one of the fastest-rising universities in the nation. He noted FSU’s climb in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2026 rankings — rising to No. 21 among public universities and a highest-ever No. 51 overall nationally — while also sharing that Niche ranks FSU No. 11 among public universities.
He highlighted top-tier student outcomes, including a record 97% freshman retention rate, a record 78% four-year graduation rate, and a record-setting 80% transfer student graduation rate, which stands as the highest in the history of the State University System.
“We are so lucky because we are part of Florida State University, and as one of the greatest universities in the world, there’s no university that has the momentum that we have right now,” McCullough said. “It’s a powerful university that’s rising as fast as any university in the entire United States.”
McCullough also recognized the university’s rapid progress with FSU Health, a transformative initiative designed to create a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem across North Florida.
“Yesterday, we signed a historic agreement for us to move forward in a memorandum of understanding, to transfer the city assets of the hospital to Florida State University,” McCullough said. “Creating a new partnership to bring even better healthcare to Leon County and the surrounding area, and we are building a new hospital in Panama City Beach that will transform healthcare from Tallahassee all the way to Escambia County.”
Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, also gave remarks, emphasizing FSU’s rankings, enrollment and research expenditures.
“Our state is the number one in the nation for higher education, and the reason for that is that ranking is based on objective data — and only objective data,” Rodrigues said. “The performance of flagships like Florida State University plays a large role in why our state has the success that we have in the rankings.”
Rodrigues likened FSU’s student retention rates to those of elite private Ivy League institutions, noting that the university received over 88,000 applications for about 6,000 available seats. He further commended the university for increasing research expenditures by 50% since 2021, truly putting the “research” in research university.
To conclude the program, FSU fans cheered as the Women’s Soccer team brought their 2025 NCAA Championship trophy to the Capitol steps. McCullough praised the program for reaching “dynasty” status after they won their fifth national title last month and second under Coach Brian Pensky.