Florida State University’s College of Fine Arts programs are continuing to rank among the best in the nation, according to Niche’s 2026 Top Public Universities in America rankings.

“These recent rankings affirm the strength of our faculty and students in shaping a vibrant arts community at FSU,” said James Frazier, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “We remain dedicated to pursuing excellence in the arts, and preparing our students to become tomorrow’s leading performers, artists, educators and scholars.”

Drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche — a platform known for producing in-depth profiles of every U.S. school and college, supported by more than 140 million reviews and ratings from students and alumni — evaluates institutions annually based on areas such as academics, admissions, finances and student life.

In the 2026 report, the college’s programs stood out in several key areas, including:

Niche Rankings: All Universities (Public & Private) 

• #3 Interior Design Graduate Program
• #3 Best Colleges with Interior Design Degrees
• #15 Best Graduate Programs: Dance

Niche Rankings: Public Universities 

• #6 Best Colleges for Performing Arts
• #7 Best Colleges with Studio Arts Degrees
• #8 Best Graduate Programs: Dance
• #8 Best Graduate Programs: Art Teacher Education
• #9 Best Colleges with Art History Degrees
• #10 Best Graduate Programs: Studio Art
• #11 Best Colleges for Art
• #14 Best Colleges for Design

For more information, view FSU’s Comprehensive Niche Rankings List.

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Florida State University continues to solidify its reputation as a premier public institution, securing the No. 11 spot in Niche’s 2026 Top Public Universities in America rankings.

The university climbed to No. 7 nationally for Best Student Life, a testament to FSU’s engaging and supportive campus environment. Overall, Florida State was ranked in the Top 11 in 13 different categories by Niche.

“These rankings are a testament to Florida State University’s comprehensive excellence,” stated FSU President Richard McCullough. “They highlight the strength of our academic programs and the vibrant nature of our campus community.”

Drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Education, Niche — a platform known for producing in-depth profiles of every U.S. school and college, supported by more than 140 million reviews and ratings from students and alumni — evaluates institutions annually based on areas such as academics, admissions, finances and student life.

FSU topped Niche’s Best Greek Life list at No. 1. FSU’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice earned the No. 2 spot in Niche’s 2026 rankings of Best Colleges for Criminal Justice for the second consecutive year. The university also earned the No. 3 spot on the Best College in Florida list.

Each year, Niche evaluates a wide range of academic and campus life factors. In the 2026 report, FSU stood out in several key areas, including:

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Florida State University’s Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (Anne’s College) is once again ranked among the nation’s top colleges, according to the 2026 Niche Best Colleges rankings.

Among four-year public institutions, Anne’s College stands at No. 3 in sport management, No. 4 in kinesiology and physical therapy, and No. 5 in education.

The college climbed two spots in education, four in sport management, and seven in both kinesiology and physical therapy over last year’s public university rankings.

Overall, among both public and private four-year institutions nationwide, Anne’s College ranks fifth in sport management, seventh in kinesiology and physical therapy, and eighth in education.

“These rankings reflect the momentum and success of our programs across disciplines, and we’re proud to celebrate our progress,” said Damon Andrew, dean of Anne’s College. “Our college is growing not only in visibility but also in impact, thanks to the dedication of our faculty and staff, the passion of our students and the support of our alumni community. This strong foundation ensures that we continue producing leaders who drive positive change in their professions and communities.”

Niche is a research company that produces an annual ranking of colleges and universities with more than 140 million reviews and ratings from students and alumni and examines data from the U.S. Department of Education on academics, admissions, finances and student life.

Niche created its rankings for prospective students searching for the right college fit. Along with the rankings, Niche determines grades for various categories at each university. FSU overwhelmingly received A’s on its Niche report card, including A+ for academics, athletics, professors and student life.

Anne’s College offers undergraduate and graduate programs across six academic departments, including Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Educational Psychology and Learning Systems; Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences; Human Development and Family Science; Teacher Education; and Sport Management. The college is also home to three laboratory schools and numerous research centers.

For more information, visit annescollege.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice has been recognized as one of the top programs in the country, earning the No. 2 national ranking in the 2026 Niche rankings of Best Colleges for Criminal Justice. 

The college has retained the No. 2 ranking for two consecutive years, reinforcing its reputation for academic excellence and leadership in the field.  

Dean Thomas Blomberg emphasized the college’s longstanding commitment to innovative research, excellence in teaching and preparing graduates to deliver on its mission of producing translational research aimed at reducing the pain and suffering caused by crime.

“This recognition highlights the exceptional quality of our faculty, students and alumni. We are dedicated to producing research that informs policy and to prepare graduates to make meaningful contributions to society. This ranking is an affirmation that we are on the right track.”

— Thomas Blomberg, dean of the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice

“This recognition highlights the exceptional quality of our faculty, students and alumni,” Blomberg said. “We are dedicated to producing research that informs policy and to prepare graduates to make meaningful contributions to society. This ranking is an affirmation that we are on the right track.”

Niche bases its rankings on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. Acceptance rates, student-faculty-ratio, graduation and retention rates and surveys of criminal justice students, are some of the additional factors used by Niche in its rankings.

In addition to being ranked No. 2 in Niche’s rankings for the second consecutive year, FSU’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice was ranked No. 1 in 2023 by University Magazine. Its faculty were recognized as the most productive and influential in their field in a 2023 quantitative assessment by the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.

For more information about the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, visit criminology.fsu.edu.  

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The Florida State University College of Business retained its No. 1 status among four-year public schools on Niche’s recently released 2026 Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in America lists and rose to the No. 3 spot among publics on its 2026 Best Colleges for Business in America list.

For the past three years, the college has secured Niche’s top billing for its accounting and finance offerings, and this year it also stands No. 5 among all schools teaching accounting and finance nationwide. Also new this year, the college gained Top 10 status on the overall list of Best Colleges for Business in America.

“These rankings further demonstrate the preeminent status of our degree programs, and it means even more to us that feedback from our students and alumni is a significant part of the assessment,” said Michael D. Hartline, dean of the college. “Our graduates are certainly happy with their FSU business education and the future career trajectory it provides.”

“These rankings further demonstrate the preeminent status of our degree programs, and it means even more to us that feedback from our students and alumni is a significant part of the assessment.”

– Michael D. Hartline, dean of the College of Business

Niche created its rankings for prospective students searching for the right college fit. According to its website, the research company determines a school’s rankings by assessing “trusted data and honest feedback from real students.” It sources much of the input data from the U.S. Department of Education, including acceptance rates, admission yields, graduation rates, retention numbers and ratios of students per faculty member. Visitors to Niche’s website benefit from in-depth profiles of every college and university in the United States, each with ratings and reviews. The site lists nearly 9,000 reviews for FSU specifically.

“My experience at Florida State University was life-changing,” wrote one of the unnamed reviewers. “The resources were nearly unlimited. The academics pushed me to expect more out of myself than I thought I was capable of and gave me the ability to explore subjects that broadened me as a person.”

The reviewer also lauded the relationships made while at FSU.

“I am still in contact … and plan to maintain those throughout my lifetime. I became a better student and a better person during my amazing time at FSU.”

Along with the rankings, Niche determines grades for various categories at each university. FSU overwhelmingly received A’s on its Niche report card, including A+ for Academics, Athletics, Professors and Student Life.

Hartline added that the word is spreading about the quality of FSU and the College of Business.

“Our laser focus on student success, our investments in new programs, additions of stellar faculty, and the January 2026 opening of our new facility, Legacy Hall, ensure that our students excel both while they are with us and after they graduate,” said Hartline. “It’s a wonderful time to be a Seminole!”

For more information on the College of Business, visit business.fsu.edu.

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Florida State University has reached a historic milestone, earning its highest ranking ever at No. 10 in Niche’s 2025 report of Top Public Universities in America. 

Niche, a research company that produces an annual ranking of colleges and universities, highlights the university’s commitment to academic quality, vibrant student life and overall value in its annual report. 

“This recognition really shows how hard our faculty, students and staff have been working,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “It’s proof of the academic excellence, innovative research and vibrant campus life we have here at Florida State University. We’re incredibly proud of this achievement, and it’s great to see that people are noticing the amazing things happening at FSU.” 

Niche produces in-depth profiles of every school and college in the United States, with more than 140 million reviews and ratings from students and alumni. For its annual rankings, the company examines data from the U.S. Department of Education on academics, admissions, finances and student life. 

The ranking reflects FSU’s rising reputation as one of the top public universities in the nation. FSU, bolstered by record graduation and retention rates, scored an A+ for Academics. The university also earned A+ marks for Student Life, Professors and Athletics. 

Niche also ranks different aspects of college life and academic programs in its annual report. Some of FSU’s highlights in the 2025 Niche report include: 

• No. 1 for Best Greek Life Colleges in America 

• No. 2 for Best Colleges for Criminal Justice in America 

• No. 6 for Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in America 

• No. 7 for Best Colleges for Education in America 

• No. 7 for Best Colleges for Sport Management in America 

• No. 8 for Best Student Life in America 

• No. 10 for Best College Athletics in America 

• No. 12 for Best Colleges for Business in America 

• No. 15 for Best Big Colleges in America 

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