The claim that Florida has dominated as the #1 state for higher education for 10 years straight is mostly true because multiple official sources and U.S. News & World Report rankings confirm Florida held the top spot for at least nine consecutive years through 2025, with a recent announcement by the Governor claiming a tenth year, though independent third-party confirmation for the full decade is limited.
Mostly True
For 10 YEARS STRAIGHT, FLORIDA dominates as the #1 state for higher education!
FactVerify
Source: factverify.com
At a glance
Verified September 30, 2025Key Evidence
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Florida #1 in higher education every year since 2017 through at least 2025 according to State University System releases.
Governor DeSantis announced a tenth consecutive year at #1 in 2025.
Independent news and U.S. News articles confirm up to nine years but do not independently verify the tenth year yet.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Florida's higher education system has been consistently ranked as the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since the inception of their state rankings in 2017. Official releases from the State University System of Florida confirm Florida was #1 for seven years as of 2023, then for eight years in 2024, and nine years in 2025.flbog.eduflbog.eduFlorida remains #1 for Higher Education in U.S. News and World Report rankings...
news.fsu.edunews.fsu.eduFlorida remains #1 for Higher Education in U.S. News and World Report rankings+3 more
Additionally, a press release from Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025 claims Florida has held the #1 ranking for ten consecutive years.flgov.comflgov.comGovernor Ron DeSantis Announces Florida Ranks #1 for Higher Education for 10th... However, independent third-party sources such as U.S. News articles and news reports confirm up to nine years but do not explicitly verify a full ten-year streak yet.
usnews.comusnews.comYes, Florida Is No. 1 in the Country for Education. Here’s Why+1 more
The rankings emphasize factors like on-time graduation rates, low tuition costs, and minimal student debt. Some sources note controversy around education policies but still acknowledge Florida's top ranking.universitybusiness.comuniversitybusiness.comState ranks No. 1 for education despite years of controversy Overall, evidence strongly supports Florida's dominance in higher education rankings for nearly a decade, with official claims extending to ten years but lacking fully independent confirmation for that final year.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source