Democrats have spent years claiming Republican-led states are falling behind.
They’ve been proven wrong once again.
And Ron DeSantis just delivered this jaw-dropping news about Florida that left Democrats shell-shocked.
Florida dominates higher education rankings for the ninth straight year
While blue state universities are making headlines for campus protests and woke policies, Florida has quietly been building the most successful higher education system in America.
U.S. News & World Report just released its 2025 Best State Rankings, and Florida’s higher education system ranked #1 in the nation for the ninth consecutive year.
The report highlighted Florida’s remarkable achievements in making college both affordable and effective – with the lowest in-state tuition in the country and the highest graduation rates.
“I am proud to lead the best higher education system in the nation. Our No. 1 ranking is thanks to the leadership, faculty, and staff at our universities who prioritize student success,” Chancellor of the State University System of Florida Ray Rodrigues said.
DeSantis and the Florida legislature have prioritized making college affordable while ensuring students graduate with practical skills and minimal debt.
Their approach stands in stark contrast to the Biden-Harris administration’s student loan forgiveness schemes that would have cost taxpayers billions while doing nothing to address the root causes of college unaffordability.
Florida’s economy also ranks #1 in the nation
The education success is part of a larger pattern of excellence for the Sunshine State.
Florida also ranked #1 for its economy in the same U.S. News & World Report rankings, jumping from #9 overall last year to #6 this year.
“Florida’s sustained recognition as the nation’s top state for higher education is a testament to the outstanding performance of our students and faculty, the impact of strategic investments, and the steadfast leadership across our 12 public universities,” Chair of the Florida Board of Governors Brian Lamb said.
Lamb added that the results prove “the continued investment in the System by Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature is delivering best-in-class returns.”
Florida’s common-sense approach delivers results
The state’s success hasn’t come from massive spending increases or government handouts.
Instead, Florida has focused on practical policies, including:
- Maintaining the lowest tuition and fees in the nation;
- Prioritizing four-year graduation rates to get students into the workforce faster;
- Focusing on STEM, healthcare, and other high-demand fields;
- Eliminating wasteful spending and bureaucracy; and
- Keeping taxes low to attract businesses and residents.
Vice Chair of the Florida Board of Governors Alan Levine pointed to these targeted investments by saying that “our sustained success reflects targeted investments in high-impact areas like health care, nursing, cybersecurity and STEM fields—efforts that are directly improving lives and strengthening our communities.”
Leftist states falling behind despite higher taxes
While Florida thrives with its low-tax, high-results approach, far-Left states that spend significantly more per student are struggling to keep pace.
California ranked #37 overall in the Best States ranking, with New York at #22, despite both states having significantly higher tax burdens than Florida.
The success of Florida’s higher education system proves that conservative governance focused on affordability, accountability, and practical results delivers better outcomes than the progressive approach of endless spending increases and lowered standards.
“Florida is once again #1 in higher education (for the 9th year in a row) and #1 in economy (for the 2nd year in a row) as ranked by U.S. News and World Report,” DeSantis announced on X. “And, in light of these and other achievements, Florida climbed three spots in Best State rankings from last year. Great momentum!”
Florida is once again #1 in higher education (for the 9th year in a row) and #1 in economy (for the 2nd year in a row) as ranked by U.S. News and World Report.
And, in light of these and other achievements, Florida climbed three spots in Best State rankings from last year.… pic.twitter.com/0DKeFVKG2h
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 6, 2025
With millions of Americans fleeing high-tax states for Florida since the pandemic, these education rankings will only accelerate the trend of families and businesses voting with their feet.
Florida’s nine-year streak of educational excellence stands as a powerful rebuke to those who claim conservative policies can’t deliver world-class education.
The evidence speaks for itself – Florida’s common-sense approach is working.
