If you’re looking beyond your home state for a powerhouse STEM education with serious value, keep Florida Polytechnic University (Florida Poly) on your shortlist. In the latest U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings (released Sept. 23, 2025), Florida Poly earned its fifth straight title as the No. 1 public college in the South—a remarkable feat for a university in just its 11th year. It also landed No. 3 Best Value among public schools in the Southand remained among the Top 30 public engineering programs without a Ph.D. nationally for the fifth year in a row.
Why this matters if you’re coming from out of state
1) Reputation + ROI. Florida Poly’s “Best Value” placement recognizes a compelling mix of academic performance and affordability—important for families weighing nonresident costs. And it’s happening in a state that’s ranked No. 1 in Higher Education for 10 consecutive years, thanks to factors like tuition levels, on-time graduation, and low debt.
2) Small, STEM-only public university. Florida Poly is Florida’s only public university dedicated exclusively to STEM. That focus shows up in specialized labs, industry-aligned programs, and a campus culture built around engineering and technology.
3) A campus growing with you. Florida Poly just marked a record fall enrollment of 1,931 students, signaling both demand and momentum—while still keeping class sizes and campus life personal. Later this fall, the University will open the Gary C. Wendt Engineering Center, a 40,000-square-footfacility expanding lab capacity for even more hands-on learning.
4) Location = opportunity. The campus sits in Lakeland, Florida, right on the I-4 high-tech corridor between Tampa and Orlando—placing internships, co-ops, and first jobs within a short drive of major employers and industries. Sunshine helps, too.
Bottom line
For out-of-state students who want a focused, high-return STEM experience, Florida Poly offers elite regional rankings, national engineering recognition, and a location packed with opportunity. As the University expands labs and keeps racking up top-tier results, it’s an increasingly compelling choice for students ready to build what’s next.