As Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) continues into its 128th year of providing access and opportunity to a high-quality and affordable education, the University is celebrating an honor roll of achievements.
A newly released study by New York-based financial technology company SmartAsset has ranked FAMU among the best value colleges (No. 4) and the top schools where graduates earn the highest starting salaries (No. 9). The rankings consider all Florida universities and colleges and are part of SmartAsset’s overarching study of the schools providing students with the best overall value. The study considered starting salary, as well as scholarships and grants, tuition, living costs, and retention rate.
The new rankings released by SmartAsset are reflective of the many accolades FAMU has received in recent months.
The Princeton Review recently named FAMU among its “2016 Best Colleges: Region-by-Region” list, ranking FAMU as one of the “Best Southeastern” colleges and universities in the nation. FAMU is among only 140 colleges and universities in the Southeast that received this ranking. The Princeton Review notes that institutions making the list are considered academically outstanding and well worth consideration in a student’s college search.
“At many universities, the school motto is just a slogan on a seal. But at Florida A&M, students assure us that their motto ‘Excellence with Caring’ is actualized on every level of university life. Instructors here ‘don’t just teach, they mentor as well,’” notes the Princeton Review in its description of the University.
The Washington Monthly College Guide named FAMU among its list of the top 100 national universities, highlighting the University for its contributions to the public good through social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and doctoral scholars), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). Other university’s making the list include Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duke University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and New York University.
“We are honored and proud to be ranked among the best colleges and universities in the nation,” said FAMU President Elmira Mangum, Ph.D. “These rankings are indicators that we are one step closer to achieving our goal of becoming a best-in-class, land-grant doctoral research university with a global presence.”
Niche, a ranking and reviews company aimed at helping high school students make the right college choice, listed FAMU among its “2016 Best Colleges.” Niche’s top-ranked colleges are elite academic institutions that provide a good value, attract a diverse student body, and offer an exceptional college experience.
In describing FAMU, the company writes, “Florida A&M University will prepare you to excel in your future career. The professors push and encourage their students to go beyond their limits. There are no handouts at the University—you have to work hard and earn your grades. The University is also unique because it is rich in tradition and culture. Many FAMU students say there is no doubt in their minds that they would choose the University again if they had the choice. This University is truly a home away from home and continues to produce educated and successful future leaders.”
NerdWallet, a national personal finance and information service, recently released its “Florida’s Best Colleges for Your Buck” list, ranking FAMU as one of the state’s top schools for affordability and student success after graduation. NerdWallet cites that FAMU’s offering of the lowest annual tuition among all of the colleges or universities on the list, and its ranking as one of the top HBCUs in the nation (U.S. News & World Report), make it “tough to beat.” FAMU was also cited for producing notable alumni, such as Microsoft chair John W. Thompson and U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown.
The University was also recently recognized by the Building Green Initiative as the No. 2 “Greenest” public historically Black college or university (HBCU) in the nation. In releasing its rankings, the initiative celebrated FAMU for its sustainability efforts via its agriculture and recycling programs, citing that the University has an “innovative approach to solving modern sustainability issues.”
Earlier this fall, U.S. News & World Report named FAMU among the best national universities, and, in the summer, Forbes magazine listed the University as one of “America’s Top Colleges” for 2015, and as one of its “Best in the South” colleges. Also, College Choice named FAMU among its 2015 list of the Best HBCUs, and a recently released report by the National Science Foundation (NSF) listed FAMU as the No. 1 HBCU in the nation for total research and development (R&D) expenditures. Additionally, the American City Business Journals listed FAMU among the nation’s top public universities and colleges.
The accolades complement the University’s recent groundbreaking achievements including receiving the largest individual gift in University history ($5 million from Thompson and his wife, Sandi); completing the transfer of 3,800 acres of land in Brooksville, Fla., one of the largest land transfers in the history of the USDA to a land-grant HBCU; becoming the first HBCU to launch its own athletics app; becoming the first public HBCU to join the Thurgood Marshall College Fund/University of Phoenix Online Learning Alliance; becoming one of the first land-grant HBCUs to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture; becoming the first Purple Heart HBCU and first Purple Heart university in Florida; becoming the first classical HBCU ensemble to play at Carnegie Hall; and becoming one of the first HBCUs to play at the iconic Fenway Park.
