Rankings Style Guide
The announcement from The Wall Street Journal that the University of Florida is No. 1 in public schools is a tremendous milestone that should be celebrated and promoted broadly.
Below are best practices and guidelines to help you share our accomplishments that align with the university. These can also be applied to your individual college/departmental rankings.
For assistance with communicating the ranking, please get in touch with Brittany Wise, interim assistant vice president of communications for the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing.
USING RANKINGS IN WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
GENERAL USAGE
When referring to The Wall Street Journal ranking, use the full and correct name: The Wall Street Journal Best U.S. Colleges ranking.
Examples of acceptable usage:
“UF is ranked as the No. 1 public institution on the 2024 Wall Street Journal’s Best U.S. Colleges.”
“UF is among the best public universities in the 2024 Wall Street Journal’s Best U.S. Colleges rankings.”
“The Wall Street Journal lists the University of Florida as the No. 1 public university in its 2024 list of Best U.S. Colleges.”
Note: The Wall Street Journal’s rankings released in September 2023 are referred to as the 2024 rankings.
Numeral or spelled out?
Always spelled out (AP Style). However, it is allowable to use a number like “No. 1” per AP Style.
PRIMARY MESSAGING
Articulate why the University of Florida is ranked as the No.1 public university and what this means for key audiences:
- UF offers a top-ranking university experience.
- UF is improving students’ chances of graduating on time.
- Going to UF boosts the salaries that students earn after graduation
- UF provides affordable access to an excellent education and a great return on investment.
- This ranking reinforces UF’s national rise and ongoing excellence.
- It underscores UF’s rightful prominence on the national and international stage and aligns with other key metrics. The combined effect will continue to strengthen the university’s performance in the following ways:
- Recruiting and retaining the best faculty, staff, and students
- Advancing the levels of research funding and expenditures
- Creating vital research partnerships with other educational institutions, as well as corporations and foundations
- Giving rise to philanthropic partnerships and increasing support
- Strengthening the university’s flagship position and impact within the State of Florida
- Advancing the university’s national and international reputation
- UF’s rank is reflective of its continual, rapid strengthening in teaching, learning, and research performance—smaller class sizes, consistently high graduation and retention rates, and increased value of each student’s degree after graduation—all of which in turn helps Florida be viewed as a national leader.
- Recognition/gratitude toward the many stakeholders who contributed to this momentum, including faculty, staff, students, alumni/donors, the state, and the community.
SECONDARY MESSAGING
Bona fides demonstrate what UF has done/is doing to raise its profile and what this means for key stakeholders:
- UF is ranked as one of the top universities for undergraduate research.
- UF Ranks No. 5 in the U.S. News & World Report (2023 edition) among public universities and No. 28 overall.
- UF Ranks No. 1 in the U.S. News & World Report (2023 edition) for best online undergraduate program in the nation.
- Despite being one of the largest universities in the United States, UF offers small classes with access to nationally and internationally renowned faculty.
- UF is a research powerhouse, investing more than $1 billion in research annually on discoveries and inventions that improve the world.