The ranking as Florida’s top university demonstrates the institution’s strength in academic excellence, research impact, and student success, while also reflecting the voices of students who consistently rate their FIU experience highly. “These rankings reaffirm what our students and alumni already know: FIU delivers results,” said FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez. 1 for three years in a row in performance-based funding metrics that measure student success. In the U.S. News & World Report rankings released last week, FIU made the top 50 public university list again at No. 70 nationally) by NicheWashington Monthly also recognized FIU as the No.