Students, alumni, faculty, and supporters of the State University System of Florida are encouraged to wear their university colors on National College Colors Day, which falls on Friday, August 29, 2025. The day also marks the start of the college football season.
Chancellor Ray Rodrigues said, “Whether you’re on campus and ready to attend the first college football games of the season this weekend, or you’re cheering your team on from home, I urge all students, alumni, faculty, and fans to participate in National College Colors Day. Not only is College Colors Day an opportunity to bring people together and engage in the excitement and camaraderie of the 2025 college football season, it’s also a time to underscore the accomplishments and continued growth of the State University System of Florida and its 12 institutions. Thanks to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and the support of the Florida Legislature, we continue to lead the nation in higher education through bold initiatives that provide students with affordable, high-quality degrees—preparing them for successful careers that meet the needs of Florida’s communities and workforce.”
Brian Lamb, Chair of the Florida Board of Governors added: “National College Colors Day is here again, and there’s much to celebrate as we dive into another productive academic year and lively football season at our universities. Florida remains the best state in the nation for higher education thanks to the commitment of our world-class faculty and leadership. No matter which university in our System you attend or call alma mater, I encourage you to proudly wear your school colors—they represent the rich traditions, shared unity, bold ambitions, and student success that define each Florida university’s story.”
Florida has been ranked as having the top public higher education system by U.S. News & World Report since these rankings began in 2017 (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/education/higher-education). The state continues its focus on affordability; it has not increased in-state tuition or fees at its public universities since 2014-15 (https://www.flbog.edu/finance/university-tuition-fees/). According to recent data from system officials (https://www.flbog.edu/board/office-of-data-analytics-and-institutional-research/performance-based-funding-data-definitions-methodology/), nearly eight out of ten undergraduate students earn their bachelor’s degree without taking out student loans.
The State University System reports a record-high four-year graduation rate for first-time-in-college students at 66 percent (https://www.flbog.edu/resources/publications/state-university-system-graduation-rate-report/). Seventy-four percent of bachelor graduates were either employed or enrolled one year after graduation. The median salary for these graduates rose to $51,000.
Fans who wish to support their universities can purchase licensed merchandise online; proceeds benefit each institution within Florida’s public university system.
