<p>The point, Lizard, is that FSU achieved the highest total NSF investment of all Florida universities without having a med school (which was only granted to FSU in 2000). This means Florida State has a substantial investment in the basic sciences, not just those related to medicine. While medical research dollars are the cash cow for USF and UF (now FSU is entering the medical arena, which typically takes decades) FSU accomplished the feat with emphasis in the basic sciences, of which physics is the main player with the Mag Lab (the only National Lab in Florida). I am ok with this until the med school and the related medical infrastructure (TMH, for example, recently became a Level II Trauma Center) develops through a growing population. </p>
<p>In this way FSU is similar to UC Berkeley, which also achieved its rank without a med school.</p>