Rankings & Accolades

The California State University is consistently renowned for its academic excellence and contributions to the public good. Each year, the 23 CSU campuses have received accolades for providing quality education, ensuring access and affordability, and serving as an engine of social mobility.

Quality

America's Top Colleges
Forbes | 22 Campuses

2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.
The Wall Street Journal | 13 Campuses

Best Colleges in America 2023
Money Magazine | All 23 Campuses

Best Public Colleges 2023-24
Money Magazine | 18 Campuses

Best Colleges in the West 2023-24
Money Magazine | 22 Campuses

2024 Top Public Schools
U.S. News & World Report | 7 Campuses

2024 Best National Universities
U.S. News & World Report | 7 Campuses

2023 4-Year Master's Universities
Washington Monthly | 15 Campuses

2024 Best Regional Colleges
Princeton Review | 10 Campuses

2024 Best Student Experience
The Wall Street Journal | 14 Campuses

SOCIAL MOBILITY

2024 Top Schools for Social Mobility
The Wall Street Journal | 13 Campuses

2024 Top Performers on Social Mobility
U.S. News & World Report | 7 Campuses

2023 Economic Mobility Index
Third Way | 22 Campuses

2023 Social Mobility Elevators
Education Reform Now | 21 Campuses

2022 Social Mobility Index
CollegeNET | All 23 Campuses

Top Colleges by Mobility Rate
The Equality of Opportunity Project

Value

2023 Best Bang for the Buck: West
Washington Monthly | All 23 Campuses

2024 Best Value Schools
U.S. News & World Report | 4 Campuses

2024 Best Value in the West
U.S. News & World Report | 7 Campuses

Diversity

2023 Seal of Excelencia
Excelencia in Education

2021 Top Colleges in the West for Diversity
The Wall Street Journal | 7 Campuses

2024 Campus Ethnic Diversity, National
U.S. News & World Report | 6 Campuses

2024 Campus Ethnic Diversity, West
U.S. News & World Report | 14 Campuses

Campus Accolades

CSU Bakersfield

#10	2023 Best Bang for the Buck: West \| Washington Monthly
#10	2022 Social Mobility Index \| CollegeNET
#16	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News

See More Bakersfield Rankings »

CSU Channel Islands

#7	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#14	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#26	2023 Best Bang for the Buck: West \| Washington Monthly

See More Channel Islands Rankings »

Chico State

#7	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#16	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News
#158	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

See More Chico Rankings »

CSU Dominguez Hills

#4	2023 Economic Mobility Index \| Third Way
#5	2023 Best Bang for the Buck: West \| Washington Monthly
#19	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News

See More Dominguez Hills Rankings »

Cal State East Bay

#11	2022 Social Mobility Index \| CollegeNET
#35	2023 Social Mobility Elevators \| Education Reform
#186	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

See More East Bay Rankings »

Fresno State

#6	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#8	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#15	2024 Student Experience Rankings \| Wall Street Journal

Cal State Fullerton

#2	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#8	2023 Social Mobility Elevators \| Education Reform
#90	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

See More Fullerton Rankings »

Cal Poly Humboldt

#15	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#30	2024 Best Value Schools: West \| U.S. News
#32	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News

See More Humboldt Rankings »

Cal State Long Beach

#1	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#14	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#103	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

See More Long Beach Rankings »

Cal State LA

#1	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#1	2023 Social Mobility Elevators \| Education Reform
#9	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News

Cal Maritime

#1	2024 Top Public Schools: West \| U.S. News
#2	2024 Best Regional Colleges: West \| U.S. News
#236	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

CSU Monterey Bay

#6	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#15	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#131	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

CSUN

#5	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#11	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#53	2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. \| Wall Street Journal

Cal Poly Pomona

#2	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#3	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News
#65	2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. \| Wall Street Journal

See More Pomona Rankings »

Sacramento State

#8	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#10	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#71	2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. \| Wall Street Journal

See More Sacramento Rankings »

CAL STATE San Bernardino

#4	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#5	2023 Social Mobility Elevators \| Education Reform
#27	2024 Best Value Schools: West \| U.S. News

See More San Bernardino Rankings »

San Diego State

#11	Colleges Offering the Best Value \| Wall Street Journal
#38	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#43	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

San Francisco State

#8	2024 Top Performers of Social Mobility \| U.S. News
#19	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#39	2024 Student Experience Rankings \| Wall Street Journal

San José State

#3	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#4	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News
#46	2024 Social Mobility Rankings \| Wall Street Journal

Cal Poly (SAN LUIS OBISPO)

#1	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#1	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News
#83	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

See More Cal Poly Rankings »

CSU San Marcos

#12	2024 Student Experience Rankings \| Wall Street Journal
#13	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#22	2023 Social Mobility Elevators \| Education Reform

Sonoma State

#12	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#27	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News
#174	America’s Top Colleges 2023 \| Forbes

Stanislaus State

#4	2024 Top Public Universities: West \| U.S. News
#10	2024 Best Regional Universities: West \| U.S. News
#13	2023 Social Mobility Elevators \| Education Reform

Learn More About Stan State »