Cal State LA continues impressive climb in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings

Cal State LA continues to ascend as one of the nation's top regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

Cal State LA ranks 15th among all private and public regional universities in the western United States, rising six spots from the previous year, according to the 2025 rankings released today.

During the past 11 years, Cal State LA has jumped 81 spots among all private and public regional universities in the West.

Cal State LA ranks 8th among top public regional universities in the West. Last year, the university ranked 9th.

"Cal State LA's steady rise in the U.S. News & World Report's rankings validates the innovation of the programs we offer, the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the persistence of our students to excel," said Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. "We live these successes every day, yet it is an honor to be seen externally as standing among the best universities."

U.S. News & World Report relies on key measurements to develop its rankings. These include graduation rates, financial resources, first-year retention rates, and student-faculty ratio, areas in which Cal State LA continues to achieve significant success.

The university also scored strong marks for its engineering, business, nursing, and psychology undergraduate programs.

The engineering program in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology is one of the top 10 in the nation among public, master's awarding institutions, excluding military academies, the rankings show. In separate rankings, the university's civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs were among the top schools in the nation offering bachelor's or master's degrees in engineering.

The business program in the College of Business and Economics is listed as one of the top 10 in California among public institutions. 

The nursing program, which is housed in the Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing of the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services, was ranked among the top five in California.

U.S. News & World Report also recognized the psychology program as one of the top 10 in California among public institutions. The psychology program is housed under the College of Natural and Social Sciences.

Additionally, the university is listed among the top five regional universities in the west for social mobility and among the best value schools in the west.

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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 24,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.