Cal State LA continues its impressive rise in the top college rankings

Cal State LA continues to be one of the top regional universities in the country US News and World Report Ranking of the best universities.

According to the recently released 2025 rankings, Cal State LA is ranked 15th among all private and public regional universities in the Western United States, improving six spots from last year.

Over the last 11 years, Cal State LA has moved up 81 spots among all private and public regional universities in the West.

Cal State LA is ranked 8th among the best public regional universities in the West. Last year the university took 9th place.

“Cal State LA's steady rise in the US News and World Reports “Rankings validate the innovation of the programs we offer, the commitment 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, but it is still an honor to be considered one of the best universities.”

US News and World Report relies on key metrics to develop its rankings. These include graduation rates, financial resources, first-year retention rates and student-to-faculty ratios – areas in which Cal State LA continues to achieve significant success.

The university also achieved good grades for its bachelor's degree programs in engineering, business, nursing and psychology.

Engineering studies at the College of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology are among the country's top 10 among public institutions that award master's degrees, excluding military academies, the rankings show. In separate rankings, the university's civil, computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering programs were among the top schools in the country offering bachelor's or master's degrees in engineering.

The College of Business and Economics' economics program is ranked among the top 10 public institutions in California.

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

US News and World Report Additionally, the psychology program has been recognized as one of the top 10 public institutions in California. The psychology program is located at the University of Natural and Social Sciences.

In addition, the university is ranked among the top five regional universities in the West in terms of social mobility and among the best value for money schools in the West.