Cal State LA has been recognized by the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an institution that can serve as a model for how campuses can foster student success.
Under the 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification, the university was designated as an Opportunity College and University in the latest Carnegie Classifications, which were released Thursday, April 24, by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education (ACE).
The classification confirms Cal State LA as a higher access and higher earnings school that equips socio-economically and racially diverse sets of students to be more economically successful than their peers.
“The new Carnegie Classification is another validation of Cal State LA’s commitment to providing our students with the best education at the best value,” President Berenecea Johnson Eanes said. “We equip our students with the knowledge and skills that allow them to thrive and stay ahead of the field in a rapidly evolving world. A Cal State LA education translates to success.”
Cal State LA was ranked No. 1 nationally in upward mobility by Opportunity Insights based at Harvard University. The California Mobility Index also recognized it as the state’s top university for upward mobility earlier this year.
Cal State LA is among 479 institutions, or about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities, identified under the Opportunity College and University classification.
For the 2025 Institutional Classification, Cal State LA was named a Mixed Undergraduate/Graduate-Master’s Large/Medium institution. The classification used a new methodology to organize institutions with similar campus profiles. The criteria included the types of degrees awarded by each institution, the subjects in which they award degrees, and the size of the institutions.
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and ACE. The classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.
The Carnegie Classifications have served as the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in higher education since 1973. The classifications are updated every three years to reflect changes among universities and colleges.
Developed by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education in 1970 and managed by ACE, the classification uses empirical data about characteristics of students and faculty and the work of institutions to identify categories of institutions based on function and mission.
In February, the Carnegie Foundation designated Cal State LA as a Research 2 institution in its 2025 Research Activity Designations. The designation was awarded to universities and colleges that prioritize research with high spending and doctorate production, requiring a minimum of $5 million in research spending and 20 research doctorates awarded annually.
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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.
