Cal State LA continues its impressive ascent in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, solidifying its position as one of the top regional universities in the Western United States.
The university climbed two spots to rank No. 13 among all public and private regional universities in the West, according to the 2026 rankings released Tuesday.
Over the past 12 years, Cal State LA has risen 83 places among all public and private regional universities in the West, demonstrating significant progress in its ongoing commitment to academic excellence and student success.
For the second consecutive year, Cal State LA ranks No. 8 among top public regional universities in the West.
“Cal State LA is a university of transformation, and our faculty and staff are fully dedicated to empowerment of our students, families, and communities,” said Cal State LA President Berenecea Johnson Eanes. “This continued rise in the U.S. News & World Report rankings reflects the strength of our collective commitment to upward mobility.”
In addition to its overall ranking, Cal State LA ranked among the top regional universities in the West in several key categories: top performers on social mobility (No. 7), best colleges for veterans (No. 10), and best value schools (No. 14).
Cal State LA also scored strong marks for its undergraduate programs in engineering, computer science, business, nursing, and psychology.
The engineering program in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology is one of the top five in the nation among public, master’s awarding institutions, excluding military academies, the rankings show. In individual rankings by discipline, the university was recognized among the top U.S. institutions offering bachelor’s or master’s degrees in civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical 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 within the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services, ranks among the top five in California.
The psychology program, housed in the College of Natural and Social Sciences, ranks among the top 15 in California among public institutions.
U.S. News & World Report relies on key measurements to develop its rankings, including graduation rates, financial resources, first-year retention rates, and student-faculty ratio—areas in which Cal State LA continues to achieve significant success.
To view the full rankings for Cal State LA, visit the U.S. News rankings website.
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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 22,000 students and has more than 270,000 distinguished alumni.
