Cal Poly named to Forbes’ top colleges list
University ranks 14th overall in the West and is the top public master’s university in California
– Cal Poly has been named one of Forbes’ Top 25 Public Colleges in its 2024-25 list of America’s Top Colleges, released Aug. 27. The university ranks 14th overall in the West and is the top public master’s university in California.
Overall, Cal Poly is ranked 57th among the 500 public and private not-for-profit universities in the U.S., a rise from 83rd in 2023. Among California institutions, Cal Poly is 12th overall and seventh among public schools, trailing behind the University of California campuses at Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine, and Davis. The university improved from 18th among Western schools in 2023.
“This ranking illustrates how Cal Poly is succeeding in providing our students with a world-class education and preparing tomorrow’s leaders to meet the critical demands of our state, nation and world,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “Our students are attracted by our Learn by Doing ethos, in which their classroom and lab experiences transform them into workers and entrepreneurs ready to succeed on Day One in their careers and their communities.”
In the Top 25 Public Colleges rankings, Cal Poly is listed alongside seven other California schools, including the six UC campuses and San Diego State University. Cal Poly and SDSU are part of the 23-campus California State University system, the nation’s largest public university system.
Forbes highlighted that public colleges educate a majority of America’s undergraduates, noting that three out of every five bachelor’s degree-seeking students in the U.S. attend a state school. The magazine reported that Cal Poly graduates have high starting and mid-career median salaries, with a median salary of $72,358 two years after graduation and approximately $148,600 ten years after graduation.
The Forbes ranking method examines factors including alumni salary, student debt, graduation rate, Forbes American Leaders List, return on investment, retention rate, and academic success.
To view the full Forbes Best Colleges list, visit Forbes.
