Cal State Long Beach elevated to 5 out of 5 stars in ‘Best Colleges in America’ ranking

In a new college ranking recently released by Money, Cal State Long Beach is again recognized as one of the “Best Colleges in America,” and has been elevated to 5 out of 5 stars by the online publication’s college rating system.

Money’s analysis notes that CSULB’s “six-year graduation rate (81%) is well above the average of all the schools we rated this year, so students who do enroll clearly find it a good fit.”

“We are proud to again be recognized by Money as a leader in higher education and a ‘best value,’” said President Jane Close Conoley. “This acknowledgement not only validates the quality of a Cal State Long Beach education, but it also highlights The Beach’s commitment to access – namely, affordability – and improving the social mobility of our alumni.”  

In its accompanying write-up, Money also calls CSULB “one of the best bargains in higher education,” and notes that the cost of attendance at The Beach is “lower than the median net price of all the schools on our list.”  

Only 50 schools nationwide made the 5-star list.

Since last year, Money has adopted a star-rating approach (instead of numeric rankings) based on dozens of data points, including graduation rates, net cost of attendance and alumni earnings to highlight institutions that combine quality and affordability. In 2023, Money gave CSULB 4.5 out of 5 stars.

In other recent rankings, The Beach was recognized for its impact in advancing social mobility for its alumni, placing No. 1 nationally as a top performer on social mobility by U.S. News & World Report, and No. 7 nationally in CollegeNET’s Social Mobility Index.