Top California State Universities in 2014-2015 | US News

Colleges and Universities A-Z California State University - GENERAL
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<p>Key: Campus | City | Commuter or Residential? | Rural, Suburban, or Urban? </p>

<p>• #1 San</a> Diego State University | San Diego | Commuter | Urban
• #2 California</a> Maritime Academy | Vallejo | Residential | Suburban
• #3 California</a> Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Residential | Suburban
• #4 California</a> State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona | Commuter | Suburban
• #5 California</a> State University, Long Beach | Long Beach | Commuter | Suburban
• #6 California</a> State University, Chico | Chico | Residential | Rural
• #7 San</a> Jose State University | San Jose | Commuter | Urban
• #8 California</a> State University, Fullerton | Fullerton | Commuter | Suburban
• #9 Sonoma</a> State University | Rohnert Park | Commuter | Suburban
• #10 California</a> State University, Fresno | Fresno | Commuter | Urban
• #11 California</a> State University, Stanislaus | Turlock | Commuter | Suburban
• #12 California</a> State University, Sacramento | Sacramento | Commuter | Urban
• #13 Humboldt</a> State University | Arcata | Residential | Rural
• #14 San</a> Francisco State University | San Francisco | Commuter | Urban
• #15 California</a> State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Commuter | Suburban
• #16 California</a> State University, Monterey Bay | Seaside | Residential | Suburban
• #17 California</a> State University, Northridge | Northridge | Commuter | Urban
• #18 California</a> State University, Channel Islands | Camarillo | Commuter | Rural
• #19 California</a> State University, Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Commuter | Suburban
• #20 California</a> State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Commuter | Urban
• #21 California</a> State University, San Marcos | San Marcos | Commuter | Suburban
• #22 California</a> State University, East Bay | Hayward | Commuter | Suburban
• #23 California</a> State University, Dominguez Hills | Carson | Commuter | Suburban</p>

<p>Notes</p>

<ul>
<li>San Diego State University is ranked as of now as a National University in US News; meaning that this university offers several Bachelor's in addition to Master and Doctoral programs with research and is comparable to many other universities in the nation. SDSU is tied for the 149th best National University in US News.</li>
<li>California Maritime Academy is ranked as of now as a Regional Western College rather than a University; meaning that they solely focus on undergraduate education and offer less than half of their degrees in liberal arts subjects. Cal Maritime is ranked as the 3rd best Regional Western College by US News.</li>
<li>CSUEB and CSUDH are not ranked at all in US News, so I went into research through many other sources and rankings and I put East Bay over Dominguez Hills, specifically due to area, potential in departments, student life, etc.</li>
<li>Rest of the CSUs were ranked in the Regional Western Universities; meaning that they are institutions that mainly focus in undergraduate education, but they however offer Master's degrees and if any, Doctorate degrees. Cal Poly came in 10th, Cal Poly Pomona came in tied 31st, CSULB came in tied 33rd, CSUC came in tied 35th, SJSU came in tied 38th, Fullerton State came in tied 40th, SSU came in tied 43rd, Fresno State came in tied 46th, Stanislaus State came in 55th, all Sacramento State, HSU, and SFSU came in tied 58th, CSUSB came in tied 66th, both CSUMB and CSUN came in tied 68th, CSUCI came in tied 75th, CSUB came in tied 80th, and CSULA and CSUSM came in tied 84th.</li>
</ul>

<hr>

<p>The purpose of this topic is to discuss about this subject, inform others who are a hard time in choosing colleges - specifically CSUs, and debate whether this list is accurate or not in a mature way. </p>

<p>Please discuss this in a mannerly way; drama, flaming, nor trolling are NOT allowed. Any questions, comments, or concerns are very welcomed. You must follow CC Forum rules also. Thank you and many appreciations!</p>

<p>Would be nice to post your top 5 California State Universities also! :)</p>

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<p>The list kind of speaks for itself. I’d say it’s probably unfair to place SDSU and Cal Maritime at the top. Few would argue that’s a spot SLO should own.<br>
I’d put SDSU at #2 behind SLO and slide Cal Maritime down mid pack, just below Sac. Though great at what they do, they have such a small list of majors, they simply aren’t relevant in most student’s consideration. </p>

<p>As I think about it, I’d slide CPP down a few pegs too. Though they are stellar for some majors, for most students, they aren’t any more selective than Sonoma. </p>

<p>An interesting discussion seems likely.</p>

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<p>This is the OP’s own interpretation of the ranking. </p>

<p>SDSU is ranked separate from Cal Poly as stated, so not sure what #1 means. Maritime academy is also ranked on a different metric as a college not a university.</p>

<p>Cal Poly is #1 for US West public master university, and #10 overall counting the privates. </p>

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<p>Since SDSU and Cal Maritime were exceptional enough to be ranked elsewhere, I purposely put them above the list. A National University title is very prestigious for SDSU, so I put them as #1 (they offer SEVERAL doctorates also), Cal Maritime owns one of the most prestigious programs for Maritime colleges and does an excellent job with it (it is also the only Maritime-based institution in the Western US I believe) so I put them as #2. The rest of the CSUs were originally ranked in order.</p>

<p>So I therefore put them up top, because it honestly wouldn’t make sense to put them at the bottom when the majority of us would agree that SDSU and Cal Maritime are definitely NOT the worst colleges in the CSU system. </p>

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<p>I was pleasantly surprised CPP came that close just behind 3 CSUs, really. But I guess their STEM programs and location were that powerful. Also, kudos to Stanislaus and Sonoma…</p>

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<p>Doesn’t every UC rank nationally? Doesn’t that mean they all outrank CSUs? Even UC Merced or Riverside?</p>

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<p>@DickCheney‌ Yup, every UC is ranked above SDSU (the top CSU as of now and the only institution ranked as national) except Merced, where UCM is not even ranked at all anywhere like CSUDH and CSUEB. Thing is, UCs are known for their graduate school and research where as CSUs are solely based on undergraduate school; which is why UCs are “national” whereas the majority of CSUs are “regional”. </p>