Contact: Matt Lazier
805-756-7109; mlazier@calpoly.edu

Magazine’s latest list of top 500 American colleges and universities ranks Cal Poly as the eighth best public university and 12th among all institutions in California

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly is again one of Forbes’ Top 25 Public Colleges, as part of the magazine’s 2025-26 list of America’s Top Colleges.

Overall, Cal Poly was 55th in the nation — up from 57th in 2024 and No. 83 in 2023 — among the 500 ranked public and private not-for-profit universities in the U.S.

The rankings, released Aug. 26, looked far beyond the Ivy League. Its top school was Massachusetts Institute of Technology of Boston. Also in the top five were Columbia University in New York; Princeton University of New Jersey; and the Golden State’s Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley.

Among public and private institutions in California, Cal Poly was 12th overall for the second consecutive year and again seventh among public schools, behind University of California campuses at Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, Santa Barbara and Davis (all doctorate-level institutions).

The ranking highlights how Learn by Doing helps prepare Cal Poly students for success.

“Families find a Cal Poly education a great return on investment, while our students remain attracted to our hands-on, Learn by Doing approach,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “For decades, employers have found value in classroom, campus club and lab experiences that transform our students into graduates ready to succeed in their careers and their communities from Day One.”

In the Top 25 Public Colleges rankings, Cal Poly again joined seven other California schools, all UC campuses. Cal Poly moved up one spot to 17th overall among public institutions nationally.

“These 25 public schools,” the magazine reported, “give the private elites a run for their money. Their students have strong academic outcomes, high salaries and less debt. As public universities brace for the impact of slashed research funding and future enrollment declines, they’re still doing the bulk of the work of educating America’s students and doing it at a lower price than their private counterparts.”

Forbes highlighted Cal Poly’s acceptance rate of just below 30%, adding that the university’s “graduates earn a median salary of $83,200 three years after graduating, which jumps to $153,100 at 20 years.”

Forbes’ annual list showcases schools that produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt. It includes doctoral research universities, master’s universities and colleges and baccalaureate colleges, as well as colleges that offer specialized programs in engineering, business and art.

The methodology included: alumni salary; student debt; graduation rate; Forbes American Leaders List (an assessment of the leadership and entrepreneurship of a school’s graduates); return on investment; retention rate; and academic success.

To see the full Forbes Best Colleges list, visit: https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/.

This is the second major ranking Cal Poly has received this summer. In July, Cal Poly received Money magazine’s top five-star ranking in its 2025-26 Best Colleges in America list, which is designed to help students and their parents choose a school in terms of value. Money’s analysis in its 11th annual list showcased the top 732 American colleges and universities on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more.

Top photo: Cal Poly is again one of Forbes magazines’ Top 25 Public Colleges, as part of the publication’s 2025-26 list of America’s Top Colleges. The annual list showcases schools that produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt. It includes doctoral research universities, master’s universities and colleges and baccalaureate colleges, as well as colleges that offer specialized programs in engineering, business and art.  Photo by Brittany App