CSU, Chico Moves up on US News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings

Just a month into the new academic year, and California State University, Chico has been honored as one of the top higher education institutions in not just the West region, but also in the nation.

In its Best Colleges Rankings for 2021, US News & World Report recognized CSU, Chico on several different lists, including tied for No. 26 on the Best Regional Universities West Rankings and tied for No. 9 on the Top Public Schools, Regional Universities West.

The University also appeared on four other US News & World Report Best Colleges lists, highlighting its regional and national excellence—Best Colleges for Veterans, tied for No. 16; Best Undergraduate Teaching, Regional Universities West, tied for No. 22; Top Performers on Social Mobility, Regional Universities West, tied for No. 41 out of 124 schools; and Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, tied for No. 91 out of 220 national colleges and universities that do not offer doctorates.

CSU, Chico Director of Admissions Kim Guanzon noted that as students become more diverse on campuses around the country, colleges and universities must keep up to provide services and resources that meet the students’ unique needs, maximize their experiences and prepare them for the workforce, while not creating a financial burden.

“The diversity of this year’s US News & World Report rankings underscores the resources and educational opportunities the faculty and staff provide for our students,” Guanzon said. “Chico State’s faculty and staff, all across our campus, are committed to meeting our students where they are and preparing them for life post-graduation.”

The University moved up one spot from last year’s placement on the Best Regional Universities West Rankings and matched last year’s Top Public Schools, Regional Universities West ranking. The CSU system saw six of its own appear in the top 25 of Best Regional Universities in the West, including Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at No. 3; Cal Poly Pomona tied at No. 10; Cal State Long Beach at No. 14; Cal State Fullerton tied at No. 16; San José State tied at No. 22; and CSU, Monterey Bay at No. 25.

And in the listing of Top Public Schools in the West region, eight CSU institutions appeared in the top 10—top-ranked Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly Pomona at No. 2; Cal State Long Beach at No. 3; Cal State Fullerton at No. 4; San José State tied at No. 7; and CSU, Monterey Bay at No. 8; and Cal State LA tied with CSU, Chico at No. 9.

To compile its rankings, US News & World Report factored graduation and retention rates, graduate rate performance, social mobility, faculty resources, expert opinion, financial resources, student academic excellence and alumni giving among its methodology.

CSU, Chico remains a mainstay on many state, regional and national rankings, Since the beginning of 2020, the University has been ranked as one of the nation’s top schools in a consensus report, honored as one of the nation’s top colleges for an agriculture degree, recognized for its commitment for on-campus tree conservation and celebrated as having one of the state’s top RN programs.

More recently, the University was honored by Money magazine at No. 52 as a best-value college and ranked No. 5 nationally for lowest student debt, as well as being named one of the West region’s best bangs for the buck by Washington Monthly.