News Summary
California State University (CSU) institutions have gained recognition for their accessibility and value in education for the 2025-2026 academic year. Cal State Fullerton leads the CSU system with a high acceptance rate and large student enrollment. UC Irvine celebrates its 60th anniversary, maintaining a significant presence among public universities, while Chapman University is noted for its intimate setting and distinguished programs. Overall, the CSU system continues to be a leader in providing quality education and economic mobility for its students.
California State University (CSU) system institutions have achieved prominent rankings in terms of accessibility and value for the 2025-2026 academic year. Among these, Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) leads as the most popular school in the CSU system, showcasing a large student body and a high acceptance rate.
CSUF boasts the largest enrollment in the CSU system, with nearly 87% of applicants gaining admission. It has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Global Universities, particularly excelling in social sciences and public health fields. Furthermore, various graduate programs at CSUF, such as nursing and business, have been ranked among the best in the nation.
Ranked as sixth highest for transfer students and seventh out of 400 U.S. colleges on the Best Value list by The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse for 2024, CSUF is noted for its financial support. Money Magazine has awarded it a rating of 4.5 out of five stars in its Best Colleges list, highlighting quality education, affordability, and favorable student outcomes. A notable feature of CSUF is its ability to help students graduate with little to no debt.
UC Irvine, marking its 60th anniversary, is recognized as one of the nation’s leading institutions, often compared to Ivy League schools. UC Irvine has produced five Nobel Prize winners and consistently earns rankings in the top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university’s five-year graduation rate exceeds 85%, with popular majors including biology, economics, psychology, and computer science. Additionally, it has recently been ranked fourth for best value college among public schools by the Princeton Review.
Chapman University stands out due to its intimate campus atmosphere and is a notable producer of Fulbright Scholars, ranking within the top 150 of Best Value Schools according to U.S. News. The university reportedly offers distinguished programs in film, business, computer science, and psychology, with an impressive average six-year graduation rate of 81%.
The CSU system comprises 23 universities that collectively enroll more than 460,000 students, making it the largest four-year public university system in the nation. Highlighting the competitiveness of these institutions, California Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) has earned a reputation for rigorous academics, maintaining a 30% acceptance rate, making it the hardest CSU to gain admission to.
CSU Long Beach, with its expansive 322-acre campus, is the second-largest campus in the CSU system, offering over 190 academic programs. Meanwhile, California State University, Los Angeles excels in promoting economic mobility, being recognized by the College Futures Foundation’s California Mobility Index as the leading institution for creating economic opportunities for students.
Within the CSU system, CSUF’s online engineering and business graduate programs have gained significant recognition, ranking among the top 30 in the country for 2025. Notably, the online engineering programs in Software Engineering and Environmental Engineering ranked No. 28, while CSUF’s graduate business program climbed 22 spots to achieve a national ranking of No. 29.
CSUF also received a 5-star rating from Money’s Best Colleges in America list, reflecting high standards in quality education and favorable student outcomes. Furthermore, other institutions like Caltech have highlighted high graduation rates and esteemed programs in engineering and computer science.
Educational institutions such as Pomona College and Claremont McKenna College have secured top spots among national liberal arts colleges, while UC Riverside has led public schools in social mobility for eight consecutive years. The prestigious University of Southern California (USC) is currently tied for No. 27 among national universities, showcasing a fluctuating but robust presence in higher education rankings.
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Additional Resources
- U.S. News & World Report Names CSUF Among California’s Top Programs
- U.S. News World Report College Rankings: CSUSB
- Money Names Cal State Fullerton Among Best U.S. Colleges for 2025
- Southern California Schools in U.S. News Rankings
- Forbes Ranks Cal State Fullerton Among America’s Top Colleges
- Wikipedia: California State University
- Google Search: California State University rankings
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
