Forbes has named Cal Poly San Luis Obispo one of the magazine’s top 25 public colleges in its 2024-2025 list of America’s Best Colleges.
The university is also considered the best public master’s university in California and ranks 14th on the list of best public and private universities in the West in Forbes’ latest annual rankings, released on August 27.
Overall, Cal Poly ranked 57th among the 500 public and private nonprofit universities in the U.S. evaluated—up from 83rd in 2023. The top five are Princeton, Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale and UC Berkeley.
Among institutions in the Golden State, Cal Poly ranked 12th overall and 7th among public schools, behind the University of California campuses at Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Irvine and Davis. Cal Poly rose four spots from its 18th place ranking among Western schools in 2023.
Cal Poly is ranked among the top 25 public colleges along with seven other California colleges: the six UC campuses and San Diego State University. Cal Poly ranked 18th among public institutions and seventh among California colleges.
“While prestigious private colleges — particularly the eight Ivies — receive the lion’s share of media attention, it is public colleges that educate the majority of American students,” the magazine wrote. “Three out of five undergraduate students in the United States attend a public school.”
Cal Poly “offers its graduates high starting and average mid-career salaries, and they often work in technology, engineering and business,” the magazine reported.
According to Forbes, Cal Poly graduates earn an average of $72,358 two years after graduation. Ten years after graduation, the average graduate salary is $148,600.
“This ranking illustrates Cal Poly’s success in providing our students with a world-class education and preparing the leaders of tomorrow to meet the critical needs of our state, nation and world,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong.
