Fourth annual list also names Cal Poly among the nation’s Top 50 Public Universities

Cal Poly has been named the best master’s-level public university in California and is in the top 50 public universities in the U.S. in the recently released Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings.

The WSJ/THE rankings emphasize how well a college or university will prepare students for life after graduation. Among 801 colleges and universities ranked across the nation. Cal Poly placed No. 193 overall — up 19 spots from last year. 

Cal Poly was No. 8 among all California public institutions, behind seven of the campuses in the University of California system (which grants doctoral degrees). Cal Poly ranked 50th out of all public colleges and universities in the nation. 

The WSJ/THE rankings come as U.S. News & World Report named Cal Poly the best public, master’s-level university in the West for the 27th straight year and Forbes once again designated Cal Poly the top public masters-level university in the state.

“These rankings are a testament to how the Learn by Doing experience impacts our students and their ability to become leaders in their professions and their communities,” Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said. “Through the dedication of our world-class faculty and staff and support of our alumni and industry partners, Learn by Doing is changing students’ lives and preparing them to address the problems of our ever more complex society.”

At the heart of the annual WSJ/THE rankings are outcomes, such as return on investment. The rankings this year take into account roughly 174,000 responses from students to survey questions, including whether they feel inspired and motivated by their classmates, whether they think their college is worth what they and their families are paying, and whether they would choose the same school if they had to start all over again.

At Cal Poly, the survey results showed most students said they made the right choice in attending the university, that it is worth the cost of attendance, and that it provides an environment where they feel inspired.