Cal Poly has been named best overall master’s-level university in the West for both public and private institutions for the second year in a row in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges guidebook.
 
It’s the 32nd straight year the Learn by Doing university is ranked best public institution in the West and the second year running it has been ranked tops among all 118 public and private institutions in the region.
 
The 2025 U.S. News & World Report, the magazine’s 40th rankings edition, released Sept. 24 and evaluated over 1,800 institutions on as many as 17 areas, including statistics that pertain to measures reflecting academic quality and graduate outcomes — factors universally important to prospective students and their families.
 
Cal Poly was again named No. 1 in the West for Most Innovative Schools; several College of Engineering programs were ranked among the top five in the nation for masters-level educational institutions; and the university ranked for the fifth straight year as the top school in the West for veterans among public and private institutions that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.
 
The Western regional rankings include public and private institutions in 15 states that provide “a full range of undergraduate and master’s-level programs but few doctoral programs.” (Universities that grant doctoral degrees, such as those in the University of California system, are listed in a separate category.)
 
“We are proud that Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach to education, and the work of our students, faculty and staff, is continually recognized as the best in the West,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “It shows that Cal Poly is a destination where students can make an impact on their communities from the very beginning of their time on campus and continue to develop and refine their skills as they join the workforce or continue their education.
 
“As we continue to seek innovative ways to grow and serve more students of California and beyond, we’re excited to work alongside members of the campus community, parents and supporters, alumni, industry partners and donors to build on our momentum and continue to see Cal Poly recognized as one of the finest universities in the nation.”
 
Cal Poly placed highly in several other rankings, including:
 
Repeating as the top-listed university in the West for Most Innovative Schools
Institutions that are making the most innovative improvements and “promising changes” in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities, according to U.S. News. Cal Poly has received this ranking each since 2018.
 
Best in the West for the fifth straight year for most veteran-friendly universities
A listing that shows the top-ranked schools that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.
 
Ranked seventh in Best Value Schools
Cal Poly moved up 10 spots in the ranking that considers a school's academic quality (based on its 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking) and the 2023-24 net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student receiving the average level of need-based financial aid. “The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal,” the guide reported.
 
Ranked in the top 10 in best master’s-level engineering programs in the nation
Among specialty programs, Cal Poly’s Computer Engineering remained at the top of public and private institutions, and Civil Engineering rose to the top spot after ranking second last year. The Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs were ranked No. 2 overall.
 
Ranked in the top 70 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
This category ranks Western schools that “advance social mobility” by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. The bulk of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000. Cal Poly rose six spots to tie for 69th this year.

Visit US News & World Report for more on this year's regional rankings.

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