Wall Street Journal ranking places CSULB in the top 50 of U.S. institutions

For the first time, Cal State Long Beach has ranked in the top 50 in the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse's 2026 "Best Colleges in America" list, published Monday. The Beach's No. 43 ranking is a leap up from the publication's 2025 results, when CSULB scored No. 67 in the country.

The "Best Colleges" ranking focuses on how well colleges and universities prepare students for financial success but includes other factors as well.

The Wall Street Journal ranking - developed and executed with research partners College Pulse and Statista - looks at several factors, including student outcomes, learning environment and diversity. In the student outcomes category, which is the most heavily weighted at 70%, the ranking examines salary impact, years to pay off net price, and graduation rate impact. CSULB did particularly well in the graduate rate score, with a 99 out of 100.

In the learning environment category (20%), learning opportunities, preparation for career, learning facilities and student recommendations are considered.

The diversity category (10%) looks at ethnic diversity, inclusion of students with lower family earnings and inclusion of students with disabilities. The Beach also did well in this category, with a 94 score.

CSULB's high marks - in the top 7.36% - in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse's "Best Colleges in America" underscore The Beach's stature as a top educational institution that promotes social mobility and achievement.

Last week, Cal State Long Beach ranked No. 3 among national universities for "Top Performers on Social Mobility," according to U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

And in August, CSULB ranked No. 9 in the nation in Washington Monthly's survey of "Best Colleges Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars." The publication also ranked CSULB No. 4 in its "Best Bang for the Buck: West" assessment. In 2025, The Beach ranked No. 15 in that same survey.