Cal State Monterey Bay makes strong showing on Best Colleges 2027 Lists

By Melissa Anderson

Cal State Monterey Bay continued its strong showing in national rankings with the latest list released by U. S. News & World Report. In its annual publication of 2027 Best Colleges, the university held steady at No. 2 for Social Mobility, came out as No. 4 for Best Value for In-State Students, and sits at No. 6 for Top Public Schools in the Western region.

"I am delighted to see Cal State Monterey Bay in top slots for the Western region as U.S. News & World Report recognizes the value of our degrees and the hard work of our institution,” said Interim President Carlos Vargas. “The rankings reflect how well our institution supports students in launching meaningful careers, and in turn, how well we support the regional and state economy with talented graduates."

Cal State Monterey Bay was also listed as 12th overall among all Regional Universities in the West and No. 7 as a Best College for Veterans. Founded on a former military base, the university assists  veteran and military-connected students in achieving their higher education goals. 

Two undergraduate degree programs also made the list – nursing and psychology – both robust and growing programs at the university.

“It is tremendous to see our undergraduate nursing program receive this honor, especially as we just launched the Helen Baszucki School of Nursing last spring, and we are working to create a four-year bachelor of nursing program and a master’s of nursing degree,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Andrew Lawson. “Our university is a key partner in providing skilled and compassionate healthcare providers for our region.”

As a mid-size residential campus, Cal State Monterey Bay is known for strong mentorship opportunities, hands-on learning and robust support of research through its Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center. It has a growing number of academic programs, including recently launched degrees in accounting, mechatronics engineering, public health, English and history, with well-established programs that support top industries in the region such as agriculture and sustainable hospitality.

“This is great news to share as undergraduate students begin submitting their applications on October 1,” said Elizabeth Rountree, interim vice president for Enrollment Management. “Our rankings communicate to  prospective students and their families the value a Cal State Monterey Bay education offers while they are a student and also after they graduate.”