The CSU System dominates Money.com’s list of Best Colleges in 2025 with all CSU campuses
getting high marks for social mobility, affordability, academic excellence and return
on investment. CSUCI and all of the other CSU campuses made Money.com’s 2025 list
of the “Best Colleges in America, which was released on June 25.
All CSUs earned four stars or better with 15 campuses ranking in the top 10%. Nine CSUs captured the publication's five-star rating—the most of any university system in the nation. The CSU is consistently recognized in college rankings for offering exceptional value, strong return on investment and socioeconomic mobility. Public policy think tank Third Way's 2024 Economic Mobility Index ranked CSUCI among the 50 best performing universities with CSUCI ranking at 39.
“The tremendous scale at which we are graduating and serving students across the CSU is truly impactful, and indeed unmatched among four-year higher education systems," said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. “This ranking further establishes the CSU's standing as a national model for delivering an accessible, high-quality education that uplifts individuals, families and entire communities."
Money's analysis showcases the country's top 732 colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more. To view the report, see: Best Colleges in America