SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 38 overall in the nation in TIME Magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027 list of 500 U.S. colleges and universities.

TIME’s new rankings emphasize U.S. universities’ excellence in student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness. 

Cal Poly’s placement among the nation’s top 40 universities and at No. 10 among public institutions underscores the university's continued focus on providing a high-value, hands-on education that prepares graduates to lead in their fields and make an impact.

“Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach prepares students not only to earn a degree but also to make meaningful contributions from day one on the job,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “Students and their families are making important investments of time and resources in a college education, and they rightly expect a strong return. This national recognition reflects the value of a Cal Poly education and the extraordinary commitment of our faculty and staff to helping students succeed.” 

TIME partnered with Statista for a rigorous methodology that analyzed federal data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. The analysis also emphasizes the value an institution contributes to student success while avoiding historical institutional reputation indicators.

Cal Poly received a 95.11% score for student outcomes, the ranking’s most heavily weighted category, with 75% of an institution’s overall score. Learning environment accounts for 15% of the score, while attractiveness to prospective students accounts for 10%.

Cal Poly is one of four public California universities among the Top 40, along with UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego. 

More information about TIME’s America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027 ranking and methodology is available at TIME.