Cal State Monterey Bay has been recognized with a 4.5-star rating on Money's annual Best Colleges in America list, highlighting its quality of education and economic mobility.

Every California State University campus received four stars or higher in Money's 2025 survey of Best Colleges in America. Here's a closer look.

California State University-Monterey Bay* Per the 2022-2023 final release data in IPEDS The median salary for workers with 10 or more years of experience per Payscale.

The university joins 17 other California colleges, including UC Berkeley and UCLA, in receiving the distinction.

These Valley schools are among 18 California colleges earning top scores in Money’s 2025 Best Colleges in America.

California State University-San Marcos is a large public university in northern San Diego County that emphasizes professional readiness. The university offers more than 40 bachelor’s degrees.

Undocumented students in California navigate uncertainty and fear under Trump President Trump signed 10 executive orders regarding immigration and declared a national emergency at the southern border.