CBU ranks in U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2024) — California Baptist University received high marks in the U.S. News & World Report annual 2025 Best Colleges rankings.

In the listings, released Sept. 24, CBU claimed the No. 2 spot for Most Innovative Schools in Regional Universities in the West. The list is curated by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans who are asked to nominate up to 15 peer colleges that are making the most innovative improvements in curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

CBU also received a No. 30 spot for Best Regional University in the West.

The 2024 rankings mark the 11th consecutive year CBU has received a top-50 ranking in the publication’s Best Regional Universities category for public and private colleges in the West. It is also the 19th year CBU has appeared on the Best Colleges list.

CBU earned significant placement in several other U.S. News & World Report categories: No. 26 for Best Colleges for Veterans; No. 28 in the Best Value Schools category; and No. 29 for Top Performers on Social Mobility (based on graduating students who received federal Pell Grants).

The U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Universities category compares nearly 600 institutions in four regions of the nation that offer a broad scope of undergraduate and master's degrees but few, if any, doctoral programs.

CBU is committed to offering high-quality academic programs that prepare students for future success in the workforce. With a dedicated team of faculty and staff, CBU is focused on providing an exceptional educational experience while fostering an innovative learning environment.

CBU offers nine doctoral programs, 41 master’s programs and more than 100 bachelor’s programs.

U.S. News & World Report publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to aid prospective students and their parents looking for the best academic value for their money. Now in its 40th year, the annual comparative listing uses a system of weighted indicators of academic excellence to rank universities. Those indicators include student selectivity, retention and graduation rates, assessment by peer institutions, faculty resources, financial resources and alumni giving, according to the U.S. News website.