When it comes to changing the lives of its students, UC Merced is second to none, while Stanislaus State is second only to UC Merced.
In the Wall Street Journal’s rankings of America's best colleges, UC Merced ranked No. 1 in the nation for social mobility — a term used to describe how well colleges and universities attract, retain and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers. Stanislaus State ranked No. 2.
Fresno State ranked fourth in the nation, behind No. 3 UC San Bernardino, meaning three of the top four colleges in the country in terms of social mobility are located in the Central Valley.
In the overall rankings, UC Merced was named the 18th-best university in the nation, up from 59th last year. The university also climbed 10 spots from last year among public institutions to claim the No. 5 position. In addition to being ranked No. 2 in the nation for Social Mobility, Stanislaus State was ranked No. 24 overall, No. 9 among the top public schools and No. 10 for Best Value. It is one of 15 CSU campuses included on the list.
“At UC Merced, we routinely say that we don’t do what we do for rankings,” chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said in press release. “But when you excel, others will always take notice. We hope this recent acknowledgment will be yet another opportunity for people to learn about the exceptional culture of student success that has taken root at UC Merced. Year after year, we are delivering on our promise of access, excellence, and opportunity for the students who choose to attend UC Merced.”
“I am absolutely thrilled that Stan State has been ranked No. 2 for social mobility and as the 9th best public university in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal,” Stanislaus State President Britt Rios-Ellis said in a press release. “This outstanding ranking really speaks to the heart of what our University is all about — transformational education and student success in the heart of the Central Valley.
“What makes this recognition even more meaningful is that it considers student feedback, clearly demonstrating that we are cultivating a space where students thrive with a strong sense of belonging. The Stan State community works every day to make sure each student has the support they need to thrive. I’m beyond excited to watch our amazing campus community continue to make Stan State and the Central Valley a place where dreams come to life and brilliant futures are built.”
In the annual report, the Wall Street Journal — in collaboration with research partners College Pulse and Statista — examines several factors including student outcomes, the learning environment and diversity. The social mobility rankings also take into consideration the proportion of students coming from lower-income families, graduation rates, impact on graduate salaries and affordability.
Almost 60 percent of the student body at UC Merced are Pell-eligible and 65 percent are first-generation. Students in these categories face unique challenges, so providing readily accessible resources is vital to ensure their success. Crucial to this work is making contact before they step foot on campus, which requires strategic outreach to school districts.
UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnerships was created for this reason. CEP works with K-12 sites throughout the Central Valley to advance college and career readiness at middle and high schools. Parents are also engaged in an effort to empower them to clearly understand the college application and financial aid processes.
“UC Merced is redefining post-secondary opportunity and excellence,” said Muñoz. “For far too long, lower-income students, including those from our region, were told that a UC education was unattainable. But thanks to the tireless work of our faculty and staff, as well as our partners and supporters, that is no longer the case.”
In August, Stanislaus State was recognized in the Washington Monthly’s annual “College Guide and Rankings.” The university landed the No. 4 position in the West for “Best Bang for the Buck.” That ranking identifies universities that excel in supporting students from historically under-resourced backgrounds in obtaining career-ready degrees at affordable prices.
Stan State also earned the No. 7 spot on the Monthly’s national “Master’s University Rankings” list. The master’s category honors four-year liberal arts institutions that emphasize arts and sciences over professional programs, with evaluations based on their efforts in social mobility, research and the promotion of public service.
“These rankings highlight how we prepare our students for meaningful careers that contribute to their economic mobility and long-term success. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we create a nurturing environment where our students can leverage their cultural capital to drive academic and personal success. Our students don’t just strive for greatness — they graduate and become a powerful force driving health and prosperity in the Central Valley.”
In other recent rankings, Stanislaus State earned a spot on The Princeton Review’s list of “Best 390 Colleges” for 2025, marking the University’s 19th consecutive year on the national list of best colleges. The Princeton Review also recognized Stan State as one of the top 79 colleges in the West and in June, it named Stan State’s Online MBA program as one of the top 163 in the nation. U.S. News & World Report commended Stan State graduate programs among the top 300 in the nation in April.
— Journal editor Kristina Hacker contributed to this report.
