U.S. News and World Report has named Cal Poly one of the best public-master’s universities in the west for the 14th consecutive year. Overall, Cal Poly took seventh place in the Best in West category.
The only other two California colleges that ranked higher than Cal Poly on the list were Loyola Marymount University at fifth place and Santa Clara University at second.
Trinity University of Texas took the top of the list.
The rankings are divided into categories of study and evaluated based on a list of 15 factors that judge SAT scores, graduate retention and research activity, class size, student/faculty ratio and more.
Rankings can then be tabulated based on an institution’s weighted score within its own category. Students, faculty and professionals in the field rate each campus. Categories include business, engineering, master’s and national universities and liberal arts colleges. All institutions must be accredited.
“We’re happy with the ranking. It’s a reflection of our students and faculty,” director of admissions and recruitment, Jim Maraviglia said.
The College of Engineering earned second place out of public school programs that offer a bachelor’s or master’s degree under the Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.
Cal Poly’s electrical engineering and industrial /manufacturing programs were among the top programs of their specialty category for a public university. In addition, computer science ranked No. 2 and aerospace took No. 3 in their own specialty areas.
Although data shows students and parents look at these reports, Maraviglia stresses what’s more important than any ranking is the curriculum and the teaching philosophy of Cal Poly.
Lucas Oliveira and Mike Wolfe, both senior electrical engineering students, said companies within the industry already know Cal Poly by name, the rankings only hold bearing on boosting Cal Poly’s image. Wolfe said the rankings help the parents more than the students.
“It’s good for our own personal self esteem,” Oliveira said.
Wolfe shared that even though a graduate of an Ivy League school graduates with a higher grade point average, a company rather hire a student with more experience. Cal Poly requires engineering students to take a lab each quarter, offering more experience.
“It’s always nice to be noticed,” Maraviglia said.
And Cal Poly continues to be recognized in other studies as well. In a survey done by the Princeton Review on how happy students are with their college experience,
Cal Poly ranked 15th of 115,000 students surveyed at 361 schools.
Three hundred Cal Poly students participated in the Princeton Review survey.
Questions included in the survey pertained to how the students rated campus food, professors and social activities offered in the area. Cal Poly students polled they were “very” happy.
To see where other colleges ranked in comparison to Cal Poly for the Best Schools in the West, check out www.usnews.com.