CSUSM Again Rated Highly by Money Magazine

Cal State San Marcos received 4.5 out of a possible five stars on Money magazine's list of “Best Colleges in America" for 2026, which was released this summer.

The list, which includes 735 colleges, showcases the country’s top values, based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more.

For the fourth year in a row, Money presented its picks on a five-star scale to demonstrate colleges' relative performance without a numbered ranking, which the magazine says can often overstate small differences between relatively similar schools. CSUSM received 4.5 stars for the second consecutive year.

CSUSM was also on Money's list of “Best Public Colleges,” "Best Colleges in the West" and "Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates."

All 22 California State University schools made the list, including six that earned five stars.

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist
bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306