No. 8 Nationally for Social Mobility

By BoNhia Lee

Fresno State continues to climb national college rankings for social mobility, a measurement of universities that provide a quality education at an affordable price to create opportunities for students to move from one socioeconomic class to another.

Fresno State jumped to No. 8 among all colleges nationwide for social mobility in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings published Sept. 18. Last year, Fresno State ranked No. 30.

“This high and significant ranking on social mobility is especially important for our students, their families and our region, as it means that Fresno State allows our students to find the best versions of themselves, and in doing so, they become the leaders we all need in our Valley and the world,” says Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval. “That’s why graduation day is so meaningful to me — we are graduating the leader- professionals who will strengthen communities and elevate the quality of life for everyone in our Valley.”

About 65% of Fresno State students are the first in their families to attend college, while many others continue a proud family legacy as second- or third-generation Bulldogs. About 80% of graduates stay and work in the San Joaquin Valley.

U.S. News and World Report has published its Best College rankings for the past 39 years as a guide for students and parents to compare the academic quality of universities and colleges across the nation and find those that best meet their needs.

The rankings evaluated nearly 1,500 campuses on a number of factors, including graduation and retention rates, Pell graduation rates, financial resources, peer assessments and graduation-rate performance.

Here’s a look at other U.S. News categories where Fresno State continues to deliver on its mission to educate and empower students for success:

• Fresno State is ranked No. 101 among the top public schools nationally and No. 185 overall nationally.
• No. 12 for best electrical, electronic and communications engineering and No. 49 for best undergraduate engineering program, non-doctorate. These categories are based on peer assessment surveys.
• The university honors veterans for their service and provides resources to get veterans back on track to earning a degree. Fresno State ranked No. 129 in Best Colleges for Veterans nationally.

In October, Fresno State was ranked No. 6 in the nation among public and private universities for social mobility in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges rankings.

In August, the university rose to No. 26 nationally in Washington Monthly’s 2023 annual list of top universities, and No. 13 in the Best Bang for the Buck: West category.

Early this summer, Fresno State received a 4.5-star rating on a 5-star scale in Money’s new 2023 Best Colleges rating of the nation’s best colleges for quality and affordability.