Cal Poly Pomona achieved a greater excellence ranking of second place in the “Top Public Schools” in the West category, according to the Sept. 9 edition of U.S. News and World Report, rising from fourth place last year.
CPP proceeded to excel, ranking at 14th in the “Best Regional Universities West Rankings,” improving from 28th last year — tying with Mount Saint Mary’s University.
This list compiles both private and public institutions in the West region.
CPP President Soraya Coley said she’s proud of this achievement and knows it takes contributions from all areas of the university to achieve this ranking.
“The U.S. News rankings only serve to validate what those of us who teach, study and learn here already know, that Cal Poly Pomona is a world-class university,” Coley said. “And the fact that we are improving year after year is proof of the hard work of our faculty and staff, and most importantly, a testament to the determination of our students to succeed.”
(Grace Mikuriya | The Poly Post)
CPP is ranked third among the “Most Innovative Schools,” which U.S. News defines as institutions “that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.”
Coley stated CPP is a great institution for students to prosper because the university supplies their students with suitable resources such as a six-story library, career center, databases, multiple career fairs and much more to help them improve yearly.
“Seventy-five percent of the U.S. News rankings are based on student outcomes, faculty resources and reputation,” Coley said. “We’re moving up in the rankings because our graduation rates are improving. We’re investing in our faculty and our reputation for distinctive excellence among our peers is becoming stronger year after year.”
CPP ranked ninth place for the “Best Undergraduate Teaching,” tying with Mills College, which U.S. News defines as colleges having a strong commitment to teaching undergraduates instead of conducting graduate-level research.
Frank Brown, a professor in the communication department, is ready to continue the excellence the university carries.
“(It) is excellent for Cal Poly, for the institution, to be judged as such,” Brown said. “It is wonderful for administrators, faculty, students and staff to be recognized as doing such a wonderful job. I am simply honored and believe that I am quite lucky and blessed to find myself in such an environment. I’m pleased and happy to be a part of a wonderful institution.”
CPP is also ranked ninth for “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” tying with Cal State San Bernardino.
U.S. News specifies social mobility in universities as “universities which enroll and graduate a large portion of disadvantaged students whose adjusted gross family income is under $50,000.”
CPP is among the top universities that help low-income students with financial problems.
First-year political science student Christopher Tapia is among this group and is glad to be accepted into an institution that supports financially struggling students.
“I feel great knowing the school has my back and I am able to get my education for something I want to pursue in,” Tapia said. “I feel they should be ranked higher because they help a lot of other college students with low income.”
To see how CPP ranks in all other categories and against other institutions in the 2019 U.S. News Best Colleges Report, visit www.usnews.com/best-colleges.
