The University’s overall ranking also went up on this year’s U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list
U.S. News & World Report has ranked San Francisco State University eighth in the nation for social mobility in its 2024 Best Colleges list. San Francisco State’s overall ranking also jumped significantly over the previous year, up by 56, thanks to methodology changes that put more emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduates.
U.S. News & World Report changed its approach in response to criticism that some factors it previously weighted heavily, such as class size and alumni giving, tilted the scales in favor of wealthy private universities. For this year’s Best Colleges list, more than 50% of an institution’s rank was based on success in enrolling students from diverse backgrounds and graduating them with minimal debt. It also took the post-graduation success of graduates into account. As a result, several California State University (CSU) campuses saw significant jumps in their rankings, including SF State.
“SF State students come from diverse economic backgrounds — more than half of our students are fully supported by grant and scholarship aid,” said Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Katie Lynch. “It makes sense that we are an engine for social mobility, but it’s more than that. It is the experience that students have at State that allows them to give back to their families, communities and more.”
Key to many students’ success is being awarded a scholarship. Half of SF State students receive financial aid and/or scholarships, and even a small scholarship can make the difference between a student graduating or not.
On the 2024 Best Colleges list, SF State is ranked:
- #8 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tied with Oakland City University in Oakland City, Indiana)
- #96 in Top Public Schools
- #178 in National Universities
- #49 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
