California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) was rated one of the best colleges in the nation in Money.com’s 2025 list of the “Best Colleges in America,” released on June 25. It joined eight other CSU campuses in earning Five Stars, the publication’s highest rating.
CSUDH placed in Money.com’s “Best Public Colleges,” “Best Colleges in the West,” and “Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates” rankings.
The publication pointed out that CSUDH’s accessibility and affordability were key factors in its high ranking. It called CSUDH “a catalyst for economic mobility,” and noted that the university has one of the highest ratings on think tank Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index, which measures how well colleges help lower-income students advance.
“In an era of rising college costs and growing national concern over student debt, CSUDH stands out as one of the most affordable institutions of higher education in the nation, while providing students opportunities in education, research and service that are truly accessible, equitable, and transformative,” said Acting Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Philip LaPolt of the new ranking.
Overall, CSU universities dominated the publication’s rankings for 2025. Fifteen of the system’s 23 campuses scored in the top 10% of their ratings, with nine of them getting Five Star scores, their highest rating. Nearly a quarter of the 5-star colleges on the entire 2025-2026 Best Colleges list are CSUs, which were noted by the publication for being engines of social mobility.
“The tremendous scale at which we are graduating and serving students across the CSU is truly impactful, and unmatched among four-year higher education systems,” said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. “Our students are juggling work, family responsibilities and their studies—demonstrating extraordinary determination and resolve.
“We are committed not only to expanding access to quality higher education, but also to ensuring career outcomes that empower and enrich our graduates long after they leave campus. This ranking further establishes the CSU’s standing as a national model for delivering an accessible, high-quality education that uplifts individuals, families and entire communities.”
