PolyCentric University News Center

Cal Poly Pomona ranked among the top universities in the West in the newly released 2005 edition of “America's Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report.

The university placed fifth on the list of “Top PUBLIC Universities-Master's” in the Western United States, which includes all public schools whose highest degrees are bachelor's and master's. Among both public and private universities, in the category “Best Universities-Master's,” it ranked 35th in the top tier of Western universities with undergraduate and master's programs.

The university's diversity was also acknowledged. With a diversity index of 0.68 — only 0.05 from the most diverse university in the nation — Cal Poly Pomona boasts the fifth most diverse student body in the Western region, in a tie with Houston Baptist University.

The university's College of Engineering earned additional honors, ranked 14th in the nation on the list of “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.”

“We've always been proud of the quality, affordable education we provide at Cal Poly Pomona,” says university President Michael Ortiz. “Despite the challenge of the state fiscal crisis, Cal Poly Pomona remains positioned as a premier regional university. We appreciate the fact that our peers have recognized our faculty and staff, a group committed to providing our students with an outstanding learning experience.”

Rankings are calculated by surveying deans and senior faculty from schools nationwide, who rated each program they were familiar with on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished). Cal Poly Pomona received a peer assessment score of 3.2.