For the 18th consecutive year, California State University, Stanislaus has earned a spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of best colleges in the west.

CSU Stanislaus placed 57th overall and 17th in the publication’s Regional University West Rankings. In the rankings, the publication applauded the university for its overall quality, affordability and value, and friendliness to the military and veterans.

"These rankings reflect our efforts to give CSU Stanislaus students the best possible educational experience and prepare them to be integral contributors to the region’s workforce,” said CSU Stanislaus President Joseph Sheley. “We are very proud."

To determine its rankings, U.S. News & World Report gathers data from and about each school in up to 16 areas related to academic excellence. The areas are weighted by the publisher, and the colleges are then ranked by their composite weighted score. 

While receiving high marks for quality, CSU Stanislaus was also praised for its affordability and value to students. The website Affordable Colleges Online listed CSU Stanislaus No. 64 on its “Obama Scorecard Colleges” list, which attempts to rank the top 100 schools most likely to achieve the upcoming presidential designation. The Obama administration has announced a plan to release a scorecard ranking colleges and universities based on their value to students.

While the official scorecard is likely years away, Affordable Colleges created its own version using weighted metrics such as net price (tuition and fees, minus grant and scholarship money per student), student loan default rate, graduation rates, student services, and starting salaries for graduates. CSU Stanislaus ranked behind only Cal Poly Pomona among CSU campuses on the list.

The university was also named for the third consecutive year as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media. The designation is given to the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the nation that embrace military service members, veterans and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus. 

Over the past three years, CSU Stanislaus has expanded its veteran services by opening a Student Veteran Center, establishing a Student Veterans Club, beginning a Veteran New Student Orientation and hiring a veteran advisor to help with general education requirements and career planning. The campus also works with outside agencies to provide information and services to veteran students, and it holds a veteran commencement ceremony in May and a “Thank a Veteran” event in November.