The Princeton Review has once again named Stanislaus State one of the top colleges in the nation — marking 20 consecutive years of national recognition underscoring the University’s rise as a national model for student-centered education.
The organization released its annual “Best 391 Colleges for 2026” list and college guide on Tuesday, Aug. 12, highlighting the nation’s top universities for undergraduates. The University is also featured on the publication’s list of the Top 20 Best Public Schools for Making an Impact, ranking No. 9 nationally — a distinction based on student ratings of community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts and on-campus engagement.
Only about 15% of the nation’s four-year universities are profiled in the guide, and Stanislaus State is one of just two California State University campuses — along with San Diego State — to make the list. The “Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition,” is the organization’s 34th guide.
The Princeton Review — an education services company known for its tutoring, test-preparation, admission services, books and other learning resources — selects colleges based on student feedback about their campus experiences, along with annual surveys of 2,000 college administrators about their institutions’ academic offerings.
“Stanislaus State has outstanding academic programs and the feedback we received about Stan State from its students we surveyed was very impressive,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief and lead author of The Best 391 Colleges. “We are delighted to name Stan State one of our Best Colleges for 2026 and to recommend it to students searching for their ‘best-fit’ college.”
The guide’s methodology incorporates reviews from 170,000 students across the 391 schools featured, covering various areas including academics, administration, financial aid and campus life. Responses are collected through an 89-question survey is available to students throughout the school year, with an average of 430 surveys gathered per school.
Student feedback in the 2026 edition describes Stanislaus State as an “uncut gem,” offering the “highest level of education that you can receive for the smallest amount of money.” Students praised the University’s supportive environment, noting a low student-to-teacher ratio and faculty members who “work hard to make sure students’ needs are met.” One undergraduate student wrote, “Stan State is dedicated to its students’ education.”
In a “Survey Says” sidebar in the guide’s profile on Stan State, The Princeton Review lists topics that surveyed students agreed with most, including:
- Beautiful and peaceful campus
- Active student government
- Great library and resources
- Friendly students
- Active affinity support groups
- School spirit and campus pride
Stan State’s inclusion on the Best Colleges list adds to the University’s growing list of accolades. This past June, The Princeton Review named Stan State among the nation’s Best Value Colleges for 2025, highlighting academic excellence, affordability and strong career outcomes. On July 22, The Review also named Stanislaus State’s Online Master of Business Administration program among the nation’s Best Online MBA Programs for 2025, recognizing its exceptional academics, flexibility and innovative technology.
Also in July, Money.com awarded Stan State a five-star rating for the second consecutive year, placing it among the top colleges in the nation for quality and return on investment.
The University also earned a No. 3 ranking in the California Mobility Index from the College Futures Foundation and the HEA Group, an honor that reinforces Stan State’s role in advancing equitable, high-quality education and transformative opportunity.
