The first man on the moon, women’s rights activist Betty Friedan and the first African American MLB player, Jackie Robinson, all have one thing in common — they have all been featured in Time magazine.
Cal State Long Beach has joined the list, ranking as one of the top 10 universities in the nation by Time magazine.
This ranking is based on graduation rates, tuition costs and the number of students eligible for Pell Grants. Of the 2,500 schools considered, CSULB ranked higher than the other 22 Cal State University campuses and many other prestigious colleges across the nation.
The top 10 list is dominated by Southern California schools with UC Riverside at No.1, UC San Diego at No. 2, UC Irvine at No. 4 and UC Davis at No. 6.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, along with the Obama Administration, assessed the schools based on their accessibility and graduation rates.
Interim President Donald Para said that three factors separate CSULB from other universities in the Time ranking.
“We have broad range of accessibility, we are among schools with the least cost of tuition and our graduation rates are great,” he said. “We have been focused on [graduation rates] for over 10 years now, and that’s what student success is all about.”
Para said he was proud of CSULB’s high ranking
“The factors that this poll takes into account are factors that should be and are important to our institution,” he said. “The differences in this poll were the graduation rates and the percentages of Pell eligible students.”
Many college assessments are based on acceptance rates and test scores; however, theTime assessment is based on accessibility and future success of graduates.
Though proud, Para admitted that all college rankings are different and that none are perfect.
“Every ranking has its issues,” Para said. “They all take certain factors, and they weigh them in the ways that are appropriate for them.”
Students, such as communications major Keziah Njoroge, were proud to hear that their university had made the top 10 list.
“I think being mentioned in Time just goes to show how highly regarded [CSULB] is,” said Njoroge, who is also a Pell Grant recipient. “Long Beach gives so many students the opportunity to receive a quality education for a relatively low cost, whereas other schools only offer either low rates or quality but not always both.”
Senior international business major Ricardo Viayra, on the other hand, said he never expected the university to rank in a top 10 list.
“I never quite thought of this school as high ranked,” he said. “I’ve underrated this school myself most of my years here, but I’ve gotten to appreciate it, and it’s actually a very good school.”
Freshman political science and Chinese studies major Jordan Haynes said the cost and quality of education at CSULB provides a great value for parents.
“I never thought, when I was applying for schools, that CSULB had such a great academic program at such a great price,” Haynes said. “Especially because I have a twin sister who also goes to college.”
Freshman psychology major Delmy Acosta said the Time magazine ranking was well-deserved.
“I think it’s good,” she said. “When I was applying, I learned this was one of the best options for me, especially living in Long Beach. CSULB was definitely my first choice.”
Assistant City Editors Donn Gruta and Andrew Spencer contributed to this report.