California State University, San Bernardino has again earned Money magazine’s highest distinction, receiving a five-star rating in the publication’s 2026 Best Colleges list, which evaluates colleges on value rather than assigning traditional numerical rankings.

CSUSB is one of only six campuses in the 22-campus California State University system to receive Money’s five-star rating in 2026, joining Cal State Fresno, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Stanislaus and San José State University.

"Receiving Money magazine's highest five-star rating for the second consecutive year affirms what our students, faculty and staff demonstrate every day – that Cal State San Bernardino delivers an exceptional education while remaining accessible and affordable," said university President Tomás D. Morales. "Our mission has always been to expand opportunity and transform lives through higher education. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to student success, academic excellence and preparing graduates to thrive in their careers and serve their communities."

The recognition marks the second consecutive year CSUSB has received a five-star rating. In 2025, the university was among nine CSU campuses to earn the publication’s top distinction.

Unlike conventional college rankings, Money groups institutions into its star rating categories that range from two to five stars. The publication says the approach better reflects meaningful differences in institutional performance and avoids overstating small score differences that can separate schools in numerical rankings.

For its 2026 Best Colleges list, Money evaluated more than 2,400 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges nationwide. Schools first had to meet eligibility standards, including minimum enrollment, reliable institutional data, financial stability and strong graduation outcomes. A total of 735 colleges qualified for evaluation.

Money then assessed eligible institutions using 25 metrics across three weighted categories: quality of education (30%), affordability (40%) and outcomes (30%). The measures include graduation rates, net price, financial aid, student debt, alumni earnings, economic mobility and student loan repayment, among other factors. Colleges were then assigned one of seven star ratings, with five stars representing schools that score exceptionally high across most of the publication’s metrics.

According to Money, the ratings are designed to help students and families identify colleges that deliver strong educational value while fitting their financial circumstances.

Money notes that about 70% of CSUSB’s undergraduate students are Hispanic, reflecting the university’s designation as a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution. The publication also points to the university’s nearly 69% graduation rate, which it says significantly exceeds expectations for institutions serving similar student populations, along with more than 140 student organizations and on-campus housing options.

Money’s Best Colleges ratings are intended to help prospective students compare colleges based on educational quality, affordability and long-term outcomes rather than a single numerical position in a national ranking.