The San Diego State University College of Education has once again achieved a significant milestone in the national rankings.
On April 7, U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 ranking of Best Education Schools, showing SDSU tied for #41 among all universities nationwide.
The outcome is a four-spot improvement over COE's previous best, set last year. The college has now risen in the rankings for five consecutive years, improving 14 places since 2021.
COE also ranks #31 among public universities nationwide, #5 in California and #1 in San Diego County.
“To me, this is a major milestone, especially given the huge jump and our excellent standing among public universities,” said Y. Barry Chung, Dean of the College of Education. “I think this shows that, despite the external budgetary and policy challenges we have faced in recent years, our college is on a trajectory to do amazing things.”
SDSU scored particularly well in several metrics, including low acceptance rate, research enterprise and reputation among school district and agency personnel.
What’s more, the college is home to multiple highly-ranked specialties and programs. In recent months, SDSU has been ranked #5 in Online Education Master’s Programs and #7 in Rehabilitation Counseling.
“I would like to thank all of the faculty, staff and students whose hard work and passion to serve others is reflected in this accomplishment,” Chung said. “I also wish to offer my appreciation to the education deans around the country who have recognized the excellence of San Diego State, bolstering our reputation.”
