U.S. News & World Report names Cal State Fullerton’s online engineering and non-MBA business graduate programs among the top three in California and top 30 in the nation of its 2025 Best Online Programs.
The online engineering and computer science graduate programs — Master of Science in Software Engineering and Master of Science in Environmental Engineering — rank No. 28 nationally, up two spots from their ranking in 2024.
CSUF’s engineering and computer science programs are tied with UC Riverside and University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The graduate programs are No. 3 in California, and rank ahead of programs at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Susamma “Susan” Barua, dean of CSUF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, said one of the reasons students enroll in CSUF’s online degree programs is the flexibility that the programs allow students to balance their work, school and lives.
“We are excited to hear that our online programs in software engineering and environmental engineering have been ranked again as one of the nation’s top online graduate engineering programs,” Barua said. “This national ranking is a validation of the quality of our programs, the excellence and dedication of our faculty members, and the high level of support we provide.”
The online business graduate program — Master of Science in Information Technology — ranks No. 29 nationally, up 22 spots from its ranking in 2024.
CSUF’s business program is tied with American University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and University of Maryland, College Park. The graduate program is No. 3 in California, and ranks ahead of programs at Pepperdine University, California Baptist University and University of San Diego.
Sridhar Sundaram, dean of CSUF’s College of Business and Economics, emphasized that students in the online information technology graduate program gain the expertise and practical skills necessary to help manage the growing technology needs of the future while building a strong professional network.
“This rise in the national rankings reflects our dedication to maintaining a cutting-edge curriculum, staying at the forefront of information technology advancements and fostering professional growth to ensure our graduates stand out as top talent in the workforce,” Sundaram said.
This year’s list evaluates online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs at 1,790 colleges and universities using metrics specific to online learning. U.S. News evaluated schools based on such factors as student engagement, faculty credentials and training, and services and technologies. The rankings only include degree-granting programs offered primarily online by regionally accredited institutions.