SDSU named one of Princeton Review’s 'Best Colleges' — and among top 'green' campuses
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- San Diego State University is once again making national headlines — this time for its academic strength, student life, and sustainability efforts. The university has been named to "The Princeton Review’s" 2026 list of the Best 391 Colleges, and once again earned a spot among the Top 50 Green Colleges.
The recognition places SDSU among the top 15% of four-year colleges in the United States, out of nearly 2,400 evaluated. The university was also featured on "The Princeton Review’s" Best West list, which highlights standout colleges across seven U.S. regions.
High marks in key categories
According to the report, SDSU earned top-tier scores across several key categories (on a scale of 60 to 99), including:
- Professor Aaccessibility: 90
- Green initiatives: 97
- Quality of life: 89
- Financial aid: 89
- Admissions selectivity: 88
- Fire safety: 96
These scores are based on a combination of institutional data and student feedback, with students offering insights into their academic and social experiences on campus. More information on how these scores are determined can be found here.
Sustainability in the spotlight
For the second consecutive year, SDSU claimed the No. 42 spot on "The Princeton Review’s" Top 50 Green Colleges list, making it the only California State University campus to appear in the ranking.
The sustainability recognition reflects SDSU’s commitment to environmental practices, sustainability education, and overall campus livability. The school’s impressive “green” score of 97 is based on both student surveys and data provided by the university.
Support for student success
In addition to academic accolades, "The Princeton Review" highlighted SDSU’s career development resources, including Handshake, a job and internship platform, and the Aztec Mentor Program, which pairs upper-level students with professional mentors from the SDSU alumni network.
“SDSU has outstanding academic programs, and the feedback we received about SDSU from its students was very impressive,” said Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief of "The Princeton Review." “We are delighted to name SDSU one of our Best Colleges for 2026.”
With strong momentum across academics, research and sustainability, SDSU continues to raise its profile as one of California’s most dynamic public universities.
