UCSD and San Diego State Score in Latest College Rankings

Two of San Diego's major universities have received top honors in Washington Monthly magazine's annual college rankings.

UC San Diego was the top national university for the third straight year in ratings that combine graduation rates, faculty quality and community service. UCSD was rated highly for research spending.

"Public service is integral to our mission," said Chancellor Pradeep Khosla. "It is an honor to be recognized three years in a row as the number one university in the nation for our dedication to service, innovative research, and efforts to ensure accessibility and affordability for a diverse student body."

The rankings were modified this year to include the cost of attending a college, which also helped UCSD.

That change paid big dividends for San Diego State University, which along with Rutgers – the state university of New Jersey – was named the research university with the "biggest bang for the buck."

Washington Monthly noted that students come to SDSU with a predicted graduation rate of 54 percent, but receive degrees at an actual rate of 66 percent, a differential that ranks fourth in the U.S. The school is also 20th in the nation for awarding bachelor's degrees to minority students.

It figured the cost of attending SDSU at just over $7,800.

– City News Service