Newswise — Los Angeles, CA -- Cal State LA is one of the best regional universities in the nation, according to the 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges edition released Sept. 13.

Cal State LA was ranked #14 among public regional universities in the West, a jump from last year’s #18 ranking.

“Our reputation for excellence continues to grow,” said Cal State LA’s President William A. Covino. “Our rise in national rankings is an indicator of our success in carrying out our mission and practicing our values.”

Cal State LA was ranked #61 among western universities, moving up from #63 a year earlier.

U.S. News also highlighted Cal State LA’s affordability. Those who received bachelor’s degrees from Cal State LA have the fourth lowest debt among graduates of schools in the West.

The report singled out two Cal State LA programs as among the nation’s best undergraduate programs. Both have been ranked by the magazine for more than a decade.

Cal State LA’s engineering program in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology is ranked #35, moving up from #39 a year ago. Among public, master’s awarding institutions, Cal State LA climbed to the fifth spot, up one notch from last year. Cal State LA’s business program in the College of Business and Economics continues to be one of the top 10 in California among public institutions.

This year's U.S. News Best Colleges edition includes data on nearly 1,300 colleges and universities. Eligible schools are ranked on up to 15 measures of academic excellence to help families compare schools, narrow their searches and make informed decisions.

For the 2017 rankings methodology, see the U.S. News & World Report website.