At California Polytechnic State University, QS World University Rankings 2027 is in the #1401+ band and ranks #375 globally on Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026, with engineering as its strongest subject group.

  • QS World University Rankings 2027: #1401+ globally
  • Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #375 globally, #173 in the USA
  • U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027: #1278 globally

Note for Indian applicants: IIT Bombay enters QS 2027 at #134, so India’s top engineering institute leads Cal Poly on the global ladder. For Indian applicants chasing California-employer recognition through a project-based engineering degree, the U.S. News engineering ranks (master’s-level engineering #5 nationally in 2026) carry more weight than the global band.

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California Polytechnic State University Overall Rankings 2026

Four overall ranking bodies place California Polytechnic State University across two very different tiers, with the U.S.

Ranking Body (Edition) California Polytechnic State University Rank
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 #375 globally; #173 in USA
QS World University Rankings 2027 #1401+ globally
U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 #1278 globally

California Polytechnic State University QS World University Rankings 2027

Cal Poly’s QS trajectory oscillates between two adjacent bands across five editions, with no sustained climb above the #1201 ceiling. QS ranks universities based on academic reputation, employer opinion and research citations.

Year California Polytechnic State University QS World Rank
2027 #1401+
2026 #1201-1400
2025 #1401+
2024 #1201-1400
2023 #1201-1400

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Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of California Polytechnic State University

Collegedunia Study Abroad slots Cal Poly in the upper half of its USA shortlist while keeping the global rank in mid-band territory, a position that reflects strong U.S. teaching credentials paired with a modest international research profile.

Category Collegedunia Rank 2026
Global #375 of 824
USA #173 of 357

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California Polytechnic State University U.S. News Rankings

U.S. News publishes two rankings that include Cal Poly, and the gap between them is the single most important pattern for an Indian applicant to read. U.S. News Best Global Universities measures research-led signals while Best Colleges Regional Universities focuses on undergraduate teaching, value and graduation outcomes.

U.S. News Ranking (Edition) California Polytechnic State University Rank
Best Global Universities 2026-2027 #1278 globally
Physics #691

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California Polytechnic State University presents a mixed ranking profile across global and national ranking systems. While its overall global position remains modest, ranging from #1278 in U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026–2027 to the #1401+ band in QS World University Rankings 2027, the university performs considerably better in rankings that focus on undergraduate education and applied learning. Cal Poly's long-standing #1 position among Regional Universities West in U.S. News Best Colleges and its strong subject outcomes in engineering-related fields highlight the institution's reputation within the United States. For Indian students, the rankings suggest that Cal Poly's value lies more in its teaching-focused, project-based academic model and industry recognition than in global research visibility, which remains lower than many large research-intensive universities.

California Polytechnic State University Ranking FAQs

Ques. What is the California Polytechnic State University ranking in QS 2027?

Ans. California Polytechnic State University is ranked in the #1401+ band in QS World University Rankings 2027. The university held the #1201-1400 band in QS 2026, so the latest edition reflects a one-band move down.

Ques. What is the ranking of California Polytechnic State University on Collegedunia Study Abroad?

Ans. Cal Poly is ranked #375 out of 824 globally and #173 out of 357 in the USA on Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026. The USA position places it around the 48th percentile of tracked U.S. institutions.

Ques. Where does Cal Poly stand on U.S. News Best Global Universities?

Ans. Cal Poly is ranked #1278 in U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027. The figure reflects research-citation output.

Ques. How is Cal Poly’s engineering program ranked by U.S. News in 2026?

Ans. Cal Poly’s master’s-level engineering programme is ranked #5 nationally by U.S. News in 2026. Its specialty programmes (schools without doctorates) include #1 Computer Engineering, #2 Civil Engineering, #2 Mechanical Engineering and #2 Electrical Engineering.

Ques. How does the California Polytechnic State University ranking for Indian students compare to IIT Bombay?

Ans. IIT Bombay ranks #134 in QS World University Rankings 2027, while Cal Poly sits in the #1401+ band, so India’s top engineering institute leads on the global ladder. Indian applicants typically choose Cal Poly for U.S. work-experience pathways and California recruiter access, not for a higher global brand.