For the second year in a row, California State University, Long Beach, has received one of the top rankings in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best College Guide.”

CSULB again was named the number three public master’s university in the west. In addition, CSULB was again included in the first tier of rankings, which places the school in the top 25% of the 123 public and private universities in the category in this region.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching defines universities in the master’s category as schools that provide a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s level programs.

“The value of students’ degrees is always based on the reputation of their academic institution,” said outgoing President Robert C. Maxson. “I am so proud that U.S. News & World Report has recognized this campus for quality education that students receive at Cal State Long Beach. It is especially satisfying because so much of the ranking is based on how we are perceived by our peers.”

To compile the ratings, the magazine asks colleges to provide information in up to 15 indicators of academic excellence. The data is weighted by the magazine’s staff. Finally, the colleges in each category are ranked against their peers, based on the composite weighted scores.

Among the indicators are peer assessment, retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving rate.

CSULB’s College of Engineering was ranked in the top 50 undergraduate programs nationally for all categories of colleges and universities. The guide also recognized CSULB’s programs for first-year students among “stellar examples” of “academic programs that are believed to lead to student success.”

CSULB offers 85 bachelor’s degrees, 67 master’s degrees and two doctorates. Enrollment is more than 35,000 students.