This year, California State University, Los Angeles moved up 11 ranks from last year to No. 7 overall in Washington Monthly's College Guide’s top master’s universities. The schools also now ranks No. 4 nationally in the Social Mobility category.

The rankings are based on three categories: social mobility, research and service. "Social mobility" is based on recruiting and graduating low-income students, and "research" involves producing cutting-edge scholarship and Ph.D.s. Service is the encouragement of students to give back to their country.

Cal State LA exceeded in "social mobility" for conferring more than 4,300 bachelor’s degrees, 1,300 master’s degrees and 18 doctorate degrees this past June. Also, its ranking of No. 4 nationally is tied to the university exceeding a predicted graduation rate based on the socioeconomic status of the student population.

And, the university exceeded in "research" by offering numerous student enrichment and development programs, which include opportunities for research participation under the direction of training faculty.

Nearly $2 billion of the earnings by alumni from Cal State L.A. are attributable to their CSU degrees, which create an additional $3.2 billion of industry activity throughout the state. This attributed to the school’s success in the "service" category.

The university is among the 15 percent in number of students participating in community service and the total number of service hours performed, and the top 25 percent in the number of bachelor’s recipients who go on to receive Ph.D.s.

”We are please to be ranked among Washington Monthly’s College Guide’s top master’s universities two years in a row,” said Cal State L.A.’s President William A. Covino in a press release. “This definitely demonstrates the University’s strong commitment to engagement, service and the public good, and our ongoing efforts to provide all students with an affordable and accessible education.”