- Ranked No. 1 Best Salaries for Graduates Among Christian Universities (CCCU)
Azusa Pacific University achieved historic placement in The Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S., as the top-ranked Christian university in California and the highest nationally ranked institution in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) for the second consecutive year. APU holds the No. 62 spot in the nation, positioned alongside premier universities such as Stanford (No. 1), Yale (No. 3), and USC (No. 37). This marks the highest national ranking achieved by the university, moving up 39 spots this year from No. 101 in the WSJ’s 2025 rankings. APU also ranked No. 1 for Best Salaries for Graduates among Christian Universities (CCCU). The WSJ rankings reflect outcomes focused on setting graduates up for financial success.
“This significant recognition once again by The Wall Street Journal affirms that earning a degree from Azusa Pacific is an investment that pays off,” said Adam J. Morris, PhD, president. “As a national leader in Christian higher education, APU provides our students with a transformative Christ-centered education that deepens their faith and equips them to excel in today’s competitive marketplace as well as the jobs of the future. With strong marks for alumni earnings, social mobility, and student experience, APU continues its proven track record of success.”
In addition to the Best U.S. Colleges placement, APU also ranked highly on the WSJ/College Pulse lists for Student Experience (No. 46), Social Mobility (No. 54), Best Salaries (No. 149), and Best Value (No. 204).
“We are honored by this national recognition of the extraordinary education provided by Azusa Pacific University faculty,” said Anita Fitzgerald Henck, PhD, provost. “The depth of student/faculty interaction in classrooms, concert halls, laboratories, and clinical settings, in addition to global engagement and academic service learning, provides a truly holistic education. APU offers the best of faith-infused, rigorous academics, that values the liberal arts, and engagement with community partners at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.”
The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges in the U.S. is the preeminent national college ranking report which rated the top 584 colleges and universities in the country, out of more than 5,000 higher education institutions. Unlike other national rankings which focus on admission rates and subjective criteria such as reputation, WSJ’s methodology prioritizes outcomes which set graduates up for financial success. Their largest methodology factors are salary impact (33 percent), graduation rate impact (20 percent), and years to pay off net price of tuition (17 percent). Other distinct factors include diversity, learning opportunities, preparation for career, learning facilities, and recommendation from current students. APU noted increased scores in all of these categories, while also reducing the amount of time to pay off the net price of tuition for graduates, leading to the significant jump in its national ranking as a best college.
Since 1899, Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution
in the nation, has helped students discover their higher calling to impact the world
for Christ. Featuring world-class faculty, an APU education leads to lifelong transformation
and eternal impact. APU offers 59 bachelor’s degrees, 34 master’s degrees, 35 certificates and credentials, and 7 doctoral programs to more than 7,000 students at the university’s main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.