Fresno State and Fresno Pacific University (FPU) have been ranked within the top 50 colleges in California on the 2016 College Choice list.

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Fresno State ranks No. 49 and FPU No. 45 on the list, which evaluates colleges in the state based on each school’s academic reputation, student retention and graduation rate, diversity of programs and student organizations and other factors.

At the top of the list this year is Stanford University, followed by the California Institute of Technology and Pomona College.

“California colleges and universities are known for being diverse and attractive places of multi-cultural engagement,” Christian Amondson, Managing Editor of College Choice, said in a statement. “In fact, of colleges and universities in the western part of the United States, California schools boast some of the most ethnically diverse campuses, where multiracial, black or African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic, and Indigenous students come together in significant ways to pursue degrees.

“On top of that, California is one of the largest states in the country, providing students with a variety of different landscapes and extracurricular activities to take part in when not studying for their degrees.”