The Wall Street Journal ranked University of the Pacific No. 85 among the top U.S. colleges and universities—the highest in the university’s 174-year history.

Among private schools in California, Pacific rose to No. 7 only behind academic powerhouses such as Stanford, CalTech and USC and ahead of all peer institutions

The annual Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges in the U.S. report ranks nearly 600 institutions based primarily on what matters most to students and families: whether graduates earn strong financial returns on their educational investment.

“These rankings are a direct reflection of the dedication of our talented faculty who teach, mentor guide, and inspire our students every day and to the determination of our hard-working students who excel in and out of the classroom,” said President Christopher Callahan. “We are enormously proud of them and the transformational power of a Pacific education.”

While many universities nationwide have been struggling to enroll students, Pacific has been bucking the national trend. The past three years at Pacific have seen the highest enrollment in school history.

To meet demand in fast-growing fields, the university launched three academic programs this year, including bachelor’s degrees in sustainability and product design and entrepreneurship and master’s programs in emergency management science and regulatory science.

Pacific’s strongest gains in The Wall Street Journal rankings came in the student experience category, where the university moved up more than 60 spots over last year. The measure is based on a survey of students and recent graduates and looks at how satisfied students are with facilities, the community, social life and diversity.

Pacific has made significant enhancements over the past few years to elevate campus life, programming and facilities. Initiatives include restructuring the move-in and orientation process and expanding the annual Week of Welcome for new and returning students, completing major renovations to campus housing, and building new academic spaces, including two state-of-the-art microbiology labs.

“Our top priority is ensuring that every student feels supported and empowered to thrive in and outside the classroom,” said Vice President for Student Life Maria Blandizzi. “Research shows that it makes a difference; students who are engaged in campus life and have a strong sense of belonging perform better academically. We will continue building programs and opportunities that foster belonging, growth and success for all students.”

Pacific is building new facilities, including a multidisciplinary care clinic and ambulatory surgical center on the San Francisco Campus, and the Jie Due Inn and Southwest Residence Hall on the Stockton Campus.

Pacific’s efforts are making others take note. New York Times best-selling author Jeff Selingo recently named Pacific one of America’s “Dream Schools” in his latest book.

Pacific also placed highly for social mobility and value in this year’s U.S. News & World Report rankings. The university is No. 2 among private schools in California for social mobility and came in at No. 3 among privates in California for best value, behind only Stanford and Cal Tech.

Pacific offers more than 80 undergraduate and 50 graduate and professional programs across its three Northern California campuses.