Looking for the best value in education in the country? You’ll find it in the UC system, according to Money magazine.
All 9 UC undergraduate campuses ranked highly on its list of top public schools in the nation. Every campus received 4.5 or 5 stars.
2026 Money Best Colleges star rankings by campus
| Campus | STARS |
|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 5 |
| UC Davis | 5 |
| UC Irvine | 5 |
| UCLA | 4.5 |
| UC Merced | 4.5 |
| UC Riverside | 4.5 |
| UC San Diego | 5 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 4.5 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 4.5 |
Why it matters:
These rankings are consumer-focused, looking at value, net price and borrowing levels.
The Money rankings align with new data showing UC degrees deliver strong earnings and economic mobility, all while incurring significantly less debt than 10 years ago.
This follows UC’s top rankings in the U.S. News Best Global Universities list, which ranks universities on academic reputation.
UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC San Diego stand out as four of only 42 of Money’s 5-star colleges.
All UC undergraduate campuses received a 4.5 or 5 star ranking and made the top 25% of Money’s list.
More about the ranking:
The annual evaluation scores more than 700 institutions nationwide.
Money’s methodology evaluates 25 indicators across three categories: quality of education, affordability and student outcomes, with affordability carrying the greatest weight.
This year’s framework placed increased emphasis on net price and borrowing levels, while also highlighting how well institutions serve low-income students, including outcomes for Pell Grant recipients. One out of every three UC students who enter college in the bottom 20 percent of income move up to the top 20 percent of income as adults, a rate that is higher than colleges and universities across the state and nation.
The ratings also incorporate data from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index, which measures how effectively colleges deliver strong returns for students from lower-income backgrounds.
What they’re saying:
“UC Merced’s continued recognition in this report reflects our deep commitment to expanding access to a high-quality education while delivering meaningful outcomes for our students,” UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said upon the list’s release. “We remain focused on creating opportunities that empower our students to succeed and lead in their communities and beyond.”
Read more:
UC Merced: UC Merced recognized among nation’s best colleges in Money’s 2026 list
Money: Best Colleges 2026
Money: Best public colleges
