The University of California is not just the best public university in the United States— it also leads the world.
That’s the verdict of U.S. News & World Report’s 2026–27 Best Global Universities ranking, released Tuesday, June 16. It places four UC campuses in the top 25 of the world’s best 2,250 universities — a feat no other university system around the world can match. It also lists eight UC campuses among the top 30 public institutions in the United States, with UC Berkeley and UCLA as No. 1 and No. 2.
U.S. News 2026-27 Best Global Universities rankings by campus
| Campus | U.S. (public) | U.S. (all) | Global (all) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| UCLA | 2 | 7 | 11 |
| UC San Francisco | 5 | 14 | 22 |
| UC San Diego | 6 | 15 | 23 |
| UC Davis | 16 | 37 | 95 |
| UC Irvine | 18 | 38 | 99 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 19 | 39 | 100 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 26 | 48 | 141 |
| UC Riverside | 42 | 71 | 262 |
| UC Merced | 100 | 147 | 739 |
Why it matters
The Best Global Universities ranking evaluates institutions worldwide based on academic research performance and international reputation. The United States has long been a leader in research. But other countries aren’t just catching up, they’re moving ahead.
The new global rankings reflect this trend. China now has 409 ranked institutions compared to 397 last year, while the United States has 275.
U.S. News 2026-27 Best Global Universities rankings by country
| Country | 2026–27 schools ranked | 2025–26 schools ranked |
|---|---|---|
| China | 409 | 397 |
| United States | 275 | 280 |
| India | 123 | 118 |
| United Kingdom | 93 | 93 |
| Japan | 86 | 104 |
UC’s role as a globally acknowledged research leader is key to American competitiveness and prosperity.
Research from the University of California is vital to work that benefits all Americans, from breakthroughs in the treatment of Parkinson’s to the science behind previously unimagined successes in fighting cancer and the development of quantum computers that will enable the critical advances of the 21st century.
In the past year and a half, UC and its campuses have faced a number of lawsuits, investigations and enforcement actions from the federal government, including attempts to cut or freeze hundreds of millions of dollars in medical and scientific research funding.
“American universities have led the world in countless fields. Other countries have long tried to emulate us, spending decades racing to catch up. It seems inconceivable that we would relinquish this leadership that’s propelled our country,” UC President James B. Milliken wrote in a recent op-ed in the Sacramento Bee.
Speak up for continued federal investment in science, and learn more about a proposed California research bond that can help continue to support world-class UC researchers in their essential work.
What they’re saying
“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence.” — LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News & World Report.
Dive deeper
Explore the Best Global Universities methodology here.
UC Berkeley named top public university in the U.S. and No. 7 in the world by ‘U.S. News’
