The University of California is the best public university in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings

UC Berkeley and UCLA are the top two public universities in the country, with seven UC campuses in the top 25 and all nine undergraduate campuses in the top 45, according to the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, released today (Sept. 22) by U.S. News & World Report.

It’s the sixth year in a row that all nine University of California undergraduate campuses have placed in the top 100 of all universities nationwide, with UC Berkeley and UCLA leading the way. More than 1,700 four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions were included in this year’s Best Colleges edition by U.S. News.

UC campuses also prevailed as Top Performers on Social Mobility, a ranking that evaluates how well universities help lower-income students earn degrees that propel them to financially successful futures. UC Riverside was ranked No. 1, UC Merced was third, and all nine of UC’s undergraduate campuses ranked highly.

“These rankings affirm the University of California’s place as the crown jewel of public higher education not only in California, but the entire United States,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “Our campuses deliver life-changing education to students from all walks of life, resulting in opportunities that benefit them, their families, and their communities.”

U.S. News 2026 Best Colleges rankings by campus

“We are honored to once again be recognized as the nation’s top public university,” said UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons upon the rankings release. “The data affirm all that Berkeley does as a powerful engine of economic mobility, and provider of affordable world-class education, accessible to all. We are proud of our pioneering research on society’s top challenges, shaping solutions that directly support our economy and the health, well-being and security of the American people.”

This year’s edition of Best Colleges is also a watershed moment for the system’s youngest campus, UC Merced, which ranks No. 25 among public universities and No. 57 among all national universities. Founded in 2005, UC Merced is celebrating 20 years of bringing stellar public education to the Central Valley.

“These rankings affirm what we see every day. UC Merced is providing students with a well-rounded world-class education and ensuring that students from all backgrounds can succeed,” said UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. “Our momentum continues to grow, and we are proud to represent the future of higher education in California and beyond.”

Top performer on social mobility

UC has long been recognized for its success in enrolling and graduating large numbers of low-income and first-generation college students.

Fifty-one percent of UC Riverside’s most recent incoming undergraduate class and 64 percent of UC Merced’s received Pell Grants from the federal government to help them with college costs, propelling them to the top of the list of 433 schools, public and private, evaluated for inclusion on the U.S. News Top Performers on Social Mobility category. Data on alumni outcomes show that, on average, UC’s low-income and first-generation students graduate at nearly the same rate as their academic peers and then go on to move up the economic ladder.

A majority of UC’s low-income students earn more than their parents within four years of graduating, and their incomes double within 10 years. UC’s success in helping lower income students succeed in college includes offering one of the best financial aid packages in the nation: Among the class of 2025, 67 percent graduated this spring without any student loans. 

U.S. News 2026 Top Performers on Social Mobility rankings by campus

The UC system’s commitment to social mobility was also recently highlighted by Forbes, which ranked UC campuses as the best of the best for producing high-earning graduates with less student debt.

UC also scored extremely well on the Best Colleges for Veterans ranking, with UC Berkeley and UCLA the top 2 public schools on the list, and UC San Diego, UC Davis and UC Irvine also in the public top 10. Among public and private universities on the list of 174 institutions, UC Berkeley ranked No. 4, UCLA No. 5, UC San Diego No. 11, UC Davis and UC Irvine tied for No. 16, UC Santa Barbara ranked No. 21, UC Riverside No. 45 and UC Santa Cruz No. 55.

The U.S. News rankings reflect how Californians feel about their flagship university — a recent poll from the nonpartisan Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) found a clear majority of respondents in agreement with the statement that UC helps students get ahead, while 70 percent of Californians would recommend a close friend or relative to enroll in a UC school and 76 percent of respondents who graduated from a UC agreed that it is worth its cost.

For over 40 years, U.S. News has published the Best Colleges rankings annually to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities.

The 2026 edition of the Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success, including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and post-graduate earnings.

The University of California consistently leads universities in the United States in undergraduate education, graduate research and the number of influential scientists among its faculty. It also ranks highly on assessments that measure setting up students for future financial success, with alumni making an impact on the world at a young age. Visit universityofcalifornia.edu to learn more about how the University of California has a positive impact on lives around California and the nation.

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UC Merced: UC Merced named Top 25 public university by U.S. News & World Report