The University of California is the best public university (twice!) in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings

UC Berkeley and UCLA are tied for America’s No.1 public university in the new 2027 Best Colleges rankings, released today (Sept. 21) by U.S. News & World Report.

And there’s more good news: Five UC campuses rank among the top 10 public universities in the country — a full half — while each undergraduate UC campus is among the top 50.

All nine University of California undergraduate campuses additionally feature among the best 125 of all universities, public or private, 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 top U.S. News’ social mobility ranking, which 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 fourth, and all nine of UC’s undergraduate campuses ranked highly.

“The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings once again show why UC is the leading university in the world,” said UC President James B. Milliken. “Every one of our undergraduate institutions is in the top 50 public universities nationwide, including two — UC Berkeley and UCLA — tied for No.1. We’re especially proud that all of our campuses are top performers in the rankings for social mobility, with UC Riverside leading the nation. That is UC’s mission in action.”

U.S. News 2027 Best Colleges rankings by campus

A tie at the top

UC Berkeley and UCLA have gone back-and-forth on a No. 1 ranking as best public school in U.S. News’ Best Colleges over the past few years. This year, the magazine ranked them both in a tie for America’s best public university. A UC campus has been No. 1 on U.S. News’ Best Colleges rankings of public schools every year since its 1999 edition.

“Rankings are gratifying, but what makes UCLA exceptional is the extraordinary community behind them,” Chancellor Julio Frenk said. “Our students, faculty, staff and alumni demonstrate each day that academic excellence and public purpose strengthen one another. To stand atop the list of the nation’s public universities is an honor, and it reinforces our responsibility to continue expanding opportunity, advancing knowledge and serving society.” 

“This continued recognition reflects the extraordinary work being done every day across our campus by our students, faculty, staff and alumni,” said Chancellor Rich Lyons. “With this community, Berkeley is more than a place — it’s a promise. A promise to prepare the next generation of leaders, advance life-changing discoveries and deliver on our commitment to the greater good.”

UC Davis and UC Irvine are also tied in the top 10 as well, for No. 8. UC’s performance across the public university rankings is an indication of the depth and breadth of the 10-campus system’s excellence and ability to transform lives.

No. 1 for changing lives

UC is also No. 1 among Top Performers on Social Mobility, a metric that evaluates the ability of an institution — public or private — to enroll and graduate students awarded Pell Grants. A federal award based on need, Pell Grants can be a crucial support for economically disadvantaged students.

U.S. News 2027 Top Performers on Social Mobility rankings by campus

This is the eighth year that U.S. News has featured a breakout category for social mobility. UC Riverside has been ranked No. 1 for six of those eight years; it was No. 2 the other two years. 

“At UC Riverside, academic excellence and access go hand in hand,” said UC Riverside Chancellor S. Jack Hu. “We are committed to opening doors to a world-class education and giving students the support they need to make the most of that opportunity.”

UC Merced once again ranked in the top 5 of schools that provide the most social mobility to students, along with being in the top 30 among all public schools — despite entering just its third decade, having welcomed its first incoming class in 2005. 

“Rankings are meaningful when they reflect the outcomes and opportunities we create for our students,” Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said. “At UC Merced, we are deeply committed to providing an exceptional education that is accessible to students from across California and beyond.”

Providing opportunities for veterans

UC Berkeley and UCLA weren’t just tied for the top public university — they are also tied at No. 6 for the Best Colleges for Veterans ranking, which includes public and private schools. Other UCs in the top 25 for serving veterans include UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara.

U.S. News 2027 Best Colleges for Veterans rankings by campus

More than bragging rights

The recognition of the University of California as the nation’s best public university has been echoed by recent rankings from Forbes, Money and Pitchbook. It is also echoed by fresh internal data on the value of a UC degree.

Right out of the gate, UC bachelor’s degree-holders in California earn more than those who only complete high school. They also out-earn the median earnings for bachelor’s degree-holders in the state. UC alumni continue to out-earn those groups year over year, by bigger and bigger margins.

The majority of UC undergrads also finish their degrees with zero debt. Sixty-three percent of California resident students graduate with no student loans at all. UC in-state graduates who do need to take out student loans graduate with significantly less debt than their peers at other schools. 

UC President Milliken recently shared this data and UC’s commitment to expanding accessibility and affordability for California students.

About U.S. News methodology:

Since 1983, U.S. News has published the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities.

Best Colleges: The 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings emphasize student outcomes, academic resources and expert opinion, with factors including graduation rate (21%), performance against expected graduation rate (10%), and first-year student retention (5%). A new factor this year, earnings-by-major, has replaced graduate indebtedness. Read more about the methodology for this year’s rankings here.

Top Performers on Social Mobility: This ranking measures a school’s performance at promoting social mobility on two Pell Grant indicators — graduation rates of those receiving Pell Grants, and how that graduation rate compares to those of other students at the school. Pell Grants are a key indicator of socioeconomic status, and economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college, even when controlling for their achievement in high school. Read more about the methodology for this year’s rankings here.

Best Colleges for Veterans: To be eligible to be ranked, the institution must have enrolled a minimum of 20 full-time and part-time undergraduate veterans and active-duty service members in the 2025-2026 academic year, as reported to U.S. News, be eligible for the GI Bill, and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program or be a public school. Read more about the methodology for this year’s rankings here.