The University of California has been recognized for its leadership in academic research, according to a new ranking from Washington Monthly. The ranking places UC San Diego and UC Berkeley as the top two public institutions in the country, with eight University of California campuses listed among the top 60 universities, both public and private.
The “Best Colleges for Research” ranking, released on August 24, evaluates 139 universities that each spend at least $100 million annually on research and development. It uses several equally weighted indicators: research spending, the number of science and engineering Ph.D.s awarded, faculty receiving national awards, and faculty elected to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Editor Nate Weisberg described the focus of the rankings as measuring “a university’s research prowess — its record of producing the new scholarship and scholars that drive economic growth and human flourishing.” According to Weisberg, “This MRI was taken when the patient was at peak health.” He noted that the data is from 2023 and does not reflect recent threats such as frozen or reduced federal research grants or proposed cuts in funding for federal science agencies. Weisberg warned that these changes could have broad effects across both academia and the private sector.
Public universities are highlighted for their role in awarding STEM Ph.D.s crucial to maintaining U.S. competitiveness. “Public universities across the nation ‘outperform Ivy League schools in awarding the STEM Ph.D.s that keep the economy humming and America competitive in the world,'” Weisberg wrote when introducing a separate list of top institutions by science and engineering doctorates conferred. Five UC campuses appear on this list.
Washington Monthly’s findings are consistent with other assessments such as Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list. That list named 289 faculty members from all ten UC campuses as among North America’s most influential researchers—a reflection of broad impact across fields including agriculture, health care, and artificial intelligence.
However, many projects in these areas now face uncertainty due to possible reductions in federal support.
