The University of California has been recognized as the top public university system in the United States according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released on September 22, 2025. UC Berkeley and UCLA were named the first and second best public universities in the country, respectively. Seven University of California campuses are listed among the top 25 public universities, and all nine undergraduate campuses are within the top 45.
This marks the sixth consecutive year that all nine undergraduate campuses of the University of California have placed in the top 100 nationwide out of more than 1,700 four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions included in this year’s rankings.
University of California campuses also received high marks for social mobility—a measure of how effectively universities help lower-income students earn degrees that improve their financial futures. UC Riverside ranked first nationally for social mobility, while UC Merced was third; all nine undergraduate UC campuses were highly ranked in this category.
“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.”
UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons responded to the announcement: “We are honored to once again be recognized as the nation’s top public university. 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.”
UC Merced achieved its highest ranking since being founded in 2005—placing No. 25 among public universities and No. 57 among national universities—as it celebrates its twentieth anniversary.
“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.”
The report highlights success at enrolling large numbers of low-income and first-generation college students across UC campuses. For example, over half (51 percent) of incoming undergraduates at UC Riverside received Pell Grants—a federal program for low-income students—while at UC Merced this figure reached 64 percent.
Data shows most low-income graduates from these schools out-earn their parents within four years after graduation; within ten years their incomes double on average compared to where they started.
Forbes recently noted similar achievements by ranking several University of California campuses highly for producing graduates with strong earnings prospects while minimizing student debt burdens.
Additionally, several University of California institutions performed well on U.S. News’ Best Colleges for Veterans list: both UC Berkeley and UCLA led among public schools nationally; other campuses including San Diego, Davis, Irvine also appeared near or within this group’s top ten.
A recent poll by the Institute of Governmental Studies found broad support among Californians for what they perceive as value provided by these institutions: seventy percent would recommend enrollment at a University of California school to close friends or relatives; seventy-six percent who graduated agreed it was worth its cost.
U.S. News evaluates more than seventeen hundred colleges annually using up to seventeen different factors related to academic quality—including graduation rates—and post-graduate outcomes such as indebtedness levels or earnings data.
The University consistently leads national metrics concerning undergraduate instruction quality as well as graduate-level research output—maintaining significant impact through influential faculty members—and continues performing strongly regarding financial outcomes for alumni early in their careers.
