UC undergrad campuses are the top public schools in the nation
July 13, 2026 •
All nine UC undergraduate campuses are once again among the nation’s top public colleges, according to Money’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings.
Each campus earned either 4.5 or five stars and placed in the top quarter of more than 700 colleges and universities nationwide. UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UC San Diego received five stars, the ranking’s highest rating.
Money looks at what matters most to students and families, including educational quality, affordability and how graduates fare after college. This year’s rankings also gave more weight to net price, student debt and support for students from lower-income backgrounds.
UC’s strong showing is another sign of the value of a UC education. Graduates tend to earn more over time while taking on less debt, and UC continues to help students create greater economic opportunity for themselves and their families.
See the full rankings at the UC Newsroom
Tags: Money, rankings, undergraduate
