The 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are in, and they show that the University of California is the best public university in the U.S.!

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.”

Check out more rankings at the UC Newsroom

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