U.S. News Elevates UC Davis’ Ranking, Recognizing Excellence and Value

The University of California, Davis, now ranks as the eighth-best public university in the United States in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings, up from ninth place last year and the university’s sixth consecutive year in the top 10.

UC Davis was tied as the 34^th best university in the country overall, among more than 430 public and private institutions, and ranked No. 10 in a measure of the best value for in-state students. The publication released its bellwether annual rankings today (Sept. 21), covering universities that offer a full range of undergraduate degrees as well as master’s and doctoral degrees and place a strong emphasis on research.

UC Davis also received recognition for social mobility and innovation, and as one of the top universities for veterans.

“We’re proud to be recognized as one of the very best public universities in the country, and also for UC Davis’ role as an engine of social mobility for people from California and beyond,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “This ranking reflects the commitment of our faculty, staff and administrators to access, opportunity and excellence for our students.”

Specific rankings include:

• Best Colleges for Veterans - National Universities #16 (tied)
• Social Mobility - National Universities #37 (tied)
• Most Innovative - National Universities #65 (tied)

Academic subjects

U.S. News also ranked UC Davis in several academic areas:

• Biological & Agricultural Engineering Doctorate #2 (tied)
• Undergraduate Psychology #8 (tied)
• Civil Engineering Doctorate #14 (tied)
• Environmental Engineering Doctorate #17 (tied)
• Undergraduate Economics #24 (tied)
• Undergraduate Engineering Doctorate #32 (tied)
• Undergraduate Computer Science #34 (tied)

Academic program rankings were based on peer assessment surveys conducted in the spring and summer. Not all academic subjects are ranked every year, and not all rankings are published online or available without a special subscription.

Data sources and ranking criteria

Seven of 17 ranking measurements for national universities related to student outcomes — including retention and graduation rates, graduation rates and academic performance among students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and future earnings — and accounted for 52%.

Other factors were:

• Assessments of quality by peer college leaders, 20%
• Faculty resources, including student-faculty ratio, 11%
• Per-student spending on academic programs and services, 8%
• Standardized test scores for the incoming class (re-assigned to graduation rates for test-optional or test-blind schools), 5%
• Faculty research, including academic citations and publication in top journals, 4% 

U.S. News said it drew from a wide range of data sources about more than 1,700 colleges and universities to calculate more than 100 Best Colleges rankings. The rankings cover areas such as value, social mobility, teaching, veterans’ needs, HBCUs and in six academic disciplines (business, computer science, engineering, nursing, economics and psychology).

Other rankings note value, public good and research

In Forbes’ annual "America's Top Colleges" list, UC Davis was named No. 10 among public universities that produce high-earning, successful and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt.

UC Davis has moved up from No. 12 since the 2025 rankings list and joins three other UC campuses in the top 10.

Forbes ranked UC Davis No. 36 overall in its “Top Colleges 2027” list. 

Washington Monthly ranked UC Davis No. 63 out of 1,504 colleges and universities in its 2026 College Guide and Rankings for its “contribution to the public good in four broad categories: access, affordability, outcomes, and promoting public service.” The publication also named UC Davis No. 23 in its “America’s Best Colleges for Research” rankings.

The Princeton Review’s “The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition” also recognized UC Davis for “academics, administrative services, financial aid and campus amenities as well as insights into student body social life, political leanings, sports interests, race/class interaction, LGBTQ community acceptance and more.”

ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects included 42 UC Davis subjects among the top in the world. Three were in the top 10: veterinary sciences (No. 5), ecology (No. 7) and water resources (No. 10).

UC Davis and rankings

A world-class university, UC Davis is highly ranked for how it transforms students’ lives, the impact of its research, the excellence of its academic programs, sustainability and more. The university performs self-evaluations and also appreciates the value of third-party assessments. However, ranking methods vary, change over time and can be subjective. UC Davis focuses on those rankings that most closely align with its mission and values — including serving the public good, inclusiveness and equity, and social mobility — and in national rankings looks most closely at its standing among public universities. UC Davis encourages prospective students and their families to weigh rankings among other factors in their college decision, talk with counselors and UC Davis admissions advisors, and, if possible, visit the campus.