UCSD - University of California - San Diego
09/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/22/2025 22:09
UC San Diego Named Nation’s 6th Best Public University by U.S. News & World Report
Story by:
- Tori Acuña- [email protected]
Published Date
September 22, 2025Article Content
For the third year running, the University of California San Diego has been named the country's sixth best public university by U.S. News & World Report in its annual Best Colleges rankings. UC San Diego also held steady at No. 29 among more than 400 national universities overall.
"UC San Diego's consistent standing as one of the nation's top public universities in U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges rankings reflects our commitment to student success, academic excellence and societal impact," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "This recognition is a tribute to the brilliance and dedication of our entire campus community. Together, we are shaping future leaders, addressing pressing challenges and creating solutions to improve everyday lives."
In addition to maintaining its position among public and private national universities, UC San Diego made strides in other 2026 Best Colleges rankings: moving up one spot to No. 27 in the Top Performers on Social Mobility ranking and up one to No. 11 in the Best Colleges for Veterans ranking. The university also placed No. 23 in the Most Innovative Schools ranking.
For its 2026 Best Colleges rankings, U.S. News ranked only the following six undergraduate programs based on peer assessment surveys: engineering, computer science, economics, psychology, business and nursing. All UC San Diego undergraduate programs advanced in their respective rankings from the year prior, with four placing in the nation's top 20: psychology (No. 11); computer science (No. 12); engineering (No. 17) and economics (No. 18).
Supporting veterans and military service members
Year after year, the university continues to rise in the Best Colleges for Veterans ranking - moving from No. 15 in 2023 to No. 11 in the 2026 list. Among public universities, UC San Diego ranked No. 6 in the nation for serving veterans and active-duty service members pursuing a college education.
"UC San Diego is a standout choice for veterans because we combine world-class academics with a strong commitment to military-connected students," said Nat Kapp, program manager of the Student Veterans Resource Center. "Recognition like this highlights the Student Veterans Resource Center's charge to ensure every veteran and service member can access the full value of a UC San Diego education. It reinforces the importance of breaking down barriers, expanding resources and building a community where military-connected students feel supported and empowered to succeed."
John Sigafoos, a crew chief in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, is one student whose journey to UC San Diegowas inspired by his interest in aerospace engineering. Studying at the Jacobs School of Engineering, he's developed a deeper understanding of the aircraft he works on, gained hands-on rocket experience as a member of the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space(SEDS) organization, and fostered meaningful connections with other students at the Student Veterans Resource Center(SVRC). He attributes his sense of belonging at UC San Diego to his involvement in SEDS and the SVRC - all while balancing serving in the military, pursuing a degree and parenting two young children with his wife.
Rising undergraduate programs
UC San Diego's undergraduate computer science and engineering programs climbed up one place from last year - ranking No. 12 and No. 17, respectively. Among public university programs, computer science earned the No. 6 spot and engineering the No. 10 spot. Within these areas, the following disciplines were ranked in the nation's top 10 overall: biocomputing/bioinformatics/biotechnology (No. 2); biomedical (No. 7); cybersecurity (No. 7); data analytics/science (No. 8); computer systems (No. 9).
John Sigafoos, a corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and a UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering student. Photo by Jen Jordan
Using the nanostructures found on butterfly wings, UC San Diego engineers developed a new way to analyze cancerous tissues. Photo by David Baillot
At the Jacobs School of Engineeringand School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences, undergraduate students are immersed in opportunities designed to prepare them for the innovative workforce and emerging industries. For example, a new pilot initiativeaimed at addressing the shortage of skilled U.S. workers in the growing domestic semiconductor industry will soon provide students access - at no cost - to both technical courses in semiconductors and hands-on semiconductor fabrication training. And whether they are developing a new cancer-detecting imaging techniqueinspired by butterfly wings or an all-in-one wearable wristbandfor diabetes and cardiovascular health monitoring, the schools' faculty and graduate scholars encourage students to think creatively and develop the technical skills needed to improve human life.
Within the School of Social Sciences, the undergraduate psychology program ranked No. 11 overall - up 11 spots from the previous year - and No. 5 among public university programs. The undergraduate economics program placed No. 18 overall and No. 4 among public university programs. While specialties in psychology and economics were not ranked by U.S. News, the overall rankings highlight the programs' teaching and research excellence in fields that serve the public interest.
The Departments of Psychology and Economics prepare students for a variety of career paths, empowering them to discover their passions and make a difference in the world. Photo by Erik Jepsen
Students in psychology and economics have access to world-class faculty exploring some of the most important issues of our time. Professor John Wixted, a leading memory researcher, studies how eyewitness memory can better serve justice, identify the guilty and protect the innocent. Assistant Professor Nadia Brashier helps explain what makes people fall for misinformation, including superstitions, conspiracy theories and false news. And Marc Muendler, professor and chair of the Department of Economics, uses his expertise in global trade and labor markets to examine how U.S. tariffs can affect employment and incomesacross U.S. states. These are just a few of the leading experts helping shape the next generation of psychologists, economists, business leaders, educators and more.
More Ranking information
The U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankingsevaluated more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. The rankings emphasize student outcomes, academic resources and reputation, using factors such as graduation and retention rates, peer assessment, faculty and financial resources, among others.
To view all U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankingsand the full methodology, visit the outlet's website. For a listing of other UC San Diego rankings, visit the Campus Profile.
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UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on September 22, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 23, 2025 at 04:09 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]