UC San Diego Climbs to No. 20 in Nation, Holds No. 3 Public in Forbes 2026 College List
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The University of California San Diego broke into the top 20 on Forbes’ annual list of best colleges in the nation, moving up one spot from last year to No. 20. The university also upheld the No. 3 spot among public universities for the fifth consecutive year.
Forbes’ 2026 America’s Top Colleges showcases 500 colleges that produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt, and focuses exclusively on outcomes for undergraduates. UC San Diego was one of three public universities — all of which are University of California campuses — to place in the top 20 of the list.
"UC San Diego's position among the nation’s leading universities is a reflection of our institution's commitment to delivering an exceptional education that empowers students to achieve lifelong success and create positive change in the world," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "I am grateful to our campus community for fostering a strong network of support and opportunity for our Tritons — and I am especially proud of our alumni, who are making a meaningful impact locally and globally.”
For its annual America’s Top Colleges list, Forbes evaluates colleges across the nation to determine which institutions provide the best educational, financial and career outcomes for students. Colleges are scored based on several measures, including alumni salary (20%), debt (15%), graduation rate (15%), Forbes American Leaders List (15%), return on investment (15%), retention rate (10%) and academic success (10%).
From enrollment to graduation day, UC San Diego offers students an array of supports to thrive academically and personally. Programs within the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS), Undergraduate Research Hub and Career Center help students navigate university life and discover their passions, while more targeted programs such as the Triton Transfer Hub, Students with Dependents and Student Success Coaching help connect specific cohorts of students to critical resources. Students’ experiences on and off campus — through student organizations, internships, study abroad programs, research labs and more — shape their Triton journeys and future aspirations.
UC San Diego alumni carry a spirit of curiosity and innovation into the world, with many able to trace roots of their successes back to campus. Two of the three Jacobs School of Engineering alumni recognized in the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 list began their academic careers as UC San Diego undergraduates. Liz Izhikevich, now an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at UCLA and a research scientist at Censys, is redefining how researchers detect security threats on the internet — both on the ground and in space, and continues to collaborate with UC San Diego faculty and advisors. And Mohammad (Mo) Alkhadra, co-founder of the startup Lithios, aims to revolutionize lithium extraction — an innovation that could reshape the battery industry. Alkhadra discovered the thrill of research working in Darren Lipomi’s lab at UC San Diego, and he credits the mentorship he received there with inspiring him to pursue a PhD at MIT.
UC San Diego was the second most applied-to university in the U.S. for fall 2025, having received nearly 137,000 freshman applications and over 23,000 transfer applications.
UC San Diego alumni Kris Warren '06 (left) and Travis Bailey '06 founded the award-winning gelato shop An's Dry Cleaning. Photo courtesy of Kris Warren and Travis Bailey.
In another example, UC San Diego alumni Kris Warren '06 and Travis Bailey '06 created An’s Dry Cleaning, a must-visit dessert destination in North Park, San Diego. The gelato shop was recently named the best indie ice cream shop in the U.S. for the second year in a row by USA Today. The longtime friends and former roommates are grateful for the opportunities they had to grow alongside each other as risk-takers at UC San Diego. Using a business model built on friendship has reaped success and enabled them to expand to four An’s locations throughout San Diego.
A UC San Diego education provides more than a degree. UC San Diego Alumni offers Tritons a lifetime of opportunities to connect with the campus, explore career opportunities, and engage with current students and other alumni. And the future Triton Alumni and Welcome Center, slated to open in 2026, will feature amenities for both graduates and those just beginning their UC San Diego journeys. Since the project was announced, UC San Diego alumni have come together to support the new center, including Jim Kaplan '84, who says the lessons he learned at UC San Diego helped lay the foundation for his 40-year career success at Lockheed Martin.
The Triton Alumni and Welcome Center will host dedicated rooms for socializing and gathering, as well as exhibition spaces and programs geared toward bringing the Triton community — past, present and future — together, ensuring alumni always have a home and champion in UC San Diego.
To learn more about Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges, visit the Forbes website. To view a list of UC San Diego rankings and accolades, visit the Campus Profile.
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