UC San Diego Named Nation’s 6th Best Public University by U.S. News & World Report

Now in its 40th year, the U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students. Ranking factors include graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, social mobility and academic reputation, among other measures.

In addition to maintaining its position among the nation’s top ten public universities, UC San Diego has made strides in two key standalone ranking categories. The university is now ranked No. 28 in the Top Performers on Social Mobility ranking, climbing three spots from last year for its success in graduating Pell Grant recipients. Additionally, UC San Diego has advanced to No. 22 in the Most Innovative Schools ranking, a significant 36-spot increase. UC San Diego also continues to excel as the No. 12 best school for veterans, holding steady at this position from the previous year. 

U.S. News ranked the following six undergraduate program areas: engineering, computer science, economics, psychology, business and nursing. The engineering, computer science and business categories also included specialty rankings where undergraduate programs could be recognized.

UC San Diego’s reputation for excellence in engineering and computer science continues to grow, with several programs achieving notable advancements in the 2025 ranking. Cybersecurity moved up two spots to No. 10, while civil engineering saw a jump of nine spots to No. 20. The university’s computer systems and computer science programs rose to No. 11 and No. 13 respectively, with mechanical engineering climbing three spots to No. 22. The university also tied for No. 12 in artificial intelligence, showcasing its commitment to advancing education and research in some of the most critical fields affecting society.

The Jacobs School of Engineering’s undergraduate program was ranked No. 20 among engineering schools that offer doctorates, and No. 11 among public universities. Additionally, several specialty areas were recognized in the top 10 nationwide: biocomputing/bioinformatics/biotechnology (No. 4), mobile/web applications (No. 5) and bioengineering/biomedical (No. 8).

UC San Diego is advancing how the world uses AI, from developing environmental protection tools to creating lifesaving medical solutions. Electrical engineering students have been collaborating with ophthalmologists at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Retina Center to develop advanced tools in computer vision, AI and image processing. These innovations aim to help physicians diagnose patients more quickly and accurately. Over the past five years, this partnership has explored key questions, such as whether AI can truly enhance doctors' speed and accuracy in detecting diseases.

In another exciting AI project, researchers in UC San Diego’s Healthcare Robotics Lab are creating a robot that could improve access to care and increase independence for individuals living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The Cognitively Assistive Robot for Motivation and Neurorehabilitation, or CARMEN, is a social robot designed to teach strategies related to memory, attention, organization, problem-solving and planning.

The university also remains a standout in the social sciences, with its economics program securing a place among the nation's top 20. Housed in the School of Social Sciences, the program is ranked No. 19 overall and No. 4 among public universities. The undergraduate psychology program also ranked No. 22. overall and No. 8 among public universities.

As climate change drives more frequent and intense natural disasters, UC San Diego economists are offering timely insights into the impact of wildfires on the homeowners insurance market. A new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research explores how insurance companies are responding to heightened climate risks, particularly in California, the largest insurance market in the nation and the fourth largest globally. Co-author Judson Boomhower, an assistant professor of economics at UC San Diego and faculty research fellow at NBER, explains that the research highlights the crucial role of information gaps in shaping the pricing and availability of insurance for wildfires and other climate-related risks.

UC San Diego, a leader in both innovation and social mobility, continues to implement transformative programs that are shaping the future of education. Ranked as the No. 22 Most Innovative School in the nation in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, the university will soon be home to the largest lithium-ion battery system on any university campus in the country. The university—which is powered by a world-class microgrid that delivers clean, reliable energy for electricity, heating, and cooling—was recently awarded $7.15 million by the California Energy Commission to replace a decade-old battery with a new system rated at 10 MW/40 MWh, capable of powering 7,500 homes for four hours.

UC San Diego, along with partners Thermo Fisher Scientific and Nikon Instruments, has also officially opened the Goeddel Family Technology Sandbox, a hub that brings together cutting-edge instruments for science and education. The facility will spur unprecedented collaboration by enabling scientists across campus to access advanced technologies for their research. It will also serve as a hub for industry collaborations as well as training courses and technology-based classes.

To view the full U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings, visit the outlet’s website. For a listing of UC San Diego rankings, visit the Campus Profile.