UC Berkeley and UCLA lead the 2026 U.S. News rankings, with all nine UC campuses in the national top 45. Here's how every UC school ranks — and how to find the right one for your child.
Decide which UC school is best for your child.
What You'll Learn
How Every UC School Ranks
All undergraduate campuses in the University of California system hold positions near the top of national university evaluations, with the flagship campuses leading as top public institutions in the nation and several campuses earning top spots for social mobility.
Which UC School Is Right for Your Child
Evaluating the ideal UC campus requires looking beyond national prestige and standings to consider how a campus's unique location, regional culture, local industry ties, and campus environment align with a student's personal lifestyle and career goals.
Best UC Schools for Specific Academic Majors
Top campus choices vary significantly depending on a student's chosen area of study, with different campuses excelling specifically in fields such as pre-medicine, computer science, engineering, or business.
GPA Requirements and Acceptance Rates
Admissions selectivity varies across the UC network, creating a clear spectrum of campuses ranging from highly selective to more accessible options based on average grade point averages and overall acceptance trends.
UC schools overview and introduction
How many UC schools are there?
UC rankings 2026 (Forbes, Niche, Times Higher Education, and U.S. News)
UC rankings by campus
UC acceptance rates compared
Choosing the best UC school for your child
Best UC school for premed students
Best UC school for computer science
Best UC school for engineering
Best UC school for business
UC rankings frequently asked questions
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UC schools overview and introduction
Whether or not you’re a native Californian, you likely have some familiarity with the University of California system. Maybe you’ve cheered for UCLA football or listened to a UC Berkeley professor share their expertise on the news. Or perhaps you’ve met a few of the two million members belonging to the UC alumni network.
However much you know about the UC system, you have one important question when it comes to your child who’s approaching the college admissions process: “What are the best UC schools?” You want to understand the UC rankings and what they mean for your high-achieving student.
The University of California system, which was founded in 1869 with the mission of educating the brightest Californian students, has become world-renowned for its excellence in education, research, and service. Widely considered to be the best public university system in the nation, the UC system attracts around 250,000 applications every year.
And why do so many students dream of attending one of the nine UC schools? Perhaps because of the esteemed UC faculty, many of whom are Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Academy Award winners. Or maybe these applicants are drawn to the breakthrough research occurring on UC campuses—producing nearly 2,000 inventions every year. Or perhaps they want to join the prolific alumni network which includes the co-founder of Apple, Olympic medalists, and Fortune 500 CEOs.
The UC system has more than earned its prestige and reputation over the years. But you still need an answer—what are the best UC schools? In this guide, we’ll share and discuss the UC rankings to help you determine the best UC schools for your child.
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How many UC schools are there?
There are 10 UC schools, but only nine of them include undergraduate programs. UC San Francisco offers graduate and professional degrees only. While many of its graduate programs, including UCSF Medical School, are highly ranked, this guide is focusing solely on UC campuses that offer undergraduate degrees.
List of all 10 UC campuses (alphabetical)
Let’s review an alphabetized list of the UC campuses:
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UCLA
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC San Diego
UC San Francisco (graduate and professional only)
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
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UC rankings 2026 (Forbes, Niche, Times Higher Education, and U.S. News)
If you're weighing UC schools for your child, the headline number worth knowing is this: all nine University of California undergraduate campuses placed in the top 100 universities in the country in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings: the sixth consecutive year that's been true. UC Berkeley and UCLA lead the system as the top two public universities in the nation, and seven UC campuses rank in the top 25 public universities overall. That's a remarkable showing for a single university system, and it reflects something parents should feel genuinely confident about: whichever UC campus your child attends, they are entering an institution that competes with the best public universities in the country.
What makes the UC system particularly distinctive, and what doesn't always get enough attention in the rankings conversation, is its commitment to student success across economic backgrounds. U.S. News evaluates schools separately for social mobility, measuring how effectively universities help lower-income students earn degrees that lead to financially successful futures, and UC campuses swept the top of that list as well. UC Riverside ranked No. 1 in the nation for social mobility, UC Merced ranked No. 3, and all nine campuses placed highly in that category. The numbers behind those rankings are striking: among UC's class of 2025, 67% of graduates finished without any student loans, and a majority of UC's low-income students earn more than their parents within four years of graduating, with incomes doubling within ten years. For families thinking carefully about the return on investment of a college education, the UC system's track record on this front is as strong as any university network in the United States.
2026 UC rankings table
Below are UC schools’ rankings across Forbes, Niche, Times Higher Education, and U.S. News & World Report. Numbers in parentheses correspond to each school’s place among every ranked U.S. college. On the other hand, numbers outside parentheses correspond to the relative rank of each UC school within that list. For instance, in the Forbes rankings, Berkeley is ranked 9th nationally but is 1st among UC schools.
| UC School Rankings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | |||||
| UCLA | |||||
| UC San Diego | |||||
| UC Davis | |||||
| UC Irvine | |||||
| UC Santa Barbara | |||||
| UC Santa Cruz | |||||
| UC Riverside | |||||
| UC Merced |
UC rankings discussion
While the UC rankings provide you a useful order to consider the best UC schools, they don’t paint the whole picture. And when helping your child choose which UC school to attend, you want to base your decision on more than the UC rankings.
Each UC campus has its own personality and offers a unique experience to its students. Even if one UC has a higher ranking and is viewed as more prestigious than another, it might not necessarily be the right fit for your child. In order to determine the best UC schools for your child, you must consider the distinctive location, community, academics, and research opportunities each UC campus provides.
How UC schools are ranked
Forbes
Alumni salary: 20%
Debt: 15%
Graduation Rate (15%)
Forbes American Leaders List (15%)
Return On Investment (15%)
Retention rate: 10%
Academic success: 10%
(Learn more details about the Forbes methodology here.)
Niche
As of September 2025, Niche does not detail the percentage weight assigned to various factors it considers when ranking schools. However, you can learn more details about the Niche methodology here.
Times Higher Education
Teaching (the learning environment): 29.5%
Teaching reputation: 15%
Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2%
Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 5.5%
Institutional income: 2.5%
Research environment: 29%
Research reputation: 18%
Research income: 5.5%
Research productivity: 5.5%
Research quality: 30%
Citation impact: 15%
Research strength: 5%
Research excellence: 5%
Research influence: 5%
International outlook: 7.5%
Proportion of international students: 2.5%
Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
International collaboration: 2.5%
Industry: 4%
Industry income: 2%
Patents: 2%
(Learn more details about the Times Higher Education methodology here.)
U.S. News & World Report
Graduation and retention rates: 16%
First-year retention rates: 5%
Graduation rate performance: 10%
Social Mobility
Pell graduation rates: 5.5%
Pell graduation performance: 5.5%
College grads earning more than a high school grad: 5%
Borrower debt: 5%
College grads earning more than a high school graduate: 5%
Peer assessment: 20%
Faculty resources
Faculty salaries: 6%
Student-faculty ratio: 3%
Full-time faculty: 2%
Financial resources per student: 8%
Standardized tests: 5%
Faculty research (National Universities only)
Citations per publication: 1.25%
Field weighted citation impact: 1.25%
Publication share in the Top 5% of Journals by CiteScore 1%
Publication share in the Top 25% of Journals by CiteScore 0.5%
(Learn more details about the U.S. News methodology here.)
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UC rankings by campus
While the table above gives you a quick snapshot, each UC campus has its own ranking story, acceptance rate, and identity worth understanding on its own. Below, we break down where each of the nine undergraduate UC campuses stands and what makes it distinct.
UC Berkeley ranking & overview
UC Berkeley is the top-ranked UC campus and the No. 1 public university in the country, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings (15th nationally among all public and private universities). Founded in 1868, it's the oldest and most research-intensive campus in the UC system, with a 10.5% acceptance rate, which makes it the most selective of any UC school. Berkeley is renowned for its engineering, computer science, and business programs, its proximity to Silicon Valley, and a long-standing legacy of political activism and Nobel laureate faculty. On global rankings like Times Higher Education, Berkeley also lands among the top 10 universities in the world.
UCLA ranking & overview
UCLA ranks No. 2 among UC campuses and 17th nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, tied with Berkeley as a top public university. It's the second most selective UC by acceptance rate at 10.8%, and it is the largest UC school by enrollment. UCLA is best known for its film and television program (a natural fit given its Los Angeles location), competitive Division I athletics, and strong pre-med and psychology departments. Its urban Westwood location and massive alumni network make it a top choice for students who want a big-school experience with direct access to LA's entertainment, business, and internship scene.
UC San Diego ranking & overview
UC San Diego ranks No. 3 among UC campuses and No. 29 nationally in 2026, with a 27.2% acceptance rate. Located in La Jolla along the Pacific coast, UCSD is especially strong in the sciences (e.g., biology, engineering, and oceanography) thanks in part to its affiliation with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, one of the oldest and largest ocean science research centers in the world. To manage its large student population, UCSD is organized into eight smaller residential colleges, giving students a more intimate community within a large research university.
UC Davis ranking & overview
UC Davis is tied for No. 4 among UC campuses and No. 32 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, and with a 45.8% acceptance rate, it is one of the more accessible UCs. Founded in 1905, Davis sits in a small, college-town setting surrounded by farmland, and it's globally recognized for agriculture, veterinary medicine, and environmental science programs. Students drawn to research, sustainability, or a quieter, nature-oriented campus tend to gravitate toward Davis.
UC Irvine ranking & overview
UC Irvine is also tied for No. 4 among UC campuses and No. 32 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, with a 30.3% acceptance rate. Founded in 1965, UC Irvine sits in the heart of Orange County, close to Newport Beach and Disneyland, and has built a strong reputation in biological sciences, computer science, and criminology. It's one of only two UC campuses (along with UCLA) offering an undergraduate nursing degree, making it a strong option for pre-health students.
UC Santa Barbara ranking & overview
UC Santa Barbara ranks No. 6 among UC campuses and No. 40 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, with a 44% acceptance rate. Set directly on the Pacific coastline, UCSB is known for its strength in the physical sciences (it has produced multiple Nobel laureates in physics and chemistry), as well as environmental studies and a lively beach-town campus culture. It's a strong fit for students interested in marine science or a research-heavy program with a laid-back setting.
UC Merced ranking & overview
UC Merced ranks No. 7 among UC campuses and No. 57 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News rankings, with a 94.7% acceptance rate, making it the most accessible UC by a wide margin. Founded in 2005, Merced is the newest campus in the UC system and the smallest, with under 10,000 undergraduates. Students who want to help shape a still-developing campus culture, along with smaller class sizes and closer faculty relationships, often find Merced a good fit. UC Merced also consistently ranks among the nation's top campuses for social mobility.
UC Riverside ranking & overview
UC Riverside ranks No. 8 among UC campuses and No. 75 nationally in 2026 U.S. News rankings, with an 88.2% acceptance rate. Riverside has built a national reputation as a top performer on social mobility rankings: U.S. News has ranked it among the best in the country for helping lower-income students graduate and succeed. It offers strong programs in entomology, public policy, and business, and tends to appeal to students prioritizing affordability and access alongside academics.
UC Santa Cruz ranking & overview
UC Santa Cruz ranks No. 9 among UC campuses and No. 88 nationally in the 2026 U.S News rankings, with an 82.1% acceptance rate. Located in the redwoods above the Pacific coastline, UCSC is known for its programs in marine biology, computer science/game design, and the arts, along with a distinctive residential college system and a non-competitive academic culture (it was one of the last UCs to adopt traditional letter grades). Students drawn to an alternative, close-to-nature campus vibe often rank UCSC highly on their list.
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UC acceptance rates compared
One of the most useful things to understand about the UC system is that it offers genuinely viable options across a wide range of academic profiles, from students targeting the most selective universities in the country to those who need a more accessible path to a world-class public education. UC Berkeley and UCLA are the two most selective campuses, with overall admit rates of 10.5% and 10.8% respectively, and both require weighted GPAs well above 4.0 among the middle range of admitted students.
On the other end of the spectrum, UC Merced and UC Riverside admit the vast majority of applicants and serve students with a wider GPA range, making them strong options for families who want the UC degree and experience without the ultra-competitive admissions process. The table below breaks down the admit rate and middle 25th–75th percentile GPA range for all nine campuses, giving you a clear picture of where your child's academic profile might be most competitive.
| UC School Admit Rates & GPA | ||
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | ||
| UCLA | ||
| UC San Diego | ||
| UC Irvine | ||
| UC Santa Barbara | ||
| UC Davis | ||
| UC Santa Cruz | ||
| UC Riverside | ||
| UC Merced |
Easiest UC schools to get into
The top five easiest UC schools to get into include:
UC Merced (94.7%)
UC Riverside (88.2%)
UC Santa Cruz (82.1%)
UC Davis (45.8%)
UC Santa Barbara (44%)
Hardest UC schools to get into
The top four hardest UC schools to get into include:
UC Berkeley (10.5%)
UCLA (10.8%)
UC San Diego (27.2%)
UC Irvine (30.3%)
Want to know exactly what it takes to get into America's most selective colleges?
Get our free 110-page guide we use to help our students routinely get admitted to schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford: How to Get into America's Elite Colleges: The Ultimate Guide
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Choosing the best UC school for your child
As we’ve discussed, the UC rankings offer you information to use in your child’s college search, but there are many additional factors you should consider before deciding on the best UC schools. If your child is evaluating their UC options, they can use the following guidelines to find the right campuses for them.
Research each UC school extensively
If it’s possible to visit each UC campus, or at least the ones your child is strongly considering, that’s the best possible scenario. But if visiting isn’t an option, take advantage of the next best thing—UC virtual tours, available on Appily. You can also speak to UC admissions representatives to get more information about the unique features of each campus. Or you might seek out UC alumni or current students on LinkedIn or social media with your questions.
After thoroughly researching the different UC’s, your child is bound to find something to either attract or dissuade them from each campus—helping them narrow down their list of best UC schools.
Consider location & career opportunities
If you live in or have traveled extensively in California, you know how significantly the culture and people can vary from place to place. The nine undergraduate UC campuses are spread throughout California and each offers a unique location and setting that suits certain students perfectly while being completely wrong for others.
A college’s location is important for a number of factors. Certain areas of California are hotspots for specific career industries. For example, Los Angeles leads the nation in movie, music, and art production. If your child dreams of making it big in the film industry, they’d be wiser to attend UCLA than UC Berkeley, since UCLA will offer them unique opportunities to secure industry internships and start building their career network.
Other UC campuses offer locational advantages for specific careers, too. UC Berkeley lies near Silicon Valley, the global center for technology and innovation. UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz are all located near the ocean, making them ideal choices for students interested in marine or oceanic studies.
Beyond the career and industry factor, certain UC locations will appeal to specific student personalities better than others. For example, UC Davis is set in a small, peaceful town surrounded by nature. Some students would love the college-town vibe and enjoy exploring the outdoors on weekends.
On the other hand, UC Irvine lies in the heart of Orange County, appealing to the type of student who would enjoy spending their weekends roaming Disneyland or sunbathing at Newport Beach. The type of weekend activities available shouldn’t be the most important factor in a college decision, but choosing the right location match can help a student transition to college successfully and enjoy their overall college experience to a greater degree.
Evaluate campus community & size
Each UC campus has a distinctive vibe created not only by its location, but also by its history and student community. UC Berkeley, the oldest member of the UC system, has a strong history of political activism. Not surprisingly, it attracts students who want to carry on this legacy by getting involved in political movements and making a social impact.
On the other hand, UC Merced is the newest UC campus—it was founded in 2005. It doesn’t yet possess a rich and complex history like some of the other UC’s, which is a distinctive aspect of its identity. Many students are attracted to UC Merced specifically because they can be a part of shaping its history and defining its place within the UC system.
You’ll also find significant differences in student body size between the different UC campuses. UC Merced is the smallest, with about 8,000 undergraduate students. UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz have undergrad enrollments hovering around 20,000, while the remaining UC schools have around 30,000 undergraduates each.
If your child is better suited for a small college feel, they might be most at home at UC Merced or perhaps at UC San Diego, which is organized into six residential colleges to create intentional student communities despite its large enrollment size. On the other hand, if your child is looking for a large college feel, UCLA might land at the top of their list as the largest UC campus—also the one with the most enthusiastic sports culture.
Your child should also reflect on what matters to them in a college experience. Would they prefer a small or a large campus? Are they better suited to an urban location or a suburban one? What type of activities and extracurriculars are they looking for? What would they enjoy doing on the weekends?
Students will transfer out from even the most prestigious colleges if it is a poor fit for them. Feeling at ease both inside and outside the classroom will help your child persist through graduation and have a meaningful college experience.
Explore UC majors & programs
In total, the UC system offers over 800 degree programs. While several majors are available at all nine campuses, most UC schools have a handful of unique majors only they offer. This might narrow down your options for best UC schools if your child is looking to major in an area only offered by one or two campuses.
Here are a few examples of special majors or programs offered by the different campuses.
UC Berkeley: The Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MET) program which pairs a B.S. in Business Administration with a second B.S. in a specific engineering discipline
UC Davis: B.S. in Entomology
UC Irvine: B.A. in Literary Journalism
UCLA: B.A. in Arabic
UC Riverside: B.S. in Mathematics for Secondary School Teachers
UC San Diego: B.S. in Nanoengineering
UC Santa Barbara: B.S. in Zoology
UC Santa Cruz: B.S. in Robotics Engineering
It’s also worth noting that UCLA and UC Irvine are the only two UC schools to offer undergraduate nursing degrees. And while several of the UC campuses have majors related to marine life and ocean science, UC San Diego boasts an advantage in this area as the home to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography—one of the oldest and largest centers for ocean science research in the world.
As you can see, there are advantages in studying certain disciplines at specific UC campuses. It’s important to research the different UC campus majors when determining the best UC schools for your child.
Look at faculty & research opportunities
Over 75 percent of UC students participate in undergraduate research. And this research doesn’t solely occur in the STEM fields—UC faculty and students conduct research across all majors and disciplines.
If your child is looking for the best UC schools for them, they should take a thorough look at what type of research is being conducted on different UC campuses. What areas of study excite them? What labs would they love to join? What esteemed faculty members would they hope to research under and learn from?
In 2020, a UC Irvine lab developed an accurate, low-cost antibody test for COVID-19. UC Merced faculty and alumni are working with NASA to test out rovers before sending them to Mars. A UC Santa Cruz faculty member achieved the first complete assembly of a human X chromosome. A pair of UC Santa Barbara faculty are examining how wildfires impact weather patterns.
These research examples are just the tip of the iceberg for all the research conducted across the UC system. With enough digging, your child is bound to find a study, faculty member, or research lab that sparks their interest.
Weigh your child’s admissions odds (reach/target/safety)
Here’s one of the greatest things about the UC system—your child can apply to all nine UC schools with a single application. So why not apply to all of them, you ask? It’s an option, albeit an expensive one. The application fee is $70 per UC campus, or $630 if your child were to apply to all nine.
Choosing three to four UC campuses to apply to is typically a better game plan. After accounting for personality and academic fit, your child will also want to assess their admissions chances at the different UC schools—which have varying degrees of selectivity.
To help your child evaluate their admissions odds, we’ve listed each UC school’s acceptance rate, as well as its 25th to 75th percentile range for GPA.
If attending a UC school is one of your child’s main college goals, they should determine which campuses are reach, target, and safety matches for their academic profile.
Think about life after graduation
Thinking beyond your child’s undergraduate years may seem unusual when selecting a college, but many of the connections they make while in school will last a lifetime. It’s worth considering what they might do after graduation to get the most out of these four years.
Do you think your child is likely to stay in the city where they studied after graduation or return home before considering next steps? This can have an impact on their career progression. We mentioned earlier that UCLA is a great place to study film given its location, but perhaps your child is hoping to enroll in a professional program directly after undergrad such as medicine or law. If that’s the case, you may want to look at the ranking for these types of programs as well including a school’s connections to area hospitals, research facilities, or even avenues to gain experience practicing law.
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Best UC school for premed students
UCLA
If your child has their sights set on medical school, UCLA is one of the strongest undergraduate launchpads in the country, and the depth of support available to premed students there is genuinely impressive. While UCLA doesn't offer a formal pre-med major (and doesn't need to — students from STEM backgrounds and humanities alike successfully pursue medicine from UCLA), the university has built an extensive ecosystem around pre-health preparation. Academic advisors, departmental advisors, and College Academic Mentors (graduate students specifically trained on pre-health requirements) are all available to help your child map out their coursework from day one.
The UCLA Career Center adds another layer of practical support, offering mock interviews through its InterviewStream platform, outreach sessions hosted directly by medical schools, and a library of MCAT and other standardized test prep books available to borrow. Perhaps most distinctive is Med Mentors at UCLA, a group of over 300 David Geffen School of Medicine students who partner with the Career Center and DGSOM admissions office to offer one-on-one advising, student panels, and free resources to undergrad premeds. For a parent weighing which UC campus gives your child the best chance of a competitive medical school application, UCLA's combination of research opportunities, clinical access through UCLA Health, and this kind of structured pre-health support infrastructure makes it one of the most compelling options in the system.
UC Berkeley
If your child is considering UC Berkeley with an eye toward medical school, they'll be entering one of the most well-resourced premed environments in the country, and one of the most competitive. Over 600 Berkeley graduates apply to medical school every year, making it one of the largest producers of medical school applicants in the United States, and in 2024, 50% of first-time applicants from Berkeley's five most recent graduating classes were accepted — meaningfully above the national average of around 40%. Berkeley students with an MCAT score above 510 and a GPA above 3.60 were more likely than not to be admitted.
The campus sits next door to UC San Francisco, one of the top medical schools in the country, which gives Berkeley premeds access to an extraordinary range of clinical and research opportunities that most undergraduates simply don't have, including programs at UCSF, Stanford, and a network of major Bay Area hospitals. Your child will have access to structured research apprenticeship programs, a robust set of clinical volunteering and shadowing opportunities across Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco, pre-health advising through the Career Center, mock interview coaching, and a wide range of premed student organizations. The honest caveat is that Berkeley's large class sizes and famously curved introductory science courses make the premed path genuinely demanding. Your child will need to study strategically, seek out resources proactively, and be prepared to compete in a large and motivated peer group. But for students who are ready for that environment, Berkeley's combination of academic rigor, research access, and proximity to world-class medical institutions makes it one of the most powerful premed launchpads in California.
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Best UC school for computer science
UC Berkeley
If your child has their sights set on computer science, UC Berkeley is about as good as it gets — and that's not hyperbole. Berkeley's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) is one of the most prestigious CS programs in the world, ranked globally among all EE and CS departments and notable for being one of the first and most seamlessly integrated unified EECS departments in the country. The department's strength lies in its cross-disciplinary, team-driven approach. CS at Berkeley doesn't exist in a silo, but interacts deeply with biological sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering, giving students a genuinely holistic technical education.
For undergraduates, the opportunities extend well beyond the classroom: your child will have access to structured undergraduate research programs, a student-run makerspace, and the Accel Scholars Program: a unique joint initiative with Silicon Valley venture capital firm Accel that provides students with industry mentorship, access to the Silicon Valley ecosystem, and career-relevant curriculum that most universities simply cannot offer. Berkeley EECS graduates go on to found startups and take positions at leading companies and institutions around the world, and the department's proximity to Silicon Valley means the connections your child builds as an undergraduate carry real, immediate professional weight. If CS is the goal, Berkeley belongs at the top of your child's list.
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Best UC school for engineering
UC Berkeley
For parents whose child is interested in engineering, UC Berkeley belongs at the very top of the conversation. Berkeley's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences is one of the most prestigious engineering programs in the world — not just among public universities, but globally — and it holds a distinctive place as one of the first and most seamlessly integrated unified EECS departments in the country. What sets Berkeley's engineering program apart is its genuinely cross-disciplinary approach: the curriculum connects electrical engineering and computer sciences with mechanical and civil engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and operations research, preparing students to tackle real problems across fields rather than in isolation. The faculty includes researchers with decades of recognized contributions alongside newer faculty making waves in emerging areas, and the department's graduates go on to found startups and take leadership positions at companies and institutions around the world.
For young women interested in engineering specifically, Berkeley has built one of the more thoughtful support ecosystems available at any university, including the CS Kickstart summer program for incoming freshmen, the AWE Mentorship Program that pairs new students with upper-division women in the department, active student organizations like the Association of Women in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Society of Women Engineers, and dedicated scholarship resources for women and underrepresented students. If engineering is your child's path, Berkeley offers both the academic rigor and the professional reach to make the most of it.
UCLA
If your child is drawn to engineering, UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science is one of the most compelling programs in the country, consistently ranked in the top 10 among U.S. public engineering schools and recognized globally as one of the top engineering programs in the world. The school's pedigree is remarkable: UCLA Samueli is known as the birthplace of the internet, and its history includes foundational contributions to artificial intelligence, mobile communications, reverse osmosis, and human prosthetics: fields that now shape daily life around the world. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the school enrolled over 4,100 undergraduates across seven academic departments spanning bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, materials science, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and the newly added Department of Computational Medicine — a breadth that gives your child meaningful flexibility in finding their engineering niche. Undergraduate students have access to numerous research opportunities, a thriving community of engineering student organizations housed in the Student Creativity Center, and a hands-on Innovation Laboratory makerspace for applied learning.
Beyond the program itself, the UCLA engineering degree opens more doors than most parents expect. Alumni have gone on to successful careers not just in engineering but in medicine, law, business, government, and the arts. And of course, all of this sits in Los Angeles, giving your child access to one of the most dynamic professional and cultural ecosystems in the world alongside their engineering education.
UC San Diego
If engineering is your child's path, UC San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering deserves serious attention. It ranks 9th in the nation among all engineering schools and 6th among public universities according to U.S. News & World Report's April 2026 rankings, making it one of the most accomplished engineering programs in the country at a public university price point. What's particularly impressive about the Jacobs School is its research footprint: it ranks #1 among public engineering schools for citations per publication and #2 in the nation for research expenditures per faculty member, backed by $329 million in annual research spending, which means your child will be learning alongside faculty who are genuinely at the forefront of their fields, not just teaching from textbooks.
The school is also the largest engineering school in California and on the West Coast by enrollment, with over 10,000 engineering students across six departments — bioengineering, chemical and nanoengineering, computer science and engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and structural engineering — plus a brand new AI major that launched this year. Several programs rank among the best in the country at the undergraduate level: the biocomputing and bioinformatics program ranks #2 nationally and #1 among public schools, the bioengineering and biomedical program ranks #7 nationally, and the cybersecurity program ranks #7 nationally and #4 among public schools. One practical note worth knowing: admission to UC San Diego as a freshman does not automatically guarantee placement in an engineering major, as all engineering programs are designated selective and require an additional application process, so your child will want to go in with that expectation and plan accordingly.
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Best UC school for business
UC Berkeley
For parents whose child is interested in business, UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business is the standout option in the UC system, and one of the most prestigious undergraduate business programs in the country, ranked #2 by U.S. News & World Report and #1 by Pitchbook. Founded in 1898, Haas is the second-oldest business school in the United States, and its faculty includes two Nobel Prize laureates in Economics alongside researchers who have pioneered work in game theory, behavioral finance, open innovation, and knowledge management. The undergraduate program enrolls approximately 1,100 students: a deliberately small community by design, because Haas believes the intimate class size is what allows students to genuinely get to know their classmates and professors and develop at a personal level in a way that larger programs simply can't replicate.
The school's location is a genuine advantage that goes beyond marketing. Berkeley sits at the center of a Bay Area ecosystem home to more than 2,000 technology companies, and Haas students have direct access to that innovation economy through internships, consulting projects, company visits, and networking with firms ranging from established global leaders to early-stage startups. What distinguishes Haas culturally is its four Defining Leadership Principles — Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself — which shape everything from admissions to how courses are taught, producing graduates who are known for being analytically rigorous and data-driven while also being empathetic, collaborative, and oriented toward the broader good. Upon graduation, your child joins a network of over 45,000 Haas alumni across more than 80 countries, a community that takes its culture seriously and is genuinely eager to help one another grow and succeed professionally for decades to come.
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UC schools frequently asked questions
Do UC schools require standardized tests?
No. The entire UC system is test-blind for admissions purposes, meaning SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions decisions for any of the nine undergraduate campuses. Your child's GPA, course rigor, personal insight questions, and extracurricular involvement are the primary factors the UC system evaluates.
How many UC schools can you apply to?
You can apply to all nine undergraduate UC campuses in the UC Application Portal. There is no maximum limit, meaning you can choose as many of the nine undergraduate campuses as you want.
What is the UC application fee?
The UC application fee is $80 per campus for domestic applicants and $95 per campus for international and non-immigrant applicants. UC will waive application fees for up to four campuses for qualified students who would otherwise be unable to apply for admission. The fee waiver program is for United States citizens, permanent residents, and applicants eligible for AB540 benefits.
Which UC school is the hardest to get into?
UC Berkeley and UCLA are the most selective UC campuses, with acceptance rates well below 15% for most applicants and considerably lower for out-of-state students. UC San Diego has also become increasingly competitive in recent years, making it a meaningful reach for many applicants despite being less well-known than Berkeley or UCLA.
Which UC school is the easiest to get into?
UC Merced consistently has the highest acceptance rate in the UC system, making it the most accessible campus for applicants who may not meet the GPA and test thresholds required at more selective campuses. UC Riverside is also notably less selective than the flagship campuses, and both schools have been rising rapidly in national rankings. UC Riverside was ranked the No. 1 school in the country for social mobility in 2026.
What is the best UC school?
The answer depends entirely on what your child is looking for: UC Berkeley and UCLA consistently rank as the top two UC campuses nationally and globally, but "best" varies significantly by major, campus culture, location, and fit. A school that's perfect for one student may be the wrong environment for another, which is why we always recommend evaluating UC campuses based on your child's specific goals rather than rankings alone.
How is UC Berkeley ranked nationally?
UC Berkeley was named the No. 1 public university in the country for the first time in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, tied at No. 15 overall with Columbia University.
How is UCLA ranked nationally?
UCLA ranked No. 2 among all public universities and No. 17 overall in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings—just behind UC Berkeley. It consistently places among the top 20 universities in the country and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious public universities in the world.
Which UC school is best for premed?
UC Berkeley and UCLA are consistently regarded as the strongest UC campuses for premed students, given their research opportunities, clinical affiliations, and track records of medical school placement. UC San Diego also has an outstanding reputation for health sciences and offers unique advantages through its proximity to Scripps Research and world-class medical facilities.
Which UC school is best for computer science?
UC Berkeley's computer science program is ranked among the very best in the world, and for many students it is the primary reason they apply to Berkeley specifically. UC San Diego's CS program has also risen significantly, ranking No. 12 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, making it an excellent option for students who want a strong program with a somewhat less intense admissions process than Berkeley.
Can I apply to multiple UC schools with one application?
Yes. One of the most applicant-friendly features of the UC system is that your child can apply to as many of the nine undergraduate campuses as they choose using a single UC application, paying a separate fee per campus. This makes it both practical and advisable to apply to a range of UC schools across reach, target, and safety tiers in a single sitting.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on college admissions. For over 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into top programs like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT using his exclusive approach.
Ready to discover what it takes to get into the most selective UC schools?
Check out the guides below to help your child get accepted to the top-ranked UC schools. Plus, we’ve created in-depth guides on how to write the UC application essays (otherwise known as “personal insight questions”) and how to fill out the UC activities list.
