What are the top UC schools?

The top University of California (UC) schools consistently include UC Berkeley and UCLA, often ranking #1 and #2 among U.S. public universities, with other top contenders being UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, and UC Davis, frequently appearing in the top 10 for public schools, though specific rankings vary by publication and year, notes U.S. News.

Which UC school is the best?

UC Berkeley, shown here, and UCLA are the top two public universities in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

What are the top 5 UCs?

Recap: The Best UC Schools Ranked and How To Decide Between Them

• UC Los Angeles.
• UC Berkeley.
• UC San Diego.
• UC Davis.
• UC Irvine.
• UC Santa Barbara.
• UC Riverside.
• UC Santa Cruz.

Which UC is the hardest to get into?

The hardest University of California (UC) to get into is consistently UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), often followed closely by UC Berkeley, both known for their extremely low acceptance rates (around 9-11% for UCLA and 11-13% for Berkeley in recent years) and high GPA/test score requirements. These two are generally considered the most selective, with acceptance rates for specific competitive programs like Nursing or Film at UCLA even lower, while other UCs like UC Merced and UC Riverside are significantly easier to get into. 

What are the 10 UC schools?

The 10 University of California (UC) campuses are Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles (UCLA), Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco (UCSF), Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz; nine offer undergraduate and graduate programs, while UC San Francisco is graduate/professional-focused, forming a prestigious public research university system. 

Ultimate Guide to the UC Schools

What are the Tier 1 UC schools?

Understanding UC tiers?

• Tier 1: UC Berkeley and UCLA. Both are considered highly prestigious, often ranking among the top public universities in the country, with highly-selective admissions.
• Tier 2: UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Irvine. ...
• Tier 3: UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Riverside. ...
• Tier 4: UC Merced.

Is UC Irvine better than UC Davis?

Neither UC Davis nor UC Irvine is definitively "better"; they offer comparable academics but have distinct campus cultures, locations, and major strengths, so the best choice depends on your personal preferences and intended major, with Davis offering a classic college town feel (ag, vet med) and Irvine a modern, suburban vibe near beaches (strong engineering, CS). Davis excels in agriculture and veterinary medicine, while UCI is noted for engineering, computer science, and health sciences. 

What is the safest UC school?

The University of California, Merced, reported just 24 criminal offenses on its campus in 2022, making it the safest University of California (UC) System institution that year. The safest private school on our list is St. Joseph's College of Nursing, which had one reported criminal offense in 2022.

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is the 9% rule for UC?

The UC's 9% rule refers to two guarantee programs for top-performing California resident high school graduates: the Statewide Guarantee (top 9% statewide via a specific index) and the Local Guarantee (ELC) (top 9% in their specific high school). California residents in either group are guaranteed a space at a UC campus (though not necessarily their first choice) if they meet all requirements and space is available, with the index considering UC GPA and A-G course completion.
 

Which UC has the happiest students?

UC Davis Is One of the 25 Happiest Public Universities in the US.

Is USC or UCLA better?

Neither UCLA nor USC is objectively "better"; they are both prestigious L.A. universities with different strengths, with UCLA often favored for public university academics, diverse campus life, and lower cost, while USC excels in private-school networking, specific professional programs (like Film & Business), and a stronger Greek/party scene. The best choice depends on individual priorities, like program fit, campus culture, cost, and career goals. 

Is UC Davis or UC Merced better?

In its 2026 report of the Best Colleges in the U.S., the highly respected media outlet has named UC Merced the 14th best college in the nation. Among public institutions, UC Merced ranked third nationwide – right after UC Berkeley and UC Davis – and placed fifth among all California universities, public and private.

Which UC is the best party school?

The University of California, Santa Barbara, was just ranked as the US's No. 1 party school.

What is the smallest UC campus?

Each campus is unique in its own way. They vary in size, enrollment, and programs. University of California of Los Angeles has the largest enrollment but the smallest campus. The campus is only 419 acres, and the enrollment exceeds 43,000.

What's the hardest college to get into?

What is the hardest college to get into? Harvard University and California Institute of Technology have the lowest acceptance rates of any college in the U.S., accepting just 3% of applicants. Stanford, Columbia, and Princeton admit just 4% of students.

What is the richest university in the United States?

Harvard University, with a $51.977 billion endowment as of FY2024, is the wealthiest university in the world. The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) maintains information on endowments at U.S. higher education institutions by fiscal year (FY).

Which UC is the easiest?

Among UC schools, UC Merced has the highest acceptance rate at 91.7%. Meaning, most applicants get accepted. This makes it the easiest UC to get into. However, how “competitive” a school is depends on many factors, not just how easy it is to get in.

Which UC has the most crime?

UC Berkeley has the most reported criminal offenses on campus. The most common criminal offenses that occurred on campuses were in order of motor vehicle theft, burglary, rape, fondling, and aggravated assault.

What is the happiest college in the USA?

This week, The Princeton Review released their 2026 list of Best Colleges, with over 170,000 students spanning 391 schools ranking their college experience on dozens of topics. Once again—just as they did in 2024—Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, took the number-one spot for Happiest College Students.

Is UC Davis a little ivy?

UC Davis also offers certificates and courses, including online classes, for adults and non-traditional learners through its Division of Continuing and Professional Education. The university is considered a Public Ivy.

Why is crime so low in Irvine?

Irvine's low crime rate stems from its deliberate master-planned design, focusing on well-lit, open spaces and integrated communities, combined with a highly educated, affluent, and pro-education population that values safety, strong community policing, and ample job opportunities. This creates a virtuous cycle where high quality of life attracts more residents seeking security, further reinforcing low crime, even as the police force per capita has decreased. 

Is it harder to get into UC Davis or SDSU?

Is University of California-Davis (UCD) or San Diego State University (SDSU) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then San Diego State University (SDSU) is more difficult to get into.