UC Merced Named Top 25 Public University by U.S. News & World Report

UC Merced's upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing as the university has cracked the Top 25 of U.S. News & World Report's best public schools in the nation.

The annual survey, which evaluates nearly 1,500 national public and private colleges and universities, also placed UC Merced No. 57 overall among all universities and No. 3 in the nation for social mobility.

"UC Merced was built to advance discovery, expand opportunity and transform lives," Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said. "Earning a place among the top 25 public universities in our first 20 years and ranking third in social mobility demonstrates that this vision is not only being realized but gaining national recognition. We are proud to be shaping the future of higher education right here in the Central Valley."

To compile its list, U.S. News weighs 17 factors, including graduation rate, peer assessment, student-to-faculty ratio and student financial resources. UC Merced also excelled in categories pertaining to student outcomes such as manageable debt, post-graduate success and social mobility, which measures how well schools serve disadvantaged students.

This is the second consecutive year that UC Merced has earned the No. 3 ranking for social mobility, further cementing the university's standing as a national leader in advancing student success. U.S. News highlighted the fact that the university's Pell-recipient and non-Pell-recipient graduation rates are identical, meaning a student's socioeconomic background does not hinder academic excellence at UC Merced.

The university's academic reputation continues to rise, with gains in key undergraduate programs. Psychology climbed an impressive 33 spaces from No. 118 in 2024 to No. 85 in 2025, reflecting the strength of its faculty and research opportunities. Engineering also advanced, moving from No. 139 to No. 135, underscoring the program's steady growth and the university's commitment to preparing graduates for high-demand careers in science and technology fields.

Within California, UC Merced ranks 10th overall among all universities and seventh among public universities, placing it in the company of some of the state's most established and prestigious campuses. The ranking is the latest marker of the momentum building across campus, where 2025 has already been defined by major milestones.

On top of celebrating the 20th anniversary of its opening, UC Merced attained R1 research classification this year by the Carnegie Foundation, placing it in the upper echelon of research institutions in the nation. The university also made the jump to NCAA DII this fall, ushering in a higher level of competition and exposure for the athletics program, the campus and its supporters.

UC Merced was also featured in the following annual rankings:

• Forbes' America's Top Colleges
• Washington Monthly's Best Colleges for Your Tuition and Tax Dollars.
• Money Magazine's Best Colleges in the U.S.

"These rankings affirm what we see every day," Muñoz said. "UC Merced is providing students with a well-rounded, world-class education and ensuring that students from all backgrounds can succeed. Our momentum continues to grow, and we are proud to represent the future of higher education in California and beyond."

Alyssa Johansen