Best of the best

Irvine, Calif., Sept. 30, 2026 - The University of California, Irvine continues to be among the very best universities when it comes to the intersection of academic excellence and affordability. The Princeton Review'slatest rankingsplace UC Irvine fourth overall among the Top 50 Best Value Colleges (public schools). UC Irvine is the highest-ranked member of the University of California system as well as the highest-ranked university in California.

"We take great pride that UC Irvine has been recognized as one of the foremost institutions where world-class teaching, research and opportunity meet affordability," said Chancellor Howard Gillman. "These latest rankings recognize our efforts to deliver both academic excellence and exceptional value to our students and their families."

To determine its rankings, The Princeton Review evaluated three key factors - academic rating, financial aid and college costs. Data from more than 650 schools was reviewed and analyzed for this annual project.

"We strongly recommend and salute colleges we present here for all they do to help their students with need afford to attend them while delivering an amazing college experience that's worth every penny," the company states in its Best Value Colleges methodology.

Other rankings also highlight the exceptional value proposition that UC Irvine offers. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, UC Irvine placed in the top 100, earning the 97^th spot out of nearly 2,300 institutions across the globe. The Times Higher Ed rankings cover three main missions of university activity - research, teaching and impact - and help to inform students about which university is right for them and faculty members about where they might consider working.

The rankings by The Princeton Review and Times Higher Ed come on the heels of rankings recently revealed by U.S. News & World Report.

For the 12^th year running, UC Irvine landed among the top 10 public universities in the country, placing eighth in U.S. News & World Report's 2027 list of Best Colleges - its highest public-university ranking in over a decade.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report and the top 100 in the world by Times Higher Education. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.