UCLA Loses The Crown As The Top Public School In The U.S. For The Second Year In A Row — Dethroned By Another California University

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Sofia Delpueche

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  April 9, 2026

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For years, UCLA has been synonymous with academic excellence, innovation, and a vibrant campus life that draws top students from across the globe. Its reputation for world-class programs and influential alumni, has made it a staple at the top of public university rankings.

But this year, the renowned institution has been overtaken again, as reflected by the U.S. News & World Report, UC Berkeley has earned the title of the nation’s best public university for the second year in a row, also placing #15 among all National Universities. 

UCLA remains a top contender

Despite losing the crown, UCLA remains a formidable contender, ranking #2 among Top Public Schools and #17 among National Universities. The university boasts a 9% admission rate, an 85% four-year graduation rate, and 47% of classes with fewer than 20 students.

While UCLA no longer holds the top public university crown, its numbers remain highly competitive, keeping the rivalry with Berkeley alive. See where other leading public and national universities stand in the full 2026 rankings:

1. University of California, Berkeley, CA
2. University of California, Los Angeles, CA
3. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, MI
4. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, NC
5. University of Virginia, VA
6. University of California, San Diego, CA
7. University of Florida, FL
8. University of Texas–Austin, TX
9. Georgia Institute of Technology, GA
10. University of California, Davis, CA