UCLA Ranked No. 1 Public University for Seventh Year in a Row (2024)

FAQs

What makes UCLA the #1 public university? ›

Among the top 25 national universities, UCLA ranked highest in the social mobility category, which looks at the academic success of diverse students, particularly first-generation students and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

1 Public University in the U.S. For the seventh year in a row, UCLA has been named the No. 1 public university in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Best Colleges” rankings.

National Rankings

This year, UCLA joins UC Berkeley as the nation's No. 1 public university, ranking 20th among all national universities in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

UC Berkeley is once again the No. 1 public school in the country, tied with UCLA, according to the 2024 American college rankings by U.S. News and World Report that were announced today (Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023).

Academic focus: Harvard is known for its excellent liberal arts education, as well as its prestigious professional schools and commitment to research. UCLA is a leading public research university with a wide range of strong programs that may feel slightly more pre-professional.

UCLA provides a truly well rounded college experience. Its academic rigor, diversity, campus, gastronomic options, and weather truly cannot be compared with any other college - it's in a class all its own.

First, UCLA looks for students that value education. Successful applicants will have a stellar academic record and a history of challenging themselves. UCLA also values research, meaning that applicants should not only have academic interests, but they should also be passionate about applying those interests.

The top 10 colleges in the US according to U.S. News' Best National University Rankings are: #1 Princeton University. #2 Columbia University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. #5 Yale University.

The University of California, Los Angeles, more commonly known as UCLA, is one of the most prestigious and well-known universities in the United States. Established in 1919, UCLA has a rich history and a reputation for academic excellence, research, and a vibrant campus culture.

Easiest UC Schools to Get Into

Even if UCLA and Berkeley are reaches, there's still hope of attending a UC school. The easiest UC schools to get into include UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced, all of which have acceptance rates over 50%.

Where does UCLA rank in the world? ›

Rankings. University of California Los Angeles is ranked #14 in Best Global Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

“More than anything else, UCLA is the best public university in the nation because of the contributions of our staff, faculty, students, alumni and friends. UCLA is the best public university in the nation because of you.” Steinman is the 2023-2024 city and crime editor. She was previously a city and crime contributor.

UCLA Vs UC Berkeley: Acceptance Rate

Out of 196,932 applicants, 30,992 students enrolled. UC Berkeley's acceptance rate is 17.48%, the second-lowest among the two. UCLA's acceptance rate is 14.33%, the hardest to get into.

The charts provide a snapshot of UCLA's standing in these rankings vis-à-vis other top-tier research universities, both public and private. UCLA is No. 1 among public universities and is tied for 19th among all national universities in the USN&WR Best Colleges rankings.

World-Renowned Academic Rigor

UCLA is home to Nobel Laureates and MacArthur Fellows, pioneers and innovators, and leaders of the next generation.

Moll's list of the Public Ivies consisted of 15 schools, including William & Mary, UC Berkeley, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Michigan, UCLA, and the University of Virginia.

This is partly due to its rigorous academics, extensive research opportunities, and highly competitive athletic programs. Additionally, UCLA is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) which is an organization of prominent research universities in North America.