Campus News
UC Santa Cruz ranks among top 25 global public universities in new rankings
UC Santa Cruz’s high placement underscores a growing influence on the global research stage and strengths in areas with significant scientific and societal impact.
Astronomy graduate student Angela Twum conducts highly impactful research on luminous red novae, stellar explosions thought to be caused by the merging of two stars.
UC Santa Cruz has been named one of the top public universities in the world in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Global Universities rankings, coming in at No. 24 among U.S. public universities, No. 47 among all U.S. universities, and No. 133 overall out of more than 2,250 institutions worldwide.
The rankings measure academic and research performance based on factors such as global and regional research reputation, publications, collaboration, and citation impact. UC Santa Cruz’s high placement underscores a growing influence on the global research stage and strengths in areas with significant scientific and societal impact.
“These rankings affirm the excellence and relevance of our research,” said Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “They highlight how UC Santa Cruz faculty and students are driving discovery and innovation in ways that resonate around the world.”
Top 20 subject rankings highlight UC Santa Cruz’s global leadership
UC Santa Cruz earned exceptional subject-specific rankings in several research areas, with three disciplines placing in the global top 60 and two in the top 15. The campus ranked No. 12 in the world for space science and No. 7 among U.S. universities, a reflection of longstanding leadership in both observational and theoretical astrophysics and planetary science. Campus researchers have helped shape our understanding of the universe—from the conceptualization of dark matter to key roles in designing and deploying groundbreaking instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and the Keck Telescopes on Mauna Kea.
The university also ranked No. 13 globally in marine and freshwater biology and second among U.S. universities. On campus, this field is driven by collaborative, interdisciplinary research and training conducted through the Institute of Marine Sciences, the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience, and across the departments of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Ecology Evolutionary Biology, Environmental Studies, Ocean Sciences, the Campus Natural Reserve System, and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center—as well as through partnerships such as the Fisheries Collaborative Program with NOAA and the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care & Research Center with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. These efforts focus on ocean health, climate resilience, and sustainable fisheries management.
UC Santa Cruz’s ranking in ecology—No. 56 globally and No. 15 in the United States—further highlights its impact on environmental and biodiversity research, areas that are increasingly urgent in the face of global climate change. Well-known for its pioneering role in the Human Genome Project, UCSC was also ranked No. 63 globally in molecular biology and genetics and No. 27 in the United States.
UC Santa Cruz placed in the top 200 globally in numerous other disciplines, demonstrating the breadth and depth of the campus’s research enterprise. Worldwide, the university was ranked:
- No. 105 in geosciences
- No. 121 in environmental and ecological sciences
- No. 125 ranking in biology and biochemistry
- No. 162 in arts and humanities
- No. 187 in plant and animal science
These placements highlight the university’s interdisciplinary approach and commitment to advancing knowledge across a wide range of fields—from fundamental discoveries in science to deep explorations of history, culture, and society.
A distinctive research university with global reach
Founded in 1965, UC Santa Cruz has emerged as a leading research university with a strong social and environmental ethos. Faculty are engaged in high-impact work that addresses some of the world’s most complex challenges, and students at all levels are encouraged to take part in hands-on research and public scholarship.
With continued recognition on the global stage, UC Santa Cruz is cementing a place among the world’s premier research institutions—driving innovation, expanding knowledge, and shaping the future through discovery, innovation, and collaboration.