The University of California San Diego (UCSD)  has secured the number six spot among the country’s best public universities, according to the latest annual rankings from the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges list.

   For the third year running, UCSD was recognized as one of the country’s top universities, also ranking No. 29 across more than 400 national universities overall (usnews.com).

   The rankings are based on a wide set of criteria. According to an article about college resources, “Best Colleges uses up to 17 measures of academic quality, including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, financial support, and student outcomes to evaluate nearly 1,700 colleges and universities in its annual rankings” (usnews.com).

   UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said, “UC San Diego’s consistent standing as one of the nation’s top public universities in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges rankings reflects our commitment to student success, academic excellence and societal impact” (today.ucsd.edu).

   Along with its overall placement, UCSD also performed well in specific categories. ABC News reported that “…the campus moved up one spot to No.27 in top performers in social mobility and climbed to No.11 in best colleges for veterans.” Additionally, the university also placed No. 23 in most innovative schools (10news.com).

   UCSD offers students “…hands-on research, internships, and interdisciplinary work that bridges classroom learning with real-word applications,” which are some of the many factors that contribute to the university’s national reputation (usnews.com).

     Multiple of UCSD’s undergraduate programs were recognized nationally as well. According to the Times of San Diego, “UC San Diego’s undergraduate computer science program is ranked No. 12 in the nation, and the engineering program reached No.17” (timesofsandiego.com).

   According to a college ranking website, UC San Diego is known as “…one of the top science universities in the United States,” offering over 100 programs across different fields. Students appreciate the access to cutting-edge technology and research opportunities, and many say that professors are “incredibly knowledgeable” and willing to mentor students (princetonreview.com).

   The university places focus on research starting at the undergraduate level. The UCSD website explained, “Many students have the opportunity to get involved in research labs early in their college experience, allowing them to gain hands-on learning that can help prepare them for graduate school or competitive careers after graduation” (today.ucsd.edu).

    For students at UC High considering different colleges, identifying a school’s ranking can help them decide which one is worth applying to. Junior Stephanie Monroy said, “I think the ranking of universities definitely plays a role when applying. If I know that the university has been ranked that high, then I’m able to count on its education being the best of what there is to offer, and my tuition will be worth it.”

   UCSD is part of the University of California system, which includes other highly ranked universities such as UC Berkeley and UC Los Angeles. U.S News and World Report said, “The University of California system continues to be recognized nationally for its public education mission and broad impact” (usnews.com).