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University of California - San Diego Campus Rankings 2026
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Last updated on 13 May '26
- University of California - San Diego Campus Ranking 2026
- University of California - San Diego Campus Course Ranking 2026
- UC San Diego Ranking by US News and World Report 2025
- UC San Diego Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026
- UCSD Times Higher Education Rankings 2026
- UC San Diego ARWU Rankings 2025
- UC San Diego Bloomberg Ranking 2023
- UC San Diego Student Reviews
UC San DiegoUniversity of California - San Diego Campus Ranking 2026
The University of California San Diego Campus is a globally ranked university. Let us take a look at how this university is ranked this year and compare it with the previous year.
Shiksha Popularity Ranking 2026 ranks University of California San Diego Campus at #37 globally and #18 in USA. The rankings from multiple global sources and shows them in an easy-to-understand manner.
On the other hand in University of California San Diego Campus, the global standing of UCSD Campus is #66 for 2026, which is improved trend when compared with 2025 which is #72.
Look at the table given below for UCSD rankings for the recent years -
| Ranking Body | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS | Not Ranked | 62 | 72 | 66 |
| THE | 32 | 34 | 34 | 47 |
| US News | 20 | 21 | 21 | Not Ranked |
#19
World rank by different ranking providers
Shiksha
#37ARWU Ranking
#20US News Ranking
#21THE Ranking
#47QS Ranking
#66
Commonly asked questions On University Evaluation
Yes, the University of California San Diego is widely known as a public Ivy which offers top-tier academics and research reputation compared to the elite private universities.
It is a very good choice for students looking for STEM programs like Computer Science and Engineering. As per US News 2026, this university was ranked #29 among the top US universities. Given are the courses ranked under UCSD in 2026 -
- Aerospace Engineering PG (#18)
- Best UG Biomedical Engineering Schools (#7)
- Biomedical Engineering PG (#4)
- Chemical Engineering PG (#30)
- Civil Engineering PG (#24)
As per an unofficial source, yes, the University of California San Diego is considered an elite public research university.
Indian students choose UCSD for STEM fields and a top-tier education. It consistently ranks really well among the top ranking bodies of the world. Look at the table of rankings for UCSD given below -
| Ranking Body | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| QS | 62 | 72 | 66 |
| THE | 34 | 34 | 47 |
| US News | 21 | 21 | Not Ranked |
UC San DiegoUniversity of California - San Diego Campus Course Ranking 2026
Some of its courses in the field of Engineering, Business & Management Studies, Law, Medicine & Health Sciences and Science are ranked in 2026 by top ranking bodies such as Shiksha Popularity World Ranking and QS, exemplifying University of California - San Diego Campus and its strengths.
The university ranking for Engineering courses stands at #14 in 2026 as per Shiksha Popularity Ranking.
University’s Business & Management Studies courses are also ranked by Shiksha Popularity Ranking, at #38. Interestingly, these courses have also been recognized by QS from past few years. In 2026, these courses were ranked by QS at #40, showing declined trend from its 2025 rank of #35.
Given below is the University of California San Diego course rankings, take a look -
| Course Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| US News & World Report - Biomedical Engineering PG | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| US News & World Report - Information Systems MBA | – / – | – / – | 23 |
| QS - Pharmacy and Pharmacology | 10 | 7 | 14 |
| THE (Times Higher Education) - Psychology | 39 | 33 | 40 |
| QS - Biological Sciences | 10 | 11 | 9 |
MS
Shiksha
US News
QS
THE
ARWU
Specializations in MS Program
Shiksha
US News
Shiksha
QS
THE
MBA/PGDM
Shiksha
US News
QS
B.E. / B.Tech
Shiksha
US News
Specializations in B.E. / B.Tech Program
Shiksha
US News
Shiksha
US News
Commonly asked questions On Course Ranking
The popular courses at UC San Diego are mostly STEM-designated like Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Psychology, Economics and Biology. The US News ranks the Bioengineering courses at #4 and the other popular UC San Diego are given below -
- Computer Science (#12)
- Computer Engineering (#13)
- Electrical Engineering (#14)
The Computer Science programme offered by the San Diego Campus of the University of California is highly renowned and considered top tier. It generally ranks among the top 15 in the US and globally for strong research in AI, algorithms, and Systems.
Look at the CSE rankings as per the popular ranking bodies -
- Shiksha Popularity Rankings - #17
- Times Higher Education - #36
UC San Diego Ranking by US News and World Report 2025
US News and World Report is a US media company that releases a list of ranks of various global universities. It provides global, national, regional, and subject-based rankings.
According to the US News and World Report 2025, the University of California San Diego has been ranked at #21. Among the ‘National University’ Rankings 2026, University of California San Diego is ranked #29, which is also consistent with what it was last year.
The university also ranks among the top 50 courses for the ca
US News and World Report is a US media company that releases a list of ranks of various global universities. It provides global, national, regional, and subject-based rankings.
According to the US News and World Report 2025, the University of California San Diego has been ranked at #21. Among the ‘National University’ Rankings 2026, University of California San Diego is ranked #29, which is also consistent with what it was last year.
The university also ranks among the top 50 courses for the category, Engineering, Global MBA, UG Business, PG Business, and Entrepreneurship MBA. Look at the given table for the rankings comparison -
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Universities | 21 | 21 | – / – |
| National University | 28 | 29 | 29 |
| Aerospace Engineering PG | 18 | 18 | 19 |
| Best Graduate Medical Schools | 21 | – / – | – / – |
| Best UG Biomedical Engineering Schools | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Biomedical Engineering PG | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Chemical Engineering PG | 42 | 34 | 30 |
| Civil Engineering PG | 27 | 20 | 24 |
| Computer Engineering PG | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| Electrical Engineering PG | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Entrepreneurship MBA | – / – | – / – | 46 |
| Finance MBA | – / – | – / – | 40 |
| Graduate Business School | 78 | 68 | 63 |
| Information Systems MBA | – / – | – / – | 23 |
| MBA Business Analytics | – / – | – / – | 32 |
| Mechanical Engineering PG | 17 | 22 | 26 |
| Supply Chain Management MBA | – / – | – / – | 33 |
| UG Business | 47 | 53 | 51 |
| UG Computer Engineering | 11 | 13 | 15 |
| UG Electrical-Electronic and Communications Engineering | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| UG Mechanical Engineering | 25 | 22 | 24 |
UC San Diego Comparison with Other Universities
As per the US News and World Report 2025, the University of San Diego has been ranked the best at #21 which is far better than the other campuses given in the table. International students should gravitate more towards UC San Diego if they want the best rankings. All the other university ranks are around 100.
Look at the table of comparison given below -
|
University Name |
US News and World 2024 |
US News and World 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
UC San Diego |
21 | 21 |
|
UC Irvine Campus |
100 | 96 |
|
UC Santa Barbara |
89 | 91 |
|
UC Davis |
89 | 96 |
US News and World Report: UC San Diego Ranking Criteria 2025
The US News and World Report is one of the leading ranking bodies in the world. Since 2005 the body has been ranking the global universities based on various parameters. The Parameters include: Research Reputation, Publications, Total Citations, International Collaborations, and Scientific Excellence Indicators among others.
As per the US News 2025, the University of California San Diego gets an overall score of 83 out of 100. Given in the table is the ranking criteria -
|
US News Ranking Criteria for UC San Diego |
Weightage |
|---|---|
|
Average 6-year graduation rate |
88% |
|
6-year graduation rate of students who received a Pell Grant |
82% |
|
6-year graduation rate of students who did not receive a Pell Grant |
88% |
|
Expert Opinion (Peer Assesmement Score) |
20% |
|
Faculty Resources |
11% |
|
Financial Resources |
8% |
|
Faculty Research |
4% |
Commonly asked questions On UC San Diego US News & World Report Ranking
In the year 2025, the US News has ranked UC San Diego under many parameters.
Among the 'National University' Rankings 2026, University of California San Diego is ranked #29, which is also consistent with what it was last year.
The top 50 courses are also ranked under the same -
- Engineering (#4)
- UG Business (#51)
- Supply Chain Management MBA (#33)
UC San Diego Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds 2026
Quacquarelli Symonds Rankings is one of the most followed ranking bodies around the world. It publishes University rankings for various global universities. The first rankings by QS had been published in 2004 in collaboration with THE world rankings. QS has been publishing its individual rankings since 2009.
According to QS world rankings, UC San Diego has been ranked at #66 in 2026 and this rank has improved from what it was in the year 2025. All in all, the rankings are fluctuating. The UC San
Quacquarelli Symonds Rankings is one of the most followed ranking bodies around the world. It publishes University rankings for various global universities. The first rankings by QS had been published in 2004 in collaboration with THE world rankings. QS has been publishing its individual rankings since 2009.
According to QS world rankings, UC San Diego has been ranked at #66 in 2026 and this rank has improved from what it was in the year 2025. All in all, the rankings are fluctuating. The UC San Diego courses like Accounting & Finance, Architecture, Art & Design, Biological Sciences, Global MBA, Law & Legal Studies are also ranked by QS World in 2026.
Look at the rankings given below for QS rankings -
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World University | 62 | 72 | 66 |
| Accounting and Finance | 101 | 101 | 101 |
| Architecture and Built Environment | 151 | 151 | 201 |
| Art and Design | 101 | 101 | 101 |
| Biological Sciences | 10 | 11 | 9 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Engineering and Technology | 49 | 64 | 56 |
| Global MBA | 151 | 151 | 151 |
| Law and Legal Studies | 251 | 201 | 201 |
| Masters in Business Analytics | 34 | 35 | 40 |
| Mathematics | 69 | 67 | 62 |
| Mechanical Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering | 79 | 78 | 86 |
| Medicine | 23 | 22 | 24 |
| Performing Arts | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Pharmacy and Pharmacology | 10 | 7 | 14 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 54 | 44 | 37 |
| Politics | 25 | 33 | 25 |
| Sociology | 101 | 101 | 72 |
UC San Diengo Comparison with Other Universities
UC San Diego ranks the best out of all the universities given below as per QS World. Indian students should choose this university if rankings are a concern. Look at the table given below as per the Times Higher Education -
|
University Name |
QS World 2024 |
QS World 2025 |
QS World 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
UC San Diego |
62 | 72 | 66 |
|
UC Irvine Campus |
268 | 307 | 293 |
|
UC Santa Barbara |
163 | 178 | 179 |
|
UC Davis |
132 | 130 | 114 |
Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking 2026: Ranking Criteria
Quacquarelli Symonds University Rankings is one of the most popular ranking bodies and has a reputation for being transparent. Quacquarelli Symonds uses an extensive methodology that includes Research and Discovery, Employability and Outcomes, Global Engagement, Learning Experience, and Sustainability.
As per QS rankings 2026, the scores derived from all the factors are 76.9 out of 100 which is good and indicates a high ranking.
A detailed ranking criteria for Northeastern University Quacquarelli Symonds Ranking is given below
|
QS Ranking Criteria for the University of California San Diego |
QS Scores 2026 |
|---|---|
|
Overall |
76.9 |
|
Academic Reputation |
94 |
|
Citations per faculty |
80.3 |
|
Employer Reputation |
80.2 |
|
Employment Outcomes |
40.8 |
|
International Faculty Ratio |
43.8 |
|
International Research Network |
94 |
|
International Student Diversity |
52 |
|
International Student Ratio |
47 |
|
Faculty Student Ratio |
54.4 |
|
Sustainability |
72.3 |
Commonly asked questions On UC San Diego QS Ranking
Yes, UC San Diego is ranked in the year 2026 as per the top ranking bodies like the QS and Times Higher Education.
According to QS world rankings, UC San Diego has been ranked at #66 in 2026 and this rank has improved from what it was in the year 2025.
Under the same, the given courses are also ranked -
- Accounting & Finance
- Architecture
- Art & Design
- Biological Sciences
- Global MBA
- Law & Legal Studies
UCSD Times Higher Education Rankings 2026
While deriving the University of San Diego rankings, Times Higher Education considers many factors. Some of those are impact rankings, world reputation rankings, Asia University rankings and emerging economies university rankings along with others.
As per Times Higher Education rankings, UCSD ranks #47 in the year 2026. This can be considered a huge decline from the last year 2025 when it was #34.
The students can check out the UC San Diego rankings given in the table below -
While deriving the University of San Diego rankings, Times Higher Education considers many factors. Some of those are impact rankings, world reputation rankings, Asia University rankings and emerging economies university rankings along with others.
As per Times Higher Education rankings, UCSD ranks #47 in the year 2026. This can be considered a huge decline from the last year 2025 when it was #34.
The students can check out the UC San Diego rankings given in the table below -
| Ranked by | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | 34 | 34 | 47 |
| Arts and Humanities | 70 | 73 | 89 |
| Engineering | 41 | 42 | 52 |
| Life Sciences | 24 | 25 | 27 |
| Medicine and Health | 27 | 34 | 39 |
| PG Business and Economics | 33 | 35 | 45 |
| PG Computer Science | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| Psychology | 39 | 33 | 40 |
UC San Diego Comparison with Other Universities
Indian students should choose the University of California San Diego as it ranks the best out of all the UC campuses given below. The UCSD rankings are declining yet it's THE rankings are better. UC Davis can be considered as the second choice. Look at the table of comparison given below -
|
University Name |
Times Higher Education 2024 |
Times Higher Education 2025 |
Times Higher Education 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
UC San Diego |
34 | 34 | 47 |
|
UC Irvine Campus |
92 | 90 | 97 |
|
UC Santa Barbara |
69 | 67 | 72 |
|
UC Davis |
59 | 62 | 64 |
UC San Diego THE Ranking Criteria 2026
The factors Times Higher Education considers are teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry. The overall score UCSD got in Times Higher Education rankings in the year 2026 was 76.6 out of 100.
Given below is the table for the Times Higher Education scores 2026 for the University of California San Diego -
|
UCSD Ranking Criteria (THE) |
Weightage (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
|
Overall |
76.6 |
|
Teaching |
66.4 |
|
Research environment |
63.7 |
|
Research quality |
97.1 |
|
International outlook |
71.3 |
|
Industry |
100 |
UC San Diego ARWU Rankings 2025
ARWU Rankings are considered to be quite reliable in the whole world and students across the globe consider these rankings when making a decision about higher studies.
ARWU ranks the University of California San Diego is ranked at #20 which has slightly from 2023 and 2024. The UC San Diego courses like Law, Mathematics, Physics, Political Sciences and Sociology are also ranked under the Shanghai rankings.
Look at the table given for the ARWU rankings -
ARWU Rankings are considered to be quite reliable in the whole world and students across the globe consider these rankings when making a decision about higher studies.
ARWU ranks the University of California San Diego is ranked at #20 which has slightly from 2023 and 2024. The UC San Diego courses like Law, Mathematics, Physics, Political Sciences and Sociology are also ranked under the Shanghai rankings.
Look at the table given for the ARWU rankings -
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universities | 19 | 18 | 20 |
| Law | 101 | 151 | 151 |
| Mathematics | 45 | 51 | 42 |
| Physics | 51 | 76 | 76 |
| Political Sciences | 12 | 12 | 9 |
| Sociology | 101 | 151 | 35 |
UC San Diengo Comparison with Other Universities: ARWU Rankings 2025
Indian students should choose the University of California San Diego as it ranks the best out of all the UC campuses given below. All the other universities gave against are ranking far away.
UC Santa Barbara can be considered as the second choice. Look at the table of comparison given below -
|
University Name |
ARWU 2023 |
ARWU 2024 |
ARWU 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
UC San Diego |
19 | 18 | 20 |
|
UC Irvine Campus |
65 | 76 | 79 |
|
UC Santa Barbara |
63 | 64 | 70 |
|
UC Davis |
101 | 101 | 101 |
UC San Diego ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) 2025: Ranking Criteria
The Shanghai rankings also known as ARWU take care of many factors when deciding the rankings of top universities like the University of California San Diego.
Important factors considered by Shanghai Rankings are given below in the table, take a look –
|
Criteria |
Indicator |
Weightage |
|---|---|---|
|
Quality of Education |
This includes Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals won by the alumni of an institution. |
10% |
|
Quality of Faculty |
This includes Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals won by the staff of an institution. |
20% |
|
Highly Cited (HiCi) Researchers |
20% |
|
|
Research Output |
Papers published in Nature and Science |
20% |
|
Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded and Social Science Citation Index |
20% |
|
|
Per Capita Performance |
Per capita academic performance of an institution |
10% |
UC San DiegoBloomberg Ranking 2023
| Ranked by | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Best Business School USA | 53 |
UC San DiegoStudents Ratings & Reviews
2 Verified Reviews- 0% students never faced discrimination in this university
UC San Diego
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
The University of California San Diego is among the top public research universities in USA. UCSD student body features 8,400+ international students from all over the world. Shiksha Popularity Ranking ranks UCSD at #37 in World and #18 in USA. UCSD offers programs at UG and PG levels for its intern
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
As per the UC San Diego employment report for the Class 2024, following were the top industries where the grads got hired after completing Full-time MBA from Rady School of Management-
| Industry | Employment % |
|---|---|
| Consulting | 22.2% |
| Healthcare | 22.2% |
| Financial Services | 16.7% |
| Technology | 11.1% |
| Nonprofit/Education | 11.1% |
| Manufacturing | 5.6% |
| Law/Legal Services | 5.6% |
| Transportation & Logistics | 5.6% |
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes UC San Diego allows you to apply to more than one programme for its intake. But you can't apply to more than 1 programme provided by same department of uni
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Most department at UCSD only requires 3 LOR. But if you want to submit additional letters you should check in with UC San Diego department to make sure it won't affect your chances of being admitted.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 months ago
University of California San Diego is one of the top ranked universities for higher education in the world. According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings, University of California San Diego is ranked at #37 in world and #18 in the USA. Top ranking bodies worldwide ranks UCSD that are listed below-
Ranking Authorities | Rank |
|---|---|
Shiksha Popularity Rankings | #37 in world and #18 in the USA |
Times Higher Education 2026 | #47 in World University Rankings |
QS Rankings 2026 | #66 in QS World University Rankings |
US News and World Report 2026 | #29 in Best National Universities |
M
Contributor-Level 10
About the author
UC San Diego
Price Center
Center Hall
Atkinson Hall
UC San DiegoLocation
| University City | San Diego, California, USA |
| Size of city | Large |
| Population of City | 14,19,516 |
UC San DiegoContact Information
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive,
La Jolla, CA 92093-0021
US
San Diego ( California)
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