UC Berkeley ranked No. 7 globally, remains No. 1 public university in the U.S

The University of California, Berkeley has been ranked the world’s seventh-best university in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings, while retaining its position as the top public university in the United States.

The annual rankings assessed more than 2,250 research institutions across 105 countries using measures including global research reputation, scholarly publications, research influence, and citation performance.

Berkeley also ranked as the fourth-highest research university in the United States overall, reinforcing its position among the world’s leading institutions for teaching, research, and innovation.

Founded in 1868, UC Berkeley is one of the largest and most influential public universities in the United States. The university enrols more than 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offers more than 350 degree programs across 15 schools and colleges, spanning disciplines including engineering, business, computer science, public policy, law, environmental science, health sciences, and the humanities.

The university is also recognised as one of the world’s most research-intensive institutions, attracting billions of dollars in annual research funding and producing breakthroughs across fields such as artificial intelligence, climate science, biotechnology, clean energy, and quantum research.

Berkeley has held the title of America’s highest-ranked public university in the Best Global Universities rankings since the list was introduced in 2014.

Beyond its overall ranking, Berkeley continued to perform strongly across multiple disciplines. The university ranked third globally in physics, fourth in biology and biochemistry, economics and business, and environment and ecology, and fifth in space science.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the subject rankings place significant emphasis on research output, scholarly impact, and academic reputation among researchers worldwide.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognises a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, Managing Editor for Education at U.S. News & World Report.

The latest recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for Berkeley. Earlier this year, the university was also named the top public institution in the United States in U.S. News’ 2026 Best Colleges rankings, alongside similar recognition from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Times Higher Education.

The consistent rankings highlight UC Berkeley’s role as a global talent pipeline and innovation hub, producing graduates, research, and technologies that continue to shape industries ranging from semiconductors and artificial intelligence to life sciences, energy, and advanced manufacturing.