Brief: THE 2027 Rankings Put Six UC Campuses in Top 100

The University of California Office of the President newsroom reported on October 12, 2026, that in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, all nine University of California (UC) undergraduate campuses rank among the top 50 public universities in the United States and six rank in the global top 100. UC Irvine ranks 97th in the world, 36th in the United States, and 17th among U.S. public universities. The ranking evaluated 2,297 universities in 118 countries and territories, and the University of Oxford holds first place for the 11th consecutive year.

Where the Nine UC Campuses Rank in the THE World University Rankings 2027

UC Berkeley ranks ninth in the world, the highest U.S. public university in this edition; the ranking has named it the top U.S. public university in 11 of the past 12 years.

Positions beyond 200 are published as bands. The ranking assesses teaching, research, the economic footprint of that research, and international staff, students, and research collaboration.

What the THE Rankings Mean for Irvine Families Applying to the University of California

The ranking measures research output and international reach; it does not measure undergraduate selectivity and does not change any application rule. Every UC campus still reads applications under the same comprehensive review, and the application closes November 30. Irvine families weighing UC Irvine can read its 97th-place global rank alongside its fall 2026 admission data: the first describes academic resources, the second determines the odds of admission. Campus selection and college-list balance are covered by the EDUBUS University Admissions Planning service.

Sources

• University of California News: The University of California is a world leader, according to this new global ranking (accessed October 12, 2026)
• Times Higher Education: World University Rankings 2027 (accessed October 12, 2026)