UC Merced Named the 14th Best College in the Nation by Wall Street Journal

Following recognition as a Top 25 university by U.S. News & World Report, UC Merced has once again earned national acclaim, this time from the Wall Street Journal. In its 2026 report of the Best Colleges in the U.S., the highly respected media outlet has named UC Merced the 14th best college in the nation.

Among public institutions, UC Merced ranked third nationwide – right after UC Berkeley and UC Davis – and placed fifth among all California universities, public and private. The university was also recognized for its leadership in expanding opportunity, earning the No. 3 spot nationally in social mobility.

“This recognition from the Wall Street Journal underscores the incredible momentum at UC Merced,” said Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. “To be ranked among the very best colleges in the country and recognized for our social mobility efforts speaks to the talent of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff and the transformative impact of our mission.”

According to the WSJ’s website, the rankings – developed in partnership with College Pulse and Statista – evaluate colleges on factors that matter most to students and families, including student outcomes, learning environment and diversity. Like U.S. News, the methodology used by the WSJ rewards student experience and academic excellence more equitably.

UC Merced received high marks across all student outcome categories, especially for “Salary Impact” and “Graduation Rate Impact.” The university also performed well in the “Diversity” category, which looks at not only the ethnic makeup of students and faculty but also the inclusion of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and students with disabilities.

Social mobility remains an area in which UC Merced excels. According to the report, universities that do well in this category enroll a high proportion of students “coming from lower-income families, while maintaining high graduation rates and having a positive impact on graduate salaries and minimizing the costs of attending the college.”

“What sets UC Merced apart is not just the quality of education we provide, but the opportunities we create for students who have historically been left out of higher education,” Muñoz said. “These rankings affirm that we are delivering on our promise of opening doors, supporting student success and preparing graduates to make an impact on the world.”