Forbes Names the Top 25 Public Universities in the US
Amul Info ·
In Forbes’ 2027 ranking, University of California, Berkeley took first place, followed by UCLA and University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. Four California universities made the top 10.
A new ranking of US higher education institutions has been published. «Forbes» magazine has presented its list of the 25 best public universities in the United States for 2027. California institutions stood out in the rankings, with four universities from the state placing in the top ten.
Taking the number one spot on the list is the University of California, Berkeley. UC Berkeley excelled not only among public universities but also secured 9th place in the overall «Forbes» ranking, which covers 500 leading US higher education institutions.
The second position went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). This institution broke its own record by receiving over 177,000 applications from incoming and transfer students for the Fall 2026 semester.
The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor ranked third, the University of California, San Diego took fourth, and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) placed fifth.
The top ten in the «Forbes» ranking consists of the following universities:
One of the notable highlights was UC Davis entering the top ten. «Forbes» specifically highlighted the university's capabilities in agriculture, veterinary medicine, climate, and research. The institution also serves as the center of a federal AI institute studying the application of artificial intelligence technologies in the future development of the food system.
UC Davis set a new application record by receiving 122,271 applications for first-year and transfer programs for the 2026–2027 academic year.
According to «Forbes» data, interest in public universities in the US is on the rise. Last spring, undergraduate enrollment at four-year public institutions increased by 1.5 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 5.4 million.
One of the reasons for the growing preference for public universities is their affordability compared to private institutions, especially for in-state residents.
When compiling the ranking, factors considered included not only institutional prestige but also graduation rates, employment and career outcomes, student debt metrics, alumni earnings, and other indicators. «Forbes» compiles its overall ranking based on 14 distinct metrics.
The new list demonstrates that US public universities stand out for their strong outcomes in educational opportunities, research activities, and alumni professional development.