The continued world leadership of the University of California, Davis, in the fields of veterinary science as well as agriculture and forestry was recognized in rankings released today (March 25).

UC Davis placed second in the world and first in the nation in both subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Quacquarelli Symonds, or QS, is considered one of the most influential international authorities on university rankings.

Since veterinary science was added to the rankings in 2015, UC Davis has been first in the world five times and is No. 2 for a seventh time. The campus was No. 1 in agriculture and forestry in the first three years the subject was ranked and has held the No. 2 spot since 2016. 

UC Davis was ranked 42nd in the world in the broad category of the life sciences and medicine. The campus was also recognized in each of the other broad categories of the rankings: engineering and technology, arts and humanities, social sciences and management, and natural sciences.

In addition to being top-ranked in veterinary science and agriculture and forestry, the university placed in the top 100 in the world in environmental sciences (tied for 18th), biological sciences (tied for 43rd), economics and econometrics (tied for 71st), and psychology (tied for 99th). In the band for rankings from 51st to 100th were the following subjects:

• anatomy and physiology
• anthropology
• development studies
• earth and marine sciences
• engineering — civil and structural
• geology
• geophysics

“These rankings highlight that UC Davis stands tall among world leaders in veterinary science and agriculture,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “They also show that our campus provides an excellent education across the academic disciplines and conducts research advancing our understanding of and solutions to the planet’s most pressing challenges.”

The rankings consider reputation among academics, reputation among employers, the citations and impact of academic papers from a university, and the diversity of a university’s international research network. In all, the 2026 rankings analyzed programs in 55 subjects at 6,278 institutions and ranked programs at 1,909 universities across the world.

The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine advances animal, human and environmental health through education, research, clinical care and public service. Embracing a One Health approach, the school trains future leaders in veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences while addressing complex health challenges that span species and ecosystems. The Weill School treats tens of thousands of animal patients annually, provides extensive hands-on experience for students, and conducts collaborative, cutting-edge research that improves health outcomes for animals and people alike.

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has more than 7,600 undergraduates in 27 majors and 1,030 graduate students in 22 graduate groups and programs. The college receives approximately $252 million in research funding. UC Davis is among the most published and cited U.S. research universities in agricultural sciences, animal science and plant sciences, environment and ecology, food science and nutrition, and soil sciences.

UC Davis and rankings

A world-class university, UC Davis is highly ranked for how it transforms students’ lives, the impact of its research, the excellence of its academic programs, its sustainability and more. The university performs self-evaluations and also appreciates the value of third-party assessments. However, ranking methods vary, change over time and can be subjective. UC Davis focuses on those rankings that most closely align with its mission and values — including serving the public good, inclusiveness and equity, and social mobility — and in national rankings looks most closely at its standing among public universities. UC Davis encourages prospective students and their families to weigh rankings among other factors in their college decision, talk with counselors and UC Davis admissions advisors, and, if possible, visit the campus.