UCSD - University of California - San Diego
09/10/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/10/2024 03:11
UC San Diego Climbs to No. 3 Public University in U.S. in Academic Ranking of World Universities
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September 10, 2024Article Content
The University of California San Diego has once again solidified its reputation as a leading global academic institution, rising one spot to No. 3 among public U.S. universities in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) released by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. The university also advanced to No. 14 among U.S. colleges overall and No. 18 in the world in the annual list.
"UC San Diego's continued ascent in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities is a testament to our commitment to groundbreaking research, transformative innovation and world-class education," said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "This ranking's recognition of our alumni and faculty's impactful work highlights our mission to transform society. By equipping future leaders with the tools to drive innovation, we continue to address the complex challenges of today and tomorrow."
Each year, the ARWU evaluates over 2,500 universities to compile its ranking of the top 1,000 institutions worldwide. The rankings are based on a set of six indicators: the number of alumni and faculty winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals; the number of highly cited researchers; the number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science; the number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index - Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index; and per capita academic performance.
Scripps Researchers aboard the Research Vessel Sally Ride deploy Bluefin autonomous underwater vehicles to survey the seafloor at dumpsite off the coast of Los Angeles in March 2021. Photo Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
UC San Diego remains at the forefront of groundbreaking research across a wide range of disciplines, driving advancements that deepen our understanding in fields such as health, behavior, politics and society. In July, the university announced $1.73 billion in new research funding for fiscal year 2024, further fueling its commitment to research excellence and innovation.
The university's community of rising scientists is also tackling challenges such as uncovering the role of disease-critical genes and using artificial intelligence to enhance data-driven decision-making. This year, eight early-career UC San Diego researchers received NSF CAREER awards, recognizing their potential to drive breakthroughs in fields like structural engineering and environmental microbiology. These prestigious awards support early-career faculty who demonstrate exceptional promise in both research and education, positioning them as future leaders in their respective industries.
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UC San Diego researchers have found that workers in "exposed industries" such as construction, farming and manufacturing face significant impacts to both their health and productivity during periods of extreme heat. (Photo credit: iStock/Pict Rider)
UC San Diego experts are also leading efforts to understand how heat affects communities of color, low-income neighborhoods and medically vulnerable individuals. In addition to identifying these disparities, they are working on solutions-mapping health impacts of rising temperatures and developing strategies to help those at risk adapt and thrive. Among the researchers driving this critical work is environmental scientist Jennifer Burney, who is studying why certain racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. face higher exposure to urban heat. Economics professor Joshua Graff Zivin is also at the forefront, examining the effects of extreme heat on labor in industries where workers are often outdoors or in non-air-conditioned environments.
In addition to its recognition by ARWU, UC San Diego continues to earn top marks from other prestigious outlets, recently being named the No. 3 public university in the nation by Forbes in its 2025 America's Top Colleges list. To learn more about the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities, visit the organization's website. For more information about UC San Diego rankings and accolades, visit the Campus Profile.