#1 Because of You: UCLA Once Again Named the Nation’s Best Public University

Campus Update

Chancellor Block sent the following message to the UCLA Bruin Community.

Dear Bruin Community:

In light of the challenges of the past few years, I think it is particularly important that we seize upon opportunities to bring our community together in celebration.

Here is one of them: For the sixth year in a row, UCLA has been named the No. 1 public university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

It is true that trumpeting our success in college rankings always brings me some unease — I am certainly not alone in looking skeptically upon any attempt to measure vastly complex institutions, each with their own educational philosophies and goals, through a simple system of classification. But I do take pride in what our success in such rankings represents. It is a recognition of the hard work of the staff and faculty who believe deeply in our academic mission and drive it forward, even in the most difficult periods. It is a recognition of our students’ brilliance, creativity, ambition and persistence, both in their time on campus and in their lives as alumni.

UCLA is the nation’s best public university because of you, the members of our Bruin community. If you wish to share this latest news with others, I encourage you to use the hashtag #1UCLA on social media. We also have Zoom wallpapers and other graphics you can use to show your UCLA pride.

This year, UC Berkeley joins us at the top of these rankings, tied as the nation’s best public university. This is something to celebrate. Both of our campuses — and all of the other UCs — are part of the same incredible institution, the single most powerful engine of knowledge creation and upward mobility that the world has ever known.

UCLA has experienced an astonishing ascent in its first hundred years, and in our second century we continue to rise, making an even greater impact upon the communities we serve.

Thank you for everything that you do to support our remarkable university. UCLA’s success is surely because of you.

Sincerely,

  • Gene D. BlockChancellor