One of the best-known universities in California has moved down one place since last year in a list of the nation’s best public universities published on Aug. 25 by data analysis website Niche.

University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA) was ranked the second best public university for 2026, surpassed by the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. The University of California–Berkeley ranked No. 9 on the top 25 list.

The ranking compared more than 500 public colleges and state universities in the United States, according to Niche.

The Pittsburgh-based education analysis platform said the ranking was based on “rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education” as well as “millions of reviews from students and alumni.”

Other public sources Niche uses include data from the U.S. Census, the FBI, and others.

In the report, UCLA was graded A+ in most metrics, including academics, campus, diversity, professors, dorms, location, party scene, campus food, and student life. It was graded A in value and athletics, and B- in safety.

The safety grade incorporates factors such as campus crime rate, local crime rate, residence hall date violence rate, residence hall rape rate, alcohol or drug-related arrests, and student surveys regarding health and safety services on campus, according to Niche.

However, the safety factor was weighted at 2.5 percent in the overall score, while the academics factor was weighted at 40 percent, and value was weighted at 27.5 percent. Value includes factors such as average loan amount and alumni earnings.

“The campus is beautiful, the professors are passionate, and there’s always something going on,” a student wrote in a review of UCLA on Niche’s website.

“The professors at the university are incredible instructors who are capable of explaining things differently for the students who need it,” another student wrote.

“UCLA is a great campus with a rich and diverse community. Not once will you feel alone or isolated,” another wrote. “There are downsides, [including] tuition, difficulty of class selection, and some minor inconveniences.”

Both UCLA and the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, were also listed in the top 25 ranking of best colleges in the nation. UCLA was ranked 20th, and Michigan was ranked 19th.

Five California schools made it onto that list, including Stanford University (No. 3), California Institute of Technology (No. 9), Harvey Mudd College (No. 16), UCLA, and Claremont McKenna College (No. 23).

Three California schools were ranked among the top five hardest colleges to get into, including California Institute of Technology (No. 1 with an acceptance rate of 3 percent), Minerva University in San Francisco (No. 3 with an acceptance rate of 4 percent), and Stanford University (No. 4 with an acceptance rate of 4 percent).