UC San Diego was ranked as the 38th best university in the country in the annual rankings by U.S. News & World Report and the eighth best public school.
UCSD has been among the top 10 publicly funded universities for more than a decade.
The Jacobs School of Engineering on the La Jolla campus was ranked fifth in the Biomedical/Biomedical Engineering category for the third consecutive year.
"It is truly an honor for UC San Diego to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's premier universities,'' Chancellor Pradeep Khosla said. "This is a reflection of the quality of our academic enterprise and our diverse strengths across disciplines -- from the arts and humanities to the social and physical sciences.''
The University of San Diego was ranked 92nd among national universities and tied for 14th among schools ranked as "up and coming.''
San Diego State University was ranked 165th among national universities, a category in which Harvard and Princeton were top-ranked. Its School of International Business ranked 12th in the U.S.
SDSU was first in California and eighth in the nation for students saddled with the least debt when they graduate. Average student debt upon leaving school was $16,400, and 44 percent didn't need to pay any money back.
"While students and parents continue to struggle as a result of the weak economy, we remain committed to our efforts that help keep student debt load down,'' said Craig Yamamoto, director of SDSU's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. "It is a priority for SDSU to support students with financial need, as well as those students who have demonstrated a commitment to achieving at the highest levels.''
Nearly half of SDSU students receive grants which do not have to be paid back, and only 15 percent take out loans, according to school data.
In the Western regional college section, Point Loma Nazarene was ranked 17th and Cal State San Marcos 81st.
The publication calls its rankings a good starting point for families who are researching college choices. Rankings are based on academic reputations among peers, student retention, faculty resources, acceptance rates, graduation rates, spending per student and alumni giving.
