In its 2016 listing of the "Top 30 Public National Universities" in the country, U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Santa Barbara number 8. This marks the university's highest ranking ever in the magazine's annual listing.

UCSB, which this year experienced the most competitive admissions process in campus history,  jumped two spots among the "Top 30 Public National Universities." Among the "Best National Universities," which includes both public and private institutions, UCSB moved up three places to number 37.

Within the University of California system, only UC Berkeley and UCLA ranked above UCSB. Other UC campuses in the Top 30 include UC Irvine, UC San Diego and UC Davis.

In addition, UCSB placed number 6 among public universities in the magazine's list of colleges and universities that offer students the best education value based on academic quality and net cost of attendance. UCSB's College of Engineering is ranked number 18 among public universities on the U.S. News & World Report list of "Best Programs at Engineering Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Doctorate."