UC Davis has captured the second spot in agriculture and forestry since each subject became part of the QS World University Rankings by subject. (Gregory Urquiaga)

Country's best ag college ranked #2 in the world

by Julia Ann Easley
February 28, 2018

UC Davis in the top 50 for seven other disciplines

The University of California, Davis, continues to be ranked first in the world in veterinary science and second in agriculture and forestry, according to the 2018 QS World University Rankings by subject released today (Feb. 28).

Among 48 disciplines, UC Davis ranked in the top 50 in seven. In addition to veterinary science and agriculture and forestry, they are environmental sciences (13th), anatomy and physiology (26th), biological sciences (29th), earth and marine sciences (tied for 29th), and developmental studies (31st).

“I’m proud to see UC Davis recognized for our long-standing global leadership in these fields,” said UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May. “We’re eager to continue building our research, teaching and public service contributions here in California and around the world.”

Attesting to its world-class status and comprehensive offerings, the university was ranked in all of the five broad subject categories included: life sciences and medicine, natural sciences, engineering and technology, arts and humanities, and social sciences and management.

UC Davis has been ranked first in veterinary science since the field was added to the rankings in 2015 and second in agriculture and forestry since it was added in 2013.

The School of Veterinary Medicine has more than 700 students pursing the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and other professional and graduate degrees, and offers the nation’s largest veterinarian residency program with more than 30 specialties. The school leads the nation with more than $85 million in annual research funding (21 percent from the National Institutes of Health), and its faculty and highly trained staff treat more than 50,000 patients each year.

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has more than 7,300 undergraduates in 28 majors and 1,125 graduate students in 29 graduate groups and programs. The college’s researchers generate more than $140 million in government, corporate and foundation awards. UC Davis is among the most published and cited U.S. research universities in agricultural sciences, plant and animal sciences, environment/ecology, food science and nutrition, and soil sciences.

About the rankings

With some variation by subject area, the rankings consider reputation among academics, reputation among employers, and the citations of academic papers from the university. In all, more than 1,130 institutions were ranked.

The rankings are prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds, a firm widely considered to be one of the most influential international university rankings providers.

Other rankings

In other rankings:

Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education rankings recognize UC Davis as the sixth best public university in the United States (September 2017).
Washington Monthly magazine ranks UC Davis ninth overall among 303 public and private national universities for contributions to the public good (August 2017).
In its 2018 rankings of the nation’s best colleges, U.S. News and World Report placed UC Davis 12th among public national universities.
U.S. News and World Report placed UC Davis 52nd in the world in its 2018 ranking of best global universities.