For eight years, UCLA held the title of the nation’s number one public university, and for eight years it sat at the top of nearly every Van Nuys senior’s UC application list. But that changed this school year.

Last fall, U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Berkeley number one, ending UCLA’s eight-year hold on the title. The shift came after U.S. News changed its ranking methodology to weigh outcomes like job placement and student debt more heavily than measures tied to institutional popularity, according to college counselor Jo Duke. At Van Nuys, Duke said, the change has already affected how seniors approach their applications.

Senior George Yawakim said the change didn’t surprise him.

“I wasn’t too surprised because I viewed the two schools as equal,” he said.

Senior Mia Ramirez had a different reaction. She found out about it through a UC Berkeley social media post.

“I was definitely surprised because I had heard of UCLA being the top public university for a long time,” she said. “I wondered what changed to make them lose the top spot.”

Both students said rankings play some role in how their classmates choose where to apply, though neither considered them decisive.

“For some students, they may want to shoot for the top ranked school solely because of its rank,” Yawakim said. “Several parents have incredibly high standards for their kids when it comes to school ranks, and likewise, a lot of jobs that you may be applying for after getting your degree may share those standards.”

The ranking change didn’t shake Yawakim’s preference, UCLA remains his top choice for reasons that have nothing to do with U.S. News.

“I prefer UCLA because it is the closest school to my home, it’s affordable since I pay in-state tuition and to some extent I did care about its status as a good school, but not its rank specifically,” he said.

Ramirez agreed rankings tell only part of the story.

“I believe rankings matter to a certain extent when looking at colleges because they show that the college has amazing staff, curriculum, facilities and more,” Ramirez said. “But just because a college has a high rank doesn’t mean it is going to be the best fit for you or your intended career path.”

Ramirez applied to both UCLA and UC Berkeley for their English programs. Between the two, she prefers Berkeley for its location.

“I prefer Berkeley because of the area that it’s in,” she said. “I have visited the Bay Area multiple times and I really liked it, plus an added bonus is that it’s far from the valley, so it gives me a chance to branch out.”

The ranking change reflects something deeper than a reshuffling of two schools, according to Duke.

“I am glad they are changing their evaluation,” Duke said. “They are looking at the statistics of where kids are getting work and how much student loan and financial aid burden they have when they’ve graduated.”

Duke said the ranking change could push Van Nuys students to look beyond their default choice.

“It will help kids to look beyond Los Angeles,” she said. “I have always wanted kids to apply to more than one UC, and to recognize that UCLA might not be the best fit for what they are interested in.”

The ranking shift wasn’t random. Duke said it reflects a deliberate change in how U.S. News evaluates universities.

“It’s very specifically that they’ve changed what they are using to rank, they’re becoming more pragmatic and practical,” she said.

Under the old system, Duke said, UCLA benefitted from the sheer volume of applicants drawn to Los Angeles.

“People send applications to Los Angeles because it is such a vital city to live in and work in, and California is one of the top five economies in the world,” Duke said. “We are a place where dreamers go to make things happen and we’ve had that reputation for hundreds of years, and that popularity is why everybody applies.”

Still, Duke said the new rankings deserve more attention than students tend to give them.

“I think rankings should matter. I know students who have come in here saying they applied to all UCs except Merced, except that Merced is ranked higher than Riverside and Santa Cruz,” she said.

That said, she doesn’t rank one school over another for her students. Fit still comes first.

“What matters most is how well that school fits your personal interests, not the prestige,” she said. “Even though UCLA and Berkeley rank higher, we’ve had students who’ve gotten accepted to Berkeley and UCLA who wanted to study psychology who chose San Diego instead, because it has more to offer.”

Van Nuys 2025 graduate Desiree Vasquez committed to UC Berkeley last spring.

“I applied to Berkeley because I knew they were a prestigious school with a good pre-law path as well as it not being too far from home,” she said. “Out of all my acceptances, I chose Berkeley because it was my dream school since I was 11. My financial aid package was the best one as well.”

For Vasquez, the decision carried weight beyond academics.

“I wanted to set an example to my family and other first generation families around me that it is possible to achieve something others may have told you that you can’t because of your background,” she said.

Although they have moved down from the top spot, junior at UCLA Isabella Ushaglyan continues to recognize the opportunities her school gives no matter what they are ranked as.

“It’s unfortunate that UCLA has gone down in rank, however that has not changed my experience at all,” she said. “UCLA is still a place with so much school spirit and happiness. A ranking will never change the social life and amazing opportunities offered at this university.”

Duke said she has already noticed that the ranking change affects how Van Nuys seniors approach their applications.

“This year fewer kids automatically applied to UCLA, only 87 compared to 119 last year, which I was glad for, because it means that they’re looking more strategically,” Duke said. ”Because it doesn’t make sense to throw your hat at a school like UCLA if it’s not the best fit for you, even if they are closest.”

This article originally appeared in the Early Spring 2026 print edition.