The University of California, Davis, took top spots in veterinary science, and agriculture and forestry, according to the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject released today (March 3). 

Quacquarelli Symonds, considered one of the most influential international university rankings providers, ranked UC Davis first in the nation and second in the world in both subjects.

Since veterinary science was added to the rankings in 2015, UC Davis has been first in the world five times and is No. 2 for just a second time now. The campus has held the No. 2 world ranking in agriculture and forestry since 2013 when that subject was first ranked. 

In addition to being top-ranked in these two subjects for 2021, the university captured top 50 world rankings in seven other subjects and top 20 national rankings in eight.

“I’m proud to see UC Davis continues to garner recognition for the world-class education it offers students and the powerful impact of its research and service,” said Chancellor Gary S. May.

The rankings consider reputation among academics, reputation among employers, and the citations and impact of academic papers from the university. In all, the 2021 rankings analyzed more than 14,435 individual university programs at 1,453 universities across the world.

In addition to veterinary science, and agriculture and forestry, the top 50 world rankings are:

• environmental sciences, tied for 15th
• geophysics, tied for 29th
• earth and marine sciences, 30th
• geology, 31st
• developmental studies, tied for 39th
• biological sciences, tied for 45th
• economics and econometrics, tied for 50th

And the top 20 national rankings are:

• environmental sciences, tied for fifth
• development studies, 10th
• civil and structural engineering, 15th
• earth and marine sciences, 17th
• geology, 18th
• geophysics, tied for 18th
• anatomy and physiology, 20th
• economics and econometrics, 20th 

The School of Veterinary Medicine has more than 700 students pursuing 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 $81 million in annual research funding that is applied to benefit animal, human and planetary health. Its hospital treats more than 50,000 patients each year.

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has more than 7,400 undergraduates in 28 majors and 1,059 graduate students in 24 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, animal science and plant sciences, environment and ecology, food science and nutrition, and soil sciences.