UC Davis Tops World Rankings in Veterinary Science

Ranks No. 2 in Agriculture and Forestry

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A horse is examined at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
A horse is examined at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. (UC Davis photo)

Quick Summary

  • UC Davis has been first in veterinary science since the field was added to the rankings in 2015
  • Currently second in agriculture and forestry, the campus has been among the top-ranked universities in the field for five consecutive years
  • UC Davis is among the world’s elite institutions in 35 of the 46 subjects and all five of the subject areas featured

The University of California, Davis, held onto its top spot in veterinary science in the latest QS World University Rankings released today (March 7).

And for the fifth consecutive year, the campus is among the top-ranked universities in agriculture and forestry, taking second place in the ranking this year.

First in veterinary science since the field was added to the rankings in 2015, UC Davis is renowned for applying a “One Health” approach to addressing critical health concerns on a local and global scale.

“The energy, passion, knowledge and skills that the UC Davis veterinary medicine community brings to their jobs every day is the secret to our success,” said Michael Lairmore, the school's dean since 2011. “Our future, supported in part by generous philanthropic partners, will be shaped by our combined efforts as we push the boundaries of research discoveries, provide innovative educational opportunities for our students, bring advanced clinical services to our animal patients, and serve our communities by advancing the health of animals, people and the environment.”

Ranked No. 2 in agriculture and forestry, UC Davis is the most published and cited U.S. research university in agricultural sciences, environment and ecology, and food science and nutrition. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has helped shape California and the world, and remains dedicated to solving critical issues with food, water, energy, climate change and human health to improve the quality of life throughout the world.

Home of the internationally acclaimed viticulture and enology program, the college offers 29 majors and 43 minors, plus an exploratory/undeclared option, in the fields of agriculture, environment, human needs and social sciences.

In other recent rankings, UC Davis was named the greenest university in the world by the seventh annual GreenMetric ranking from the University of Indonesia in December 2016 and No. 20 among large schools on the Peace Corps’ Top Volunteer–Producing Colleges and Universities list in February.

In October 2016, U.S News and World Report’s “Best Global Universities” ranked UC Davis first in programs for plant and animal sciences, second in agricultural sciences, and fourth in environment and ecology.

Other top showings in the QS rankings

In this year’s QS rankings, UC Davis is among the world’s elite institutions in 35 of the 46 subjects and all five of the subject areas featured. Among UC Davis’ `highest rankings:

  • environmental sciences remains at 13th
  • biological sciences moves up four spots to 27th
  • anatomy and physiology is 28th in this newly ranked subject
  • earth and marine sciences climbs five spots to 29th
  • development studies, once below 50th, now shows among ranked schools at 47th

QS rankings are based on reputational surveys and research citations. This year, QS evaluated 4,438 universities, then qualified 3,098 and ranked 1,117 institutions.

Robust veterinary research and clinical programs

The veterinary school, also ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report, is home to a robust research program, which last year totaled nearly $76 million in research funds. The school provides clinical services to more than 50,000 animal patients in 34 specialties annually. UC Davis serves as a strong leader in veterinary medical education, providing nearly 550 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students annually with a curriculum built on sound educational theory designed and delivered by prominent faculty members.

Making a difference around the world

The school is involved in improving the lives of people and animals, and the environment in more than 30 countries worldwide through efforts such as:

  • PREDICT, a $175 million multi-institutional program, led by the school’s One Health Institute and funded by USAID to rapidly detect and respond to emerging viruses such as Ebola
  • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, which protects public and animal health in partnership with the state’s Department of Food and Agriculture
  • Comparative Cancer Center, where veterinary researchers collaborate with physicians and researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine to develop therapies for human and animal cancer
  • The 100K Genome Project, which aims to speed the diagnosis of foodborne illnesses by creating a databank of pathogen genome sequences
  • Collaboration among veterinary dental surgeons and biomedical engineers to regrow jawbone in dogs and provide valuable knowledge for human treatment
  • Advanced Imaging Facility (with cutting-edge confocal microscopes), providing researchers with a whole new view of biological specimens to answer questions about health and disease

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

Media Resources

Julia Ann Easley, UC Davis News and Media Relations, 530-752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu

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Food & Agriculture Human & Animal Health

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