A sneak peek at U.S. News & World Report‘s Best Colleges survey, due out next week, shows UCI among the top 10 public research universities. “The recognition highlights what we have known all along: UCI is a globally preeminent university that is leading the country in research, education and public service,” UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman said in a campus statement. UCI’s ranking is based upon faculty research, outstanding academic programs and educational outcomes, vibrant campus life, and comprehensive financial aid packages. “It is a particular point of pride for us that we combine world-class research and teaching with meaningful access for students of all backgrounds,” Gillman said. “To be academically elite is one thing; to ensure that all of the most talented and promising students – including those from low-income backgrounds or who are the first in their family to attend college – can benefit from this excellence is a tremendous accomplishment and an exemplar for the future of higher education in the United States. Our scholars, teachers, learners and supporters are determined to serve humankind. The work we do here truly matters.”