At just over a decade old, the University of California, Merced is making headlines as the youngest campus to rank among the best public universities in the nation, according U.S. News & World Report.

In the organization’s 2017 Best College Rankings, UC Merced was rated No. 78 among public schools and No. 152 in the “National Universities” category, which marks its first appearance on the list that ranks schools according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

“Earning a spot among the nation’s most highly regarded colleges and universities is an enormous honor and a tribute to the trailblazing faculty, staff and students who have brought us so far in such a short period of time,” said UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland. “UC Merced has emerged as the next great research university in the most respected and accomplished public university system in the world.”

The school was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report as No. 141 in “High School Counselor Ratings” and No. 151 in “Engineering Programs (Doctorate).”

UC Merced was not the only area college campus to earn recognition from U.S. News & World Report as Stanislaus State earned the No. 14 spot among public schools in the western region, which is one spot higher than last year. The college was ranked at No. 61 regionally among all four-year colleges.

This year marks the 21st consecutive year that Stanislaus State has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report.

“The recognition Stan State continues to receive from national publications is an on-going source of campus pride,” said Stanislaus State President Ellen Junn. “And to be on this particular list for 21 consecutive years displays our faculty’s remarkable and consistent high level of dedication to our students.”