Pacific Union College is delighted to announce that it has been ranked #15 in Overall Rank in the Regional Colleges (West) category and #5 in California in that same category in the 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List. PUC has also earned a new ranking of #12 in Top Private Colleges, a category for private institutions funded entirely by non-government sources like tuition, endowments, and alumni gifts.
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Helpful Student Resources
Undecided?
We’re here with tools to help you find your place and begin your future. For prospective students, contact your admissions counselor at (800) 862-7080. For current students, contact the undeclared advisor at the Student Success Center by calling (707) 965-7688 or emailing ssc@puc.edu.
Student Success Center
Utilize your advisor, student tutors, and teaching assistants, and remember the Student Success Center is always there to ensure your success.
Real Life Experience
70% of students complete an internship before graduating. Talk with your professors about how to make this happen for you.
Study Abroad
Through Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA), students can study in countries such as Italy, France, Spain, and others.
Academic Stats
PUC Gains New Rankings in 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List
September 23, 2026
Albion Field Station: The Coastal PUC Experience
August 11, 2026
Quietly nestled in the valley of an old lumber camp near the Pacific Ocean and amid forested hills, Albion Field Station lies in the heart of the Mendocino coast. Since Pacific Union College acquired the station in 1947, it has offered extraordinary opportunities for students, families, and groups to explore the beauty of the natural world and to learn more about its history, wildlife, and biology. Many proud PUC faculty, staff, and alumni have worked hard to maintain the station over the years so that people of all ages and career backgrounds can visit and enjoy what Albion has to offer, all while experiencing God's creation firsthand. Bill Hemmerlin, former professor of chemistry at PUC from 1979 to 2010, expressed, “Going to Albion was always a great experience, for me and my family, and everyone. People always had a great time, and we knew it was a special place.”
PUC Welcomes Libett Muñoz Beard as New Registrar
July 30, 2026
On June 12, Elizabeth (Libett) Muñoz Beard stepped into the role as Pacific Union College’s new Registrar in the Records Office, following Craig Philpott’s retirement after 40 faithful years at PUC. Coming to campus from Riverside, CA, Muñoz is a distinguished and experienced educator with a deep passion for the Seventh-day Adventist mission and education– a valuable contribution that PUC is delighted and proud to have.
Pacific Union College Receives Six-Year Accreditation Reaffirmation, Marking a New Chapter
July 15, 2026
Pacific Union College is celebrating a significant milestone after receiving a six-year accreditation reaffirmation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), a decision that recognizes the college's academic quality, institutional effectiveness, and years of intentional progress.
Albion Field Station
PUC’s field station on the Mendocino Coast is the perfect combination of nature and knowledge.
Alumni Highlights
Amanda Barnes '24
After graduating from PUC in 2024, Amanda Barnes moved to Hawaii to teach middle school English and history teacher at Hawaiian Mission Academy Ka Lama Iki. At a young age, she knew she wanted to be an educator after being inspired by her English teacher, Megan Brooks, and principal and history teacher, Heather Denton, from PUC Prep. From their influence, Amanda graduated with a BA in English and a minor in History and earned a California State Credential and an SDA Credential.
Jarrod Denton '96
From the 1996 PUC class, he is an architect, partner, and founder at Signum Architecture, LLP. Being knowledgeable in many different fields of study is vital to success in his profession, and credits PUC in instilling a general sense of curiosity and a holistic education that benefit him to this day.
Peter Han '12
Peter Han graduated in 2012 with a B.A. in biology and a B.S. in film and television production. After PUC, he graduated from medical school in 2016, went on to residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in 2021, head and neck surgical oncology fellowship in 2022, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship in June. Peter has since joined the faculty of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA as a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He says the excellent sciences curriculum at PUC prepared him academically for his medical studies- and the immersive film and honors programs helped develop his interest in the arts and humanities, which have since opened many doors.
Nephtali Marin, '21
Nephtali Marin graduated from PUC in 2021 with a B.F.A in Film, and decided to stay on our beautiful campus to continue his passion for videography by helping out the PR department. Having worked at PUC’s PR office since his freshman year of college, he shares that being a part of the Pioneers family is a beautiful thing and a relationship that lasts a lifetime.
Dr. Carlyn Ferrari, '06
PUC alumna Dr. Carlyn Ferrari (English, writing emphasis B.A. ’06) wrote a book titled, Do Not Separate Her From Her Garden: Anne Spencer’s Ecopoetics, where she shows how Anne Spencer used nature symbolism in radical and innovative ways to express her Black womanhood, politics, and worldview.