Asia rises, MIT holds Top spot as QS reveals 2026 World University Rankings

US andChinagain ground,ItalyandSaudi Arabiadebut in top 100

#QSWUR

LONDON,June 19, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- Global higher education experts QS Quacquarelli Symonds have released the 22nd edition of theQS World University Rankings.

MITretains the global #1 position for the 14th consecutive year. Imperial College London holds second place, whileStanford Universitysurges to third.

Top 10 Universities (2026 / 2025)

1 / 1 MIT – US

2 / 2 Imperial College London – UK

3 / 6 Stanford University – US

4 / 3 University ofOxford– UK

5 / 4 Harvard University – US

6 / 5 University ofCambridge– UK

7 / 7 ETH Zurich –Switzerland

8 / 8 National University ofSingapore–Singapore

9 / 9 UCL – UK

10 / 10 California Institute of Technology – US

This edition features 1,500+ institutions across 106 locations. The US leads with 192 ranked universities, followed by the UK (90) and Mainland China (72).India(54) andGermany(48) round out the top five.

Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice President, said:

"We are witnessing a rebalancing of global academic influence. The Ranking highlights a shifting center of gravity in higher education—towardsAsia, which now claims the highest number of ranked universities worldwide. While traditional powerhouses maintain strong positions, the data shows clear momentum in regions investing heavily in research capacity, internationalization, and long-term strategy. The QS World University Rankings illuminate not only institutional excellence, but also the evolving contours of global knowledge production. These shifts underscore an increasingly multipolar academic world—more competitive, more connected, and more ambitious than ever."

Highlights

• Asianow leads with 565 ranked universities—more thanEurope(487), the Americas (358),Africa(47), and Oceania (44). It also adds the most newcomers: 84, compared to 10 in the Americas, 9 inEurope, 8 inAfrica, and 1 in Oceania.
• US: Records more institutions improving than declining for the first time in seven years.Stanfordrises due to Sustainability and International Faculty metrics.University of Chicagore-enters the top 20.
• UK: Matches US with four top-10 entries. Remains a leader in International Student Ratio.
• Canada:McGillovertakesTorontoas national leader (27th).Canadaexcels in Sustainability.
• Australia: Two top-20 entries.University of Sydneydrops to 25th; 71% of institutions fall.
• China: 45% of institutions rise. Tsinghua climbs to 17th; Fudan jumps nine places to 30th.
• India: IIT Delhi becomes top-ranked nationally (123rd), overtaking IIT Bombay.
• Italy&Saudi Arabia: Enter the top 100 for the first time—Politecnico diMilano(98th), KFUPM (67th).
• Africa:South Africaholds top four spots;Cape Townclimbs 21 places to 150th.

SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds