MIT retains 1st Position in QS World University Rankings in 2026

This year’s QS World University Rankings have reached yet another unprecedented scale, showcasing more than 1,500 universities spanning 105 higher education systems from 100 locations worldwide. 

Leading the pack, the United States boasts the highest number of institutions featured, with an impressive 192 entries. Followed by the United Kingdom with 90, mainland China is close behind at 72, highlighting the stronghold they have established in producing prestigious higher education institutions.

Continuing its remarkable streak, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) secures the top position for the 14th year in a row. Imperial College London maintains second place, while the prestigious Stanford rose to third ahead of the University of Oxford and Harvard University in fourth and fifth, respectively, completing the elite top five.

Top 10 Universities in QS World University Rankings 2026

Here are the top ten universities according to the QS World University Rankings:

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA)
  2. Imperial College London (UK)
  3. Stanford University (USA)
  4. University of Oxford
  5. Harvard University (USA)
  6. University of Cambridge (UK)
  7. ETH Zurich (CHE)
  8. National University of Singapore (NUS) (SG)
  9. University College London (UCL) (UK)
  10. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)(USA)
 

What are the QS World University Rankings?

​The QS World University Rankings were first published in 2004, making them 21 years old as of 2025. Initially, they were produced in collaboration withTimes Higher Education (THE) under the name Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings. This partnership continued until 2009, after which QS and THE began publishing their rankings independently.

In addition to the global list, QS offers specialized rankings, including subject-specific, regional, and employability rankings, and dedicated lists for MBAs and business masters programs.

What Criteria Does QS World University Rankings Use?

For its 20th edition in 2024, the QS World University Rankings made some changes to the methodology by introducing three new metrics:

  • Sustainability: Addressing the growing importance of environmental and social responsibility in higher education.
  • Employment Outcome: Enhancing the focus on employability, this new indicator complements the existing Employer Reputation metric.
  • International Research Network: This metric evaluates the global connectedness and collaborative nature of an institution’s research, emphasizing the international impact and networking in academia.

 This year, weightings and indicators used in the methodology changed slightly again.

Indicator

Weighting

Indicator

Weighting

Research and Discovery

50%

Academic Reputation

30%

Citations per Faculty

20%

Employability and Outcomes

20%

Employer Reputation

15%

Employment Outcomes

5%

Global Engagement

15%

International Faculty Ratio

5%

International Research Network

5%

International Student Diversity

0%

International Student Ratio

5%

Learning Experience

10%

Faculty Student Ratio

10%

Sustainability

5%

Sustainability

5%

 

Metrics Explained

  1. Academic Reputation (30%): Assesses the quality and impact of research and communication within academia.
  2. Citations per Faculty (20%): Measures research intensity and output relative to the institution’s size.
  3. Employer Reputation (15%): Focuses on employability, which is crucial for prospective students.
  4. Faculty-Student Ratio (10%): Reflects the availability of academic resources to students.
  5. International Faculty Ratio (5%): Indicates diversity and collaborative strength in teaching and research.
  6. International Student Ratio (5%): Evaluates cultural diversity and attractiveness to international students.

New Metric Highlights Global Reach of Universities

A fresh addition to the 2026 World University Rankings, released in 2025, will spotlight the global appeal of universities through a new measure: International Student Diversity (ISD).

Unlike previous indicators, ISD will not be weighted in the overall rankings but will offer insights into two key aspects: the proportion of international students within the student population and the breadth of nationalities represented on campus.

This new metric builds on the existing International Student Ratio (ISR) by going beyond simple numbers. It aims to capture not only how many students come from abroad, but also the extent to which institutions attract a truly diverse mix of global talent.

Let’s analyze this year’s results to see which schools perform best in each metric.

Analysis of the QS World University Rankings 2026

In the 2026 QS University Rankings, MIT tops the chart once again with a perfect score of 100. Excelling across the board, MIT rated slightly lower in Global Engagement, although displaying improvement in their International Student Ratio of 91.6 (86.8 in 2025). In second place, Imperial College London, scoring 99.4, stands out with a perfect 100 in the International Student and Faculty Ratios. 

Stanford Stands Out

This year, Oxford lost third place to Stanford, which scored 98.9, while the University of Cambridge sank to sixth place with 97.2 despite obtaining a higher overall score than the previous year. 

Sitting in fifth place with an overall score of 97.7, Harvard continues to display excellence yet lacks in internationalization. This is mostly evidenced by lower scores for International Faculty (79.1) and International Student Diversity (60.6). However, Harvard increased their International Student Ratio to 81.4, up from 69 in the 2025 results. 

Boosting their Employer Reputation score to 96.3, ETH Zurich also excelled in Citations per Faculty (98.8). However, their Faculty Student Ratio is still considerably low at 71.7, even considering the almost 5-point jump from 65.9 last year.

Singapore Raises Their Research Network

Meanwhile, NUS, with an overall score of 95.9, shows a robust International Faculty Ratio and Employment Outcomes (100). Their dedication to expanding research ties globally shows with a drastically improved International Research Network ratio (rising from 76.3 to 100 in 2 years).

UCL, scoring 95.8 overall, lost its perfect International Student Ratio, but raised its Employment Outcomes dramatically to 100 (jumping from 70.3 in 2025).

CIT Maintains Top Ten For Two Years

This year, the California Institute of Technology remained in the top 10 for the second year, with an overall score of 94.3. Obtaining a perfect score for Citations per Faculty, they score the lowest in the top 10 for Employment Outcomes at 49.1.

These insights highlight the diverse strengths of leading universities, each contributing uniquely to global higher education. So, how do you use this data to choose the best university for you?

Choosing Your University With the QS World University Rankings 2026

Prospective students seeking the most suitable master’s program can use the QS Rankings to make a better-informed decision. However, it is necessary to look beyond the overall ranking and scores and identify specific metrics relevant to your personal goals. 

Think about the faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, and departmental strengths. Consider the international student and faculty ratios for a diverse and enriching learning environment. 

Aligning these factors with personal career aspirations allows aspiring scholars to choose a master’s program that best suits their needs and future objectives.

 

Find out more about the schools mentioned in the ranking directly from MASTERGRADSCHOOLS Ambassadors