Harvard, Stanford and Oxford among the top 10 of 2025-2026 Best Global Universities rankings by US News & World Report: Check the complete list here

The US News & World Report has released its 2025-2026 Best Global Universities rankings, assessing over 2,250 institutions across more than 100 countries. This comprehensive evaluation is based on academic research output, global and regional reputation, and subject-specific performance metrics sourced from Clarivate’s Web of Science Core Collection and InCites Benchmarking & Analytics.According to the rankings, China leads the list with 397 universities, followed by the United States with 280, India with 118, Japan with 104, and the United Kingdom with 93 institutions. These rankings offer students, educators, and policymakers a global perspective on higher education institutions with strong academic and research influence.The rankings span 51 academic subjects, with eight fields seeing an expanded list of institutions this year, including artificial intelligence, engineering, and gastroenterology.

Each subject ranking is uniquely weighted based on research performance within that field.Below are the ten highest-ranked universities in the overall global standings and their top-performing disciplines:

Harvard University

Global Score: 100Global Research Reputation: 1Harvard continues to dominate globally, securing the top rank across multiple disciplines. It holds first place in fields such as immunology, microbiology, oncology, neuroscience, psychiatry/psychology, molecular biology and genetics, and economics and business.

Harvard's research leadership spans health sciences, biological research, and social sciences, showcasing the breadth of its academic impact.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Global Score: 97.2Global Research Reputation: 2MIT ranks second overall and holds the top global position in physics. It is also a strong performer across biological and technological domains, including cell biology, biotechnology, microbiology, immunology, and economics.

Its consistent excellence in science and innovation cements its place as a global research powerhouse.

Stanford University

Global Score: 94.5Global Research Reputation: 3Stanford takes the top spot in mathematics and maintains strong positions in optics and radiology. With robust contributions across technology and health-related disciplines, the university sustains its elite status in both academic reputation and research influence.

University of Oxford

Global Score: 88.3Global Research Reputation: 5Oxford emerges as a global leader in infectious diseases and the arts and humanities. Its long-standing tradition of academic excellence and strong international research collaborations contribute significantly to its top-five global standing.

University of Cambridge

Global Score: 86.8Global Research Reputation: 4Cambridge ranks third globally in the arts and humanities and continues to be recognized for excellence across multiple research fields, maintaining its position as one of Europe’s foremost academic institutions.

University of California, Berkeley

Global Score: 86.4Global Research Reputation: 6Berkeley’s strengths lie in space science and other scientific disciplines. Its robust research ecosystem supports continued global influence and academic leadership in the sciences.

University College London

Global Score: 86.2Global Research Reputation: 25UCL is particularly prominent in pharmacology, toxicology, and the arts and humanities. Despite a relatively modest global reputation rank, it remains a consistent top-tier performer across several subject areas.

Yale University

Global Score: 86Global Research Reputation: 9Yale maintains its reputation as a leader in research, with a solid performance across a variety of disciplines. It continues to be recognized for its contributions to health sciences, the humanities, and social research.

Columbia University

Global Score: 85.8Global Research Reputation: 13

Columbia secures the top rank in meteorology and atmospheric sciences and performs strongly in economics and business. Its interdisciplinary approach and urban research environment contribute to its international prominence.