ASU moves up among top-ranked universities in the world for 2026
Story Highlights
- ASU ranks 36th among U.S. universities in QS World Rankings
- ASU places 173rd globally, up from 200th last year
- ASU scores highest in international research network and sustainability
Arizona State University continues to be among the top-ranked institutions for university performance and employability of graduates.
ASU is ranked 36th in the U.S. among top universities by QS World University Rankings for 2026 — up two positions from the 2025 rankings — and ahead of Dartmouth, Georgetown and Notre Dame.
The rankings were released June 19.
Additionally, ASU:
- Ranked 16th among U.S. public universities, ahead of UC Santa Barbara, Ohio State and University of Maryland-College Park.
- Ranked 173rd globally (up from 200th for 2025), out of 1,501 institutions around the world.
“A key measure of a university’s value is the success of its students, not only in their coursework, but in their ability to thrive in meaningful careers and contribute to society,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost.
“ASU’s position in this global ranking reflects our continued success in preparing graduates for real-world impact through industry-relevant programs, global research opportunities and strong employer partnerships. As a public university guided by an inclusive charter, we’re proud to see our model of access and excellence recognized on a global stage.”
The ranking company, Qaucquarelli Symonds, is a provider of free services, analytics and insight to the global higher education sector. The QS World University Rankings launched in 2004 and has become a popular source of comparative data about university performance.
In the new rankings, the top five overall universities are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College of London, Stanford University, the University of Oxford and Harvard University. The University of Michigan is the highest-ranked public university in the U.S., placing 45th globally.
The rankings are shaped by factors like global research impact, sustainability and international engagement — areas where ASU excels, thanks in part to its commitment to supporting international students from more than 150 countries.
Of these, ASU scored the highest in international research network (95.2) and sustainability (85.8). This was the 22nd edition of the rankings.
The University of Arizona in Tucson also landed on the list, coming in at No. 287 globally — 51st in the U.S. — for a six-spot jump from a year earlier. It’s highest scores were in international research network (93.5) and sustainability (66.9).
Both ASU and the U of A also remained in the top 10% of higher-education institutions worldwide in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings, which were recently released. In that list — which focused on a school’s overall research and reputation among researchers — U of A ranked No. 115 in the world and ASU ranked No. 192.
The Business Journal contributed to this story, which was originally published by ASU News.