Time Worlds Top Universities 2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:| US Only Rank | University

| 1 | Yale University |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| 4 | University of Chicago |
| 5 | Harvard University |
| 6 | University of Michigan |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania |
| 8 | Princeton University |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
| 11 | Duke University |
| 12 | Cornell University |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| 14 | Emory University |
| 15 | Rice University |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University |
| 17 | Case Western Reserve University |
| 18 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 19 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| 20 | Ohio State University |
| 21 | University of Texas at Austin |
| 22 | Carnegie Mellon University |
| 23 | Boston University |
| 24 | Brown University |
| 25 | Dartmouth College |
| 26 | University of Southern California (USC) |
| 27 | University of California, Davis |
| 28 | University of Virginia |
| 29 | Columbia University |
| 30 | Tufts University |
| 31 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 32 | University of California, Irvine |
| 33 | University of California, San Diego |
| 34 | University of Washington |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University |
| 36 | New York University (NYU) |
| 37 | Michigan State University |
| 38 | University of Utah |
| 39 | Arizona State University |
| 40 | University of Maryland |
| 41 | Northwestern University |
| 42 | University of Miami |
| 43 | University of Arizona |
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| 45 | Purdue University |
| 46 | Oregon Health & Science University |
| 47 | Washington University of Science and Technology |
| 48 | University of Connecticut |
| 49 | Georgetown University |
| 50 | University of Iowa |

Brow, Dartmouth, and Columbia are ranked T30s?????
Out of your mind?

Seems right to me. They're not that amazing TBH. They benefit from being grouped in the Ivy conference, but don't really show up that much on their own. Columbia used to and is in a great city, but lately been slipping and now increasing volume won't help things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 University of Oxford United Kingdom Public 90.20

2 Yale University United States Private 88.55

3 Stanford University United States Private 88.30

4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Private 88.00

5 The University of Chicago United States Private 87.66

6 Harvard University United States Private 87.06

7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom Public 86.86

8 Imperial College London United Kingdom Public 86.27

9 University of Michigan United States Public 84.65

10 University of Pennsylvania United States Private 83.93

11 Princeton University United States Private 83.73

12 Johns Hopkins University United States Private 83.19

13 California Institute of Technology United States Private 82.93

14 Duke University United States Private 81.72

15 Cornell University United States Private 80.57

16 The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Public 80.31

17 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 79.26

18 University of Zurich Switzerland Public 77.02

19 University of Wisconsin–Madison United States Public 76.98

20 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 76.72

21 Emory University United States Private 76.17

22 Rice University United States Private 75.86

23 Vanderbilt University United States Private 75.80

24 University of Toronto Canada Public 75.78

25 Case Western Reserve University United States Private 74.42

26 University of California, Berkeley United States Public 74.35

27 University of California, Los Angeles United States Public 73.28

28 The University of Queensland Australia Public 73.06

29 University College London United Kingdom Public 72.21

30 ETH Zurich Switzerland

https://time.com/7358185/top-universities-globally-2026/

Yay, I just got into UofT early consideration this week!

Congrats, UofT is a powerhouse. And they're poaching superstar profs from the Ivy+ pretty aggressively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:| US Only Rank | University

| 1 | Yale University |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| 4 | University of Chicago |
| 5 | Harvard University |
| 6 | University of Michigan |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania |
| 8 | Princeton University |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
| 11 | Duke University |
| 12 | Cornell University |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| 14 | Emory University |
| 15 | Rice University |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University |
| 17 | Case Western Reserve University |
| 18 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 19 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| 20 | Ohio State University |
| 21 | University of Texas at Austin |
| 22 | Carnegie Mellon University |
| 23 | Boston University |
| 24 | Brown University |
| 25 | Dartmouth College |
| 26 | University of Southern California (USC) |
| 27 | University of California, Davis |
| 28 | University of Virginia |
| 29 | Columbia University |
| 30 | Tufts University |
| 31 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 32 | University of California, Irvine |
| 33 | University of California, San Diego |
| 34 | University of Washington |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University |
| 36 | New York University (NYU) |
| 37 | Michigan State University |
| 38 | University of Utah |
| 39 | Arizona State University |
| 40 | University of Maryland |
| 41 | Northwestern University |
| 42 | University of Miami |
| 43 | University of Arizona |
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| 45 | Purdue University |
| 46 | Oregon Health & Science University |
| 47 | Washington University of Science and Technology |
| 48 | University of Connecticut |
| 49 | Georgetown University |
| 50 | University of Iowa |

That is a ridiculously false ranking.

I mean, seriously? UVA somehow ranked BELOW Wisconsin / Madison and Ohio State??

On research output? Absolutely. Wisconsin is a powerhouse compared to UVA on research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1 University of Oxford United Kingdom Public 90.20

2 Yale University United States Private 88.55

3 Stanford University United States Private 88.30

4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Private 88.00

5 The University of Chicago United States Private 87.66

6 Harvard University United States Private 87.06

7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom Public 86.86

8 Imperial College London United Kingdom Public 86.27

9 University of Michigan United States Public 84.65

10 University of Pennsylvania United States Private 83.93

11 Princeton University United States Private 83.73

12 Johns Hopkins University United States Private 83.19

13 California Institute of Technology United States Private 82.93

14 Duke University United States Private 81.72

15 Cornell University United States Private 80.57

16 The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Public 80.31

17 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 79.26

18 University of Zurich Switzerland Public 77.02

19 University of Wisconsin–Madison United States Public 76.98

20 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 76.72

21 Emory University United States Private 76.17

22 Rice University United States Private 75.86

23 Vanderbilt University United States Private 75.80

24 University of Toronto Canada Public 75.78

25 Case Western Reserve University United States Private 74.42

26 University of California, Berkeley United States Public 74.35

27 University of California, Los Angeles United States Public 73.28

28 The University of Queensland Australia Public 73.06

29 University College London United Kingdom Public 72.21

30 ETH Zurich Switzerland

https://time.com/7358185/top-universities-globally-2026/

Seems like a good list with a few exceptions. What was their criteria? I don't care for USNWR's emphasis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1 University of Oxford United Kingdom Public 90.20

2 Yale University United States Private 88.55

3 Stanford University United States Private 88.30

4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Private 88.00

5 The University of Chicago United States Private 87.66

6 Harvard University United States Private 87.06

7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom Public 86.86

8 Imperial College London United Kingdom Public 86.27

9 University of Michigan United States Public 84.65

10 University of Pennsylvania United States Private 83.93

11 Princeton University United States Private 83.73

12 Johns Hopkins University United States Private 83.19

13 California Institute of Technology United States Private 82.93

14 Duke University United States Private 81.72

15 Cornell University United States Private 80.57

16 The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Public 80.31

17 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 79.26

18 University of Zurich Switzerland Public 77.02

19 University of Wisconsin–Madison United States Public 76.98

20 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 76.72

21 Emory University United States Private 76.17

22 Rice University United States Private 75.86

23 Vanderbilt University United States Private 75.80

24 University of Toronto Canada Public 75.78

25 Case Western Reserve University United States Private 74.42

26 University of California, Berkeley United States Public 74.35

27 University of California, Los Angeles United States Public 73.28

28 The University of Queensland Australia Public 73.06

29 University College London United Kingdom Public 72.21

30 ETH Zurich Switzerland

https://time.com/7358185/top-universities-globally-2026/

This is how you know that LACs aren't really relevant on the big stage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 University of Oxford United Kingdom Public 90.20

2 Yale University United States Private 88.55

3 Stanford University United States Private 88.30

4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Private 88.00

5 The University of Chicago United States Private 87.66

6 Harvard University United States Private 87.06

7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom Public 86.86

8 Imperial College London United Kingdom Public 86.27

9 University of Michigan United States Public 84.65

10 University of Pennsylvania United States Private 83.93

11 Princeton University United States Private 83.73

12 Johns Hopkins University United States Private 83.19

13 California Institute of Technology United States Private 82.93

14 Duke University United States Private 81.72

15 Cornell University United States Private 80.57

16 The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Public 80.31

17 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 79.26

18 University of Zurich Switzerland Public 77.02

19 University of Wisconsin–Madison United States Public 76.98

20 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 76.72

21 Emory University United States Private 76.17

22 Rice University United States Private 75.86

23 Vanderbilt University United States Private 75.80

24 University of Toronto Canada Public 75.78

25 Case Western Reserve University United States Private 74.42

26 University of California, Berkeley United States Public 74.35

27 University of California, Los Angeles United States Public 73.28

28 The University of Queensland Australia Public 73.06

29 University College London United Kingdom Public 72.21

30 ETH Zurich Switzerland

https://time.com/7358185/top-universities-globally-2026/

This is how you know that LACs aren't really relevant on the big stage.

+1

[Anonymous]

Nobody thinks to look at the methodology before questioning the rankings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody thinks to look at the methodology before questioning the rankings?

Half of these people don’t even look at these universities before applying, so shouldn’t be too surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 University of Oxford United Kingdom Public 90.20

2 Yale University United States Private 88.55

3 Stanford University United States Private 88.30

4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Private 88.00

5 The University of Chicago United States Private 87.66

6 Harvard University United States Private 87.06

7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom Public 86.86

8 Imperial College London United Kingdom Public 86.27

9 University of Michigan United States Public 84.65

10 University of Pennsylvania United States Private 83.93

11 Princeton University United States Private 83.73

12 Johns Hopkins University United States Private 83.19

13 California Institute of Technology United States Private 82.93

14 Duke University United States Private 81.72

15 Cornell University United States Private 80.57

16 The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Public 80.31

17 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 79.26

18 University of Zurich Switzerland Public 77.02

19 University of Wisconsin–Madison United States Public 76.98

20 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 76.72

21 Emory University United States Private 76.17

22 Rice University United States Private 75.86

23 Vanderbilt University United States Private 75.80

24 University of Toronto Canada Public 75.78

25 Case Western Reserve University United States Private 74.42

26 University of California, Berkeley United States Public 74.35

27 University of California, Los Angeles United States Public 73.28

28 The University of Queensland Australia Public 73.06

29 University College London United Kingdom Public 72.21

30 ETH Zurich Switzerland

https://time.com/7358185/top-universities-globally-2026/

Yay, I just got into UofT early consideration this week!

Congrats, UofT is a powerhouse. And they're poaching superstar profs from the Ivy+ pretty aggressively.

.
Pretty good for Engineering and STEM, but not Top 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually how much do these schools need to pay for promotion?

$99 for early bird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:| US Only Rank | University

| 1 | Yale University |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| 4 | University of Chicago |
| 5 | Harvard University |
| 6 | University of Michigan |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania |
| 8 | Princeton University |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
| 11 | Duke University |
| 12 | Cornell University |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| 14 | Emory University |
| 15 | Rice University |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University |
| 17 | Case Western Reserve University |
| 18 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 19 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| 20 | Ohio State University |
| 21 | University of Texas at Austin |
| 22 | Carnegie Mellon University |
| 23 | Boston University |
| 24 | Brown University |
| 25 | Dartmouth College |
| 26 | University of Southern California (USC) |
| 27 | University of California, Davis |
| 28 | University of Virginia |
| 29 | Columbia University |
| 30 | Tufts University |
| 31 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 32 | University of California, Irvine |
| 33 | University of California, San Diego |
| 34 | University of Washington |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University |
| 36 | New York University (NYU) |
| 37 | Michigan State University |
| 38 | University of Utah |
| 39 | Arizona State University |
| 40 | University of Maryland |
| 41 | Northwestern University |
| 42 | University of Miami |
| 43 | University of Arizona |
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| 45 | Purdue University |
| 46 | Oregon Health & Science University |
| 47 | Washington University of Science and Technology |
| 48 | University of Connecticut |
| 49 | Georgetown University |
| 50 | University of Iowa |

Brow, Dartmouth, and Columbia are ranked T30s?????
Out of your mind?

Seems right to me. They're not that amazing TBH. They benefit from being grouped in the Ivy conference, but don't really show up that much on their own. Columbia used to and is in a great city, but lately been slipping and now increasing volume won't help things.

still way better at undergraduate level than many in top 15 of this sham ranking.

[Anonymous]

I'm a little puzzled Columbia is so low. The med school is terrific, most of the science departments are strong (the engineering ones are ok) and they have a ton of faculty who are "highly cited" per the criteria, the student body and researchers are pretty international as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:| US Only Rank | University

| 1 | Yale University |
| 2 | Stanford University |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| 4 | University of Chicago |
| 5 | Harvard University |
| 6 | University of Michigan |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania |
| 8 | Princeton University |
| 9 | Johns Hopkins University |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) |
| 11 | Duke University |
| 12 | Cornell University |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| 14 | Emory University |
| 15 | Rice University |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University |
| 17 | Case Western Reserve University |
| 18 | University of California, Berkeley |
| 19 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| 20 | Ohio State University |
| 21 | University of Texas at Austin |
| 22 | Carnegie Mellon University |
| 23 | Boston University |
| 24 | Brown University |
| 25 | Dartmouth College |
| 26 | University of Southern California (USC) |
| 27 | University of California, Davis |
| 28 | University of Virginia |
| 29 | Columbia University |
| 30 | Tufts University |
| 31 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 32 | University of California, Irvine |
| 33 | University of California, San Diego |
| 34 | University of Washington |
| 35 | Pennsylvania State University |
| 36 | New York University (NYU) |
| 37 | Michigan State University |
| 38 | University of Utah |
| 39 | Arizona State University |
| 40 | University of Maryland |
| 41 | Northwestern University |
| 42 | University of Miami |
| 43 | University of Arizona |
| 44 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| 45 | Purdue University |
| 46 | Oregon Health & Science University |
| 47 | Washington University of Science and Technology |
| 48 | University of Connecticut |
| 49 | Georgetown University |
| 50 | University of Iowa |

That is a ridiculously false ranking.

I mean, seriously? UVA somehow ranked BELOW Wisconsin / Madison and Ohio State??

UW–Madison is a research powerhouse known for its well-roundedness including STEM which UVA is, unfortunately, lacking. And lacking quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1 University of Oxford United Kingdom Public 90.20

2 Yale University United States Private 88.55

3 Stanford University United States Private 88.30

4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology United States Private 88.00

5 The University of Chicago United States Private 87.66

6 Harvard University United States Private 87.06

7 University of Cambridge United Kingdom Public 86.86

8 Imperial College London United Kingdom Public 86.27

9 University of Michigan United States Public 84.65

10 University of Pennsylvania United States Private 83.93

11 Princeton University United States Private 83.73

12 Johns Hopkins University United States Private 83.19

13 California Institute of Technology United States Private 82.93

14 Duke University United States Private 81.72

15 Cornell University United States Private 80.57

16 The University of Edinburgh United Kingdom Public 80.31

17 The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 79.26

18 University of Zurich Switzerland Public 77.02

19 University of Wisconsin–Madison United States Public 76.98

20 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR China Public 76.72

21 Emory University United States Private 76.17

22 Rice University United States Private 75.86

23 Vanderbilt University United States Private 75.80

24 University of Toronto Canada Public 75.78

25 Case Western Reserve University United States Private 74.42

26 University of California, Berkeley United States Public 74.35

27 University of California, Los Angeles United States Public 73.28

28 The University of Queensland Australia Public 73.06

29 University College London United Kingdom Public 72.21

30 ETH Zurich Switzerland

https://time.com/7358185/top-universities-globally-2026/

Seems like a good list with a few exceptions. What was their criteria? I don't care for USNWR's emphasis.

I think Time is trying to come up with a more meritocratic list, one that is trying to measure the impact that students have - on research, leadership, and so on.

"The ranking places emphasis on the extent to which students achieve extraordinary success, for instance in patenting new inventions or rising to leadership roles in business. These lists help us understand where students are likely to achieve the greatest success and contribute most to society as the world order shifts; U.S. and U.K. universities continue to lead in academic performance, while China's universities are catching up in innovation and economic impact." Etc etc...

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for only one thing in an international ranking like this: reassurance that my family's fortunes are on an upward trajectory through the generations. Most rankings have my dad's school highest, then my kid's (non-US) school next, then mine lowest of the three (but almost tied with my kid's) -- a tale that I hear as confusingly wobbly. (My mom went to a LAC that never makes these international rankings.) But Time's new ranking puts my school highest, then my dad's, then my kid's -- which is great for my narrow self-regard but tells an even worse tale of family striving. Only one ranking (the NTU ranking) has my kid's school highest (close to the very top, actually), then mine, then my dad's. Since it tells our family story in the way I enjoy hearing it told, that's the ranking I choose to believe. I therefore conclude that Time's ranking is bogus.