How did Harvard University perform in the QS World University Rankings 2026?

Time of India

24-06-2025

Harvard University ranks at 5th position in QS World University Rankings 2026.
Harvard University has been ranked 5th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, receiving an overall score of 97.7 out of 100. The rankings assess over 1,500 universities worldwide based on a combination of academic and employer reputation, research influence, teaching capacity, international engagement, and, more recently, sustainability and employment outcomes.
While Harvard remains firmly within the global top tier, the rankings show that performance today is measured through a wider lens than reputation alone. The QS methodology reflects how universities respond to global challenges, meet student and employer expectations, and sustain academic excellence across multiple dimensions.
Harvard University's performance in QS parameters
This year's parameters and scores for QS World University Rankings are provided in the table below:
QS Ranking Parameter
Harvard's Score (out of 100)
Description
Academic Reputation
99.9
Based on a global academic survey evaluating teaching and research quality.
Employer Reputation
100
Measures how employers perceive the quality and preparedness of graduates.
Citations per Faculty
99.9
Indicates research impact based on average citations per faculty.
Faculty-Student Ratio
97.3
Proxy for teaching quality and academic support through staff availability.
International Faculty Ratio
78.4
Proportion of faculty members who are international.
International Student Ratio
75.2
Proportion of students who are international.
International Research Network
99.3
Measures global collaborative research links.
Employment Outcomes
96.4
Assesses career success and impact of graduates after completion.
Sustainability
95.4
Reflects environmental, social, and governance performance.
Academic Performance of Harvard University
Harvard's strongest performance came in the core academic and research indicators.
The university scored 99.9/100 in Academic Reputation, which is the most heavily weighted QS metric (30%). Based on survey data from over 150,000 academics worldwide, this score confirms Harvard's enduring recognition as a leader in teaching and scholarship.
It also earned a near-perfect 99.9/100 in Citations per Faculty, a measure of research influence that accounts for 20% of the total score. This reflects the high volume of Harvard's published work and its widespread use in global academic literature, especially in medicine, economics, public policy, and law.
Harvard's learning reputation
In Faculty-Student Ratio, a proxy for teaching resources and student access to faculty (10% weight), Harvard received 97.3/100. This suggests strong academic support infrastructure and a focus on maintaining high-quality instruction through small class sizes and strong faculty presence.
Harvard also excelled in the International Research Network, scoring 99.3/100. This relatively new metric evaluates how widely institutions collaborate across borders.
Harvard's partnerships with institutions in Europe, Asia, and other regions reflect its deep involvement in global research efforts.
Harvard University's employability
Employer Reputation, which measures how favorably global employers view a university's graduates (15% of the score), is another area where Harvard leads. The university achieved a perfect 100/100, based on feedback from nearly 99,000 recruiters and hiring professionals. This result reflects the institution's longstanding position in producing job-ready graduates with skills relevant to today's labor market.
In the more recently introduced Employment Outcomes metric (5%), Harvard received 96.4/100. This indicator is designed to assess post-graduation success in terms of job placement, career progression, and long-term impact. While Harvard maintains a strong record here — with graduates frequently entering leadership roles across business, academia, law, and public service — the score reflects an increasingly competitive global landscape where top universities are being evaluated not just by placement, but by how they prepare students for career adaptability and long-term success.
Sustainability and global engagement at Harvard
In metrics related to global diversity, Harvard received 78.4/100 in International Faculty Ratio and 75.2/100 in International Student Ratio — both of which account for 5% of the total score. These figures are lower than those of many institutions in Europe and Asia, where international recruitment is often more prominent or supported by government policy. While Harvard's community remains globally diverse, the U.S.
visa environment and selective admissions policies may influence these scores.
The university performed well in the Sustainability category, scoring 95.4/100. Introduced in 2024, this metric evaluates environmental and social governance practices. Harvard's efforts to reduce carbon emissions, divest from fossil fuels, and promote sustainability in both research and campus operations contributed to this strong result.
QS also introduced a new, unweighted indicator in 2026: International Student Diversity. While it doesn't influence rankings directly, it provides insight into the range of nationalities represented. Harvard shows broad global representation, with students from more than 100 countries contributing to a diverse campus environment.
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