Global NS Rankings: Harvard Leads, China Mainland Rises
Against the backdrop of intensifying global competition in scientific research, publications in Nature and Science have become one of the most important indicators of a university's capacity for original innovation and international academic influence. Based on publication data from universities worldwide between June 18, 2025, and June 18, 2026, WorldHE has conducted a comprehensive analysis of institutional performance in Nature and Science (NS), providing insights into the evolving landscape of global higher education and scientific research. The World's Leading Universities in NS PublicationsAmong the world's top 10 universities by total NS publications over the past year, the United States accounts for six institutions, China Mainland for three, and the United Kingdom for two, forming the first tier of global excellence in high-impact scientific research. Harvard University ranked first by a substantial margin with 143 NS papers, including 91 in Nature and 52 in Science. Harvard scholars served as corresponding authors on 140 of these papers, meaning that nearly every publication was led by a Harvard researcher. This highlights the university's exceptional capacity to independently drive frontier scientific research. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked second with 98 papers, followed by Stanford University with 95. The University of California, Berkeley placed fourth with 64 NS papers. Although its total output was lower than that of the top three institutions, Berkeley distinguished itself as the only university among the global top 15 where Science publications (35) outnumbered Nature publications (29), reflecting its longstanding strengths in astrophysics, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology. Among universities in China Mainland, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) ranked fifth globally with 52 papers, making it the highest-ranked institution outside the United States. Tsinghua University followed in sixth place with 46 papers, while Peking University ranked ninth with 41. The United Kingdom's University of Oxford (43 papers) and University of Cambridge (42 papers) ranked seventh and eighth, respectively. Both universities recorded exceptionally high proportions of papers with institutional corresponding authors (Oxford: 41 of 43; Cambridge: 41 of 42), demonstrating their strong capability to lead major international research projects and shape global scientific agendas. Rounding out the global top ten, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Washington, Seattle tied for tenth place with 39 NS papers each. Overall, 70 universities worldwide published at least 10 NS papers during the one-year period. Beyond the global top ten, the University of California, San Francisco, Princeton University, ETH Zurich, Cornell University, and Yale University each produced more than 30 NS papers, further demonstrating their outstanding research performance. The Global Research LandscapeAt the national and regional level, the United States remains the undisputed global leader in high-impact scientific research. In addition to world-leading institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, it also possesses remarkable depth across its broader higher education system. Among the 31 universities worldwide that published more than 20 NS papers, 18 are located in the United States, accounting for well over half of the total. Perhaps even more striking is the exceptionally high proportion of publications led by U.S. institutions as corresponding authors. For example, Stanford served as the corresponding institution on 90 of its 95 papers, while the University of Washington was the corresponding institution on all 39 of its publications. These figures demonstrate that the United States is not only the world's largest producer of high-impact scientific research but also its principal intellectual leader, maintaining unparalleled influence over the direction and leadership of major international research initiatives. Universities in China Mainland have firmly established themselves as the world's second research powerhouse. Their overall NS output now significantly surpasses that of traditional scientific powers such as the United Kingdom and Germany, with 12 universities in China Mainland publishing at least 10 NS papers during the reporting period. Universities in China Mainland also display a clear preference for publishing in Nature, with Nature papers generally outnumbering those in Science. This pattern reflects the region's long-established strengths in physics, chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience. Meanwhile, the proportion of papers with institutions from China Mainland serving as corresponding authors has increased markedly, indicating that researchers from China Mainland are assuming increasingly prominent leadership roles in international scientific collaborations. Europe's research ecosystem, by contrast, is characterized by its breadth and diversity. While many European universities make notable contributions to NS publications, few possess the scale of research output seen at institutions such as Harvard or MIT. In Switzerland, ETH Zurich ranked 13th globally with 35 NS papers, while École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) also delivered a strong performance with 15 papers. In the United Kingdom, beyond Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London (20 papers) and University College London (UCL) (17 papers) maintained consistently high levels of output. Germany's leading contributors include LMU Munich (13 papers), the Technical University of Munich (12), and Humboldt University of Berlin (11). In France, PSL University (16 papers) and Paris-Saclay University (10 papers) represent the core of the country's research strength, together forming an important pillar of continental Europe's scientific landscape. Methodology For Nature, only publications classified as Article and Review Article were included. For Science, the analysis includes Research Article, Special-Issue Research Article, and Review. The study covers papers formally published between June 18, 2025, and June 18, 2026. Only the physically affiliated first author was counted as the first author. All corresponding-author affiliations were included, with each affiliated institution counted once. If the first-author institution and the corresponding-author institution were the same, the publication was counted only once for that institution. Only formally published articles were included in the analysis. Advance online publications and papers in pre-publication status were excluded.
ETH Zurich Names Günther Dissertori as President
According to an official announcement from ETH Zurich, at the request of the ETH Board, the Swiss Federal Council has confirmed Günther Dissertori as the next President of ETH Zurich. The particle physicist, who currently serves as Rector of the university, will succeed Joël Mesot and assume office on 1 January 2027. Mesot will continue to serve as President of ETH Zurich until the end of December 2026. The Federal Council’s decision to appoint Dissertori, a 56-year-old scientist from South Tyrol, reflects a commitment to continuity. “I’d like to thank the Federal Council for their confidence and am excited about working to keep ETH Zurich a top global university together with the strong team of the Executive Board, our professors and all members of staff,” Dissertori said. He has been a Professor of Particle Physics at ETH Zurich since 2001 and, in 2022, was appointed Rector, Deputy President, and a member of the ETH Zurich Executive Board. Günther Dissertori Image: Markus Bertschi / ETH ZurichGünther Dissertori (born in 1969) is an Italian physicist, scientist, Professor of Particle Physics, and the current Rector of ETH Zurich. He will become President of ETH Zurich at the beginning of 2027, succeeding Joël Mesot. Dissertori studied physics at the University of Innsbruck and began his research career as a doctoral student at CERN in Geneva. His appointment brings a distinguished scientist to one of Switzerland’s most important academic leadership positions. According to the Federal Council’s media release, Dissertori made “key contributions to the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in Geneva in 2012.” Beyond his achievements in fundamental research, he has also promoted the application of detector technologies in medicine, contributing to the establishment of an ETH spin-off that developed a cost-effective brain PET scanner. As Rector, Dissertori has emphasized collaboration with industry, including through the Learning Factory project in Zug, which connects ETH students with industrial partners. He has also strengthened the Student Project House, a platform that enables students to cultivate entrepreneurial skills and an innovative mindset. Supporting early-career researchers has been a central focus throughout Dissertori’s career. As Rector, he has overseen education and teaching at all levels, including continuing education programs. The Federal Council noted that over the past four years he has “significantly shaped the strategic direction of academic instruction at ETH Zurich.” Among his key initiatives is the launch of the PAKETH project, the most comprehensive curriculum reform since the introduction of the Bologna system. PAKETH is designed to facilitate the development of degree programs, increase flexibility, and create new opportunities for students to engage with industry. Dissertori has also developed a comprehensive vision for teaching, expanded project-based learning formats, and actively promoted the strategic integration of artificial intelligence into the curriculum.
Manchester Tops 2026 THE Sustainability Impact Rankings
On June 24, the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings (formerly the THE Impact Rankings) were released. The rankings are the only global performance ranking that assesses universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Institutions are evaluated across 18 rankings: one overall ranking and 17 individual SDG rankings. This year, 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories participated in the rankings. Universities from four countries made their debut appearances in the rankings: Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, and Tajikistan. The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom ranked first overall, ending the four-year winning streak of Australia’s Western Sydney University. This marks the University of Manchester’s second time at the top since 2021. Western Sydney University placed third globally this year. Australia’s Griffith University ranked second, while Canada’s Queen’s University came in fourth. Among the top 10 universities, five are from Asia, including two from Malaysia. Universiti Sains Malaysia ranked fifth, followed by Hanyang University of South Korea in sixth place. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Hokkaido University were tied for seventh. Continental Europe had one institution in the top 10: France’s Institut Agro, marking the first time a French institution has entered the overall top 10. The University of Alberta in Canada and National Taiwan University in Taiwan, China were tied for 10th place worldwide. From a regional perspective, the United Kingdom led the individual SDG rankings, securing five outright first-place positions and three joint first-place positions. The UK also had the largest number of universities ranked within the global top 200. Meanwhile, Asia was the region with the highest number of ranked institutions. Across all 18 rankings, more than half of the participating universities were from Asia, totaling 962 institutions. Five Asian universities placed among the global top 10. The Philippines had the largest number of institutions represented in the overall ranking, with 160 universities, followed by India, with 110 universities included in the rankings.
China's Rise Reshapes U.S. News Global University Rankings
Recently, one of the world's most influential university evaluation systems, the 2026–2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings, was released, covering 2,250 universities across more than 100 countries and regions. The rankings assess institutions based on multiple indicators, including academic reputation, research output, citation impact, international collaboration, and faculty resources. WorldHE tracked the ranking changes of the global Top 500 universities over the past five editions of the U.S. News rankings (the 2023–2024 edition was not published), as well as the evolution of the number of Top 500 universities from more than 50 countries and regions. These trends provide insights into shifts in institutional strength and the changing competitive landscape of global higher education. Changes in the Top 500 University LandscapeOver the past five years, the composition of the U.S. News Top 10 has remained relatively stable. Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University have consistently occupied the top three positions globally. The University of Oxford moved up one place and stabilized at No. 4 worldwide, while the University of Cambridge rose from No. 8 to No. 5. Among the Top 10 universities, the most symbolic development has been the steady rise of Tsinghua University. Tsinghua climbed from No. 23 to No. 6 globally, gaining 17 positions and entering the global Top 10 for the first time. This breakthrough disrupted the long-standing dominance of U.S. and UK institutions in the U.S. News global Top 10 and demonstrated that leading universities in China Mainland have firmly entered the world's elite tier. Within the global Top 100, universities from China Mainland achieved a collective rise. All 11 institutions from China Mainland in the Top 100 recorded significant ranking improvements over the period. Fudan University rose from No. 116 to No. 49, gaining 67 places and entering the global Top 50. Wuhan University climbed 65 positions to secure a place among the world's Top 100. Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University each advanced by more than 50 places, breaking into the global Top 40. In addition, City University of Hong Kong rose by 73 positions to No. 47, representing the largest improvement among all Top 100 universities. Among the Top 500, universities in the Middle East demonstrated some of the most remarkable upward trajectories. Saudi Arabia's Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University surged from No. 1,675 to No. 488, a gain of 1,187 places. Taif University rose 778 positions, while King Khalid University improved by 637 places. In the United Arab Emirates, the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates University, and Khalifa University of Science and Technology each advanced by more than 300 positions. Behind these dramatic ranking gains are sustained investments in higher education, including the recruitment of internationally renowned faculty, joint research programs with leading global institutions, the systematic adoption of English-medium instruction, and incentive mechanisms tied to research output. In contrast, several U.S. universities experienced notable declines. The University of Oregon fell 176 places, the University of New Mexico dropped 160 places, and Iowa State University declined by 137 places. These changes may be associated with fluctuations in international student enrollment, adjustments to federal research funding allocation mechanisms, and budget reductions affecting some public universities in recent years. Shifting Regional Competitiveness in Higher EducationFrom a national and regional perspective, the United States remained the dominant contributor to the global Top 500 in 2026–2027, with 113 universities represented. However, compared with 2022–2023, the number of U.S. institutions in the Top 500 decreased by 13, and the country's share of the Top 500 fell from 25.2% to 22.6%. At the same time, although the rankings of leading U.S. universities remained largely stable, several engineering-focused public institutions experienced significant declines. The Georgia Institute of Technology dropped 43 positions, while multiple campuses within the University of California system also recorded noticeable decreases. The collective breakthrough of universities from China Mainland has been the most striking development in the U.S. News rankings over the past five years. The number of Top 500 universities from China Mainland increased from 47 in 2022–2023 to 71 in 2026–2027, representing a growth rate of 51%—the largest increase of any single country or region worldwide. Nearly all 71 universities improved their rankings to varying degrees. Among the most notable risers, Jiangsu University advanced by 611 positions, Nanjing Forestry University rose 373 places, and Southern Medical University – China gained 366 places, reflecting the systematic strengthening of higher education across China Mainland. Furthermore, among the global Top 50 universities in 2026–2027, China Mainland accounted for five institutions, while Hong Kong, China contributed three and Singapore contributed two. The Asia-Pacific region as a whole held 13 positions in the global Top 50, compared with only seven in 2022–2023—an increase of more than 85%. These figures suggest that the center of gravity in global higher education is undergoing a meaningful geographic shift. The U.S. News rankings over the past five years tell the story of an ongoing transformation in the global higher education landscape through the language of data. This is not simply a narrative of success or failure for individual universities; rather, it reflects differences in national higher education philosophies, resource allocation models, and internationalization strategies. Yet rankings are never the ultimate destination for universities. Instead, they serve as navigational markers in an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment, helping institutions recalibrate their direction as the global higher education ecosystem continues to evolve. Note: Data are based on the 2026–2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings. Since U.S. News did not publish rankings for 2023–2024, the analysis effectively covers four ranking cycles. This study is based on quantifiable ranking data and does not represent a comprehensive evaluation of overall institutional quality.
The Biggest Five-Year Shifts in QS World University Rankings
Recently, QS released the 2027 World University Rankings, evaluating more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and territories. Based on five-year ranking data (2023–2027) of the top 500 universities in the QS World University Rankings, WorldHE systematically analyzes global shifts in higher education, highlighting a structural transformation in the global academic landscape. Structural Changes in the Top 500 UniversitiesOver the past five years, the overall structure of the QS Top 10 has remained relatively stable. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has retained the global No. 1 position for 15 consecutive years, underscoring the enduring dominance of leading research universities. The University of Oxford and Harvard University have remained stable within the 3rd–4th positions. The most notable rise within the Top 10 comes from Imperial College London, which climbed from 6th to 2nd globally—one of the most remarkable gains among Western universities. In contrast, the University of Cambridge fell from 2nd to 6th, marking the largest decline within the Top 10. The exchange of positions between the two institutions reflects the diverging trajectories of internationally oriented STEM-focused universities and traditional comprehensive research universities under the current QS evaluation system. Within the Top 100, the largest improvement came from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia, which rose from 160th to 63rd (+97 places), driven by sustained national investment in higher education. University College Dublin also made significant progress, climbing from 181st to 100th, maintaining a nearly continuous upward trajectory over five years—an outcome of Ireland’s long-term internationalization strategy within the EU framework. Among the Top 500 universities, Stellenbosch University in South Africa recorded the fastest rise, jumping from 454th in 2023–2024 to 283rd, before stabilizing around the 300 range, reflecting the growing potential of leading African institutions. Italy’s University of Rome “Tor Vergata” rose 157 places, while Turkey’s Koç University improved by 148 places, both showing strong upward momentum. In contrast, Russia’s Novosibirsk State University dropped 228 places, and Switzerland’s USI – Università della Svizzera italiana fell 216 places, reflecting increasing global competitive pressure. Regional Competitive LandscapeWithin the QS Top 500, the United States holds the largest share with 68 universities, including 26 in the Top 100—leading all other regions. However, between 2023 and 2027, the number of U.S. universities in the Top 500 declined from 83 to 68. While elite institutions remained stable, many mid-tier universities—such as the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor (–26), Columbia University (–21), and Duke University (–20)—experienced collective decline. This suggests a growing misalignment between QS indicators and the U.S. higher education system. Australia stands out as one of the biggest winners over the five-year period. Universities such as the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) (+50), RMIT University (+71), and Macquarie University (+69) have consistently performed well, many ranking within the global Top 200. Australia increased its presence in the Top 500 from 24 to 27 institutions and now has nine universities in the Top 100, all of which showed upward movement. The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) rose from 45th to 19th, marking a breakthrough into the global Top 20. Japan has experienced one of the most systematic regional declines in this ranking cycle. Among its 12 Top 500 universities, all except Waseda University showed downward trends. The University of Tokyo fell from 23rd to 39th, while Kyoto University (–28), Osaka University (–27), Institute of Science Tokyo (–42), and Hiroshima University (–143) also recorded significant declines. Meanwhile, China Mainland now has 38 universities in the global Top 500, an increase of 10 compared with 2023, reflecting substantial expansion. Peking University (13th) and Tsinghua University (14th) remain firmly in the global Top 20. Fudan University has entered the global Top 30, while Shanghai Jiao Tong University has reached the Top 40, forming the first-tier group of China Mainland’s universities. In the second tier, Nanjing University (+43), Tongji University (+66), and Wuhan University (+29) recorded notable upward movements. Over the 2023–2027 period, the QS rankings reveal a structural reshaping of the global higher education landscape. The US–UK “dual-core” dominance remains, but internal divergence is widening. Australia and China Mainland continue to rise steadily, with top institutions strengthening their global positions, while countries such as Russia and Japan face increasing competitive pressure. Rankings are ultimately a tool rather than an end goal. However, as a quantifiable reflection of global academic reputation, they reveal the level of national investment in higher education, the emphasis placed on internationalization strategies, and the underlying vitality of each country’s research and innovation ecosystem. In this sense, every ranking change represents a broader policy narrative about national priorities. Note: Data is sourced from the QS World University Rankings 2027. Five-year changes are calculated based on ranking differences between 2023 and 2027. This analysis is based on quantitative ranking data and does not represent a comprehensive evaluation of institutional overall strength.
The World's Fastest-Rising Universities Revealed
Recently, U.S. News and QS released their latest annual global university rankings. The U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings cover 2,250 institutions across more than 100 countries and territories, while the QS World University Rankings evaluate over 1,500 universities from 106 countries and regions. WorldHE has compiled the year-on-year ranking changes among the top 500 universities worldwide in both rankings. According to the rankings, among the U.S. News Top 500 universities, Pakistan's University of Lahore recorded the largest improvement, rising 109 places from 588th last year to 479th globally. Argentina's University of Buenos Aires also made remarkable progress, climbing 103 places to 348th worldwide. Other notable movers include Nigeria's University of Ibadan, which advanced 96 places; China Mainland's Peking Union Medical College, up 90 places; the UK's Liverpool John Moores University, up 82 places; and Spain's University of Seville and Malaysia's Sunway University, both of which improved by 81 places. Among the highly competitive global top 100 universities, China Mainland's Fudan University rose 21 places to enter the global top 50. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) climbed 19 places to 82nd globally, while Australia's University of Adelaide improved by 14 places. In the QS Top 500 universities, the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) recorded the largest gain, soaring from 519th last year to 266th globally—an impressive rise of 253 places. SUTD is Singapore's fourth public university, founded with Professor Thomas L. Magnanti, former Dean of Engineering at MIT, serving as its inaugural president. The university continues to maintain a close strategic partnership with MIT. The Education University of Hong Kong climbed 124 places to 406th globally. Malaysia's INTI International University and Singapore's Singapore Management University (SMU) also improved by more than 100 places compared with last year. Among the highly competitive global top 100 universities, University College Dublin posted the strongest improvement, rising from 118th last year to 100th. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Nanjing University also made significant gains, climbing 14 and 13 places, respectively.
MIT Tops QS World Rankings for 15th Straight Year
The international higher education research organization QS Quacquarelli Symonds today officially released the QS World University Rankings 2027. The 2027 QS World University Rankings evaluated more than 1,500 universities from 106 countries and territories, highlighting the intensifying global competition among institutions in Europe, North America, and Asia. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained the top position for the 15th consecutive year. Imperial College London and Stanford University shared second place. The University of Oxford and Harvard University ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Other institutions in the global top 10 included the University of Cambridge, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), ETH Zurich, UCL, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Among the world's top 100 universities, University College Dublin recorded the most significant improvement, rising from 118th place last year to 100th. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Nanjing University also made notable gains, climbing 14 and 13 places, respectively, compared with last year. Explore the Five-Year Ranking Changes of the Top 500 Universities Regional HighlightsUnited States The United States remains the world's most prominent higher education system, with 184 universities ranked this year (slightly down from 192 last year). Among them, 67% experienced declines in ranking, 38 remained unchanged, and 22 improved. Yale University and Johns Hopkins University returned to the global top 20, giving the U.S. nine places in the world's top 20—more than any other higher education system. The country also has the largest number of universities in both the global top 50 and top 100. Arizona State University achieved its highest-ever ranking at 172nd globally, compared with 222nd a decade ago. China Mainland With 85 ranked institutions, China Mainland has become the third-largest higher education system represented in the rankings, behind only the United States (184) and the United Kingdom (93). A total of 52 Chinese universities improved their rankings (representing 72% of previously ranked institutions), while 10 remained unchanged and 10 declined. China Mainland also led the world in the number of newly ranked institutions, with 13 universities entering the rankings for the first time. Of the 85 ranked institutions, six placed within the global top 100. Peking University rose to 13th globally, while Tsinghua University climbed three places to 14th, further consolidating their positions among the world's leading universities. Canada Although 66% of Canadian universities experienced ranking declines, McGill University maintained its position as the country's top-ranked institution for the second consecutive year. Four universities achieved their best rankings in more than a decade. However, universities elsewhere in the world have advanced more rapidly, particularly in indicators such as international student diversity, employment outcomes, international faculty ratio, and citations per faculty member. United Kingdom Thirty-one UK universities improved their rankings, while Imperial College London remained firmly in second place globally for the third consecutive year. Five British universities achieved their highest rankings ever, and the total number of ranked UK institutions increased from 90 in 2026 to 93 in 2027. Australia Fifty-eight percent of Australian universities improved their rankings. The University of New South Wales Sydney became Australia's top-ranked institution for the first time, placing 19th globally. Nearly all ranked Australian universities now perform better than they did a decade ago, with nine achieving record-high positions. The re-entry of the University of the Sunshine Coast brought Australia's total number of ranked institutions to an all-time high. Europe Italy was among the strongest-performing countries in Europe, with 56% of its 47 ranked institutions improving their positions, led by Politecnico di Milano (87th globally). Germany and France added 11 and 7 newly ranked universities, bringing their totals to 60 and 38 institutions, respectively. Spain added 10 newly ranked universities, making it the second-largest higher education system in continental Europe by number of ranked institutions. The Technical University of Munich (25th globally) and Paris Sciences et Lettres University (34th globally) were among the leading institutions in the European Union. Although 11 of the Netherlands' 13 ranked universities experienced ranking declines, the country continued to lead in average scores for International Research Network and Academic Reputation.
Top-Ranked Journals in Each JCR Category: 2026 Rankings Released
On June 17, 2026, Clarivate released the 2026 edition of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR™) on its official website. The report provides comprehensive coverage of high-quality scholarly journals and ranks them by subject category, enabling academic institutions, researchers, and publishers to evaluate the significance and influence of journals across the global research landscape. The 2026 JCR covers 254 subject categories and includes 22,643 journals. According to Clarivate, beginning with the 2025 JCR release, citations from and to retracted content are excluded from the numerator used to calculate the Journal Impact Factor (JIF), ensuring that citations associated with retracted publications do not contribute to the JIF value. However, retracted articles continue to be included in the publication count (the JIF denominator) to maintain transparency and accountability. This year, Clarivate further strengthened its commitment to Research Integrity. The previously introduced policy of excluding citations related to retracted literature has now become a standard component of JIF calculations, while quality oversight of journal selection criteria and citation practices has been further enhanced. These measures improve the rigor, transparency, and credibility of the journal evaluation system. The Journal Citation Reports includes only journals that meet the stringent quality criteria of the Web of Science Core Collection, ensuring that users can confidently rely on the information and descriptive data provided. Published annually, JCR offers a rich set of publisher-independent data, metrics, and analyses, including the widely recognized Journal Impact Factor (JIF™) and Journal Citation Indicator (JCI™), helping users better understand the scholarly impact of journals. Based on the 254 subject categories defined by the Web of Science, journals are classified by discipline and ranked according to their Journal Impact Factors. Within each category, journals are divided into four quartiles (Q1–Q4), with Q1 representing the top 25% of journals in that field. It should be noted that a journal may be assigned to multiple subject categories and may therefore receive different quartile rankings across disciplines—for example, Q1 in one category and Q2 in another. In common usage, the term “JCR quartile ranking” generally refers to the JIF-based quartile classification. The top-ranked journal in each JCR category for 2026 is listed below (the 2026 JCR reports the 2025 Journal Impact Factors).
Which Universities Have U.S. News No. 1 Subjects?
On June 16, U.S. News released the 2026–2027 Best Global Universities Rankings on its official website (full rankings: https://www.worldhe.com/article/detail/320). At the same time, U.S. News also published its 2026–2027 Best Global Universities Subject Rankings, covering 51 academic disciplines. According to the rankings, a total of 24,050 ranked subjects from 2,503 universities worldwide were included. China Mainland led by a substantial margin, with 5,413 ranked subjects from 470 universities, far ahead of the United States, which had 3,697 ranked subjects from 258 universities. The United Kingdom ranked third with 1,292 ranked subjects from 96 universities, followed by Germany with 1,057 ranked subjects from 77 universities. Among the 51 disciplines, China Mainland and the United States each had 23 subjects ranked No. 1 globally. Singapore and the United Kingdom each had two disciplines ranked first worldwide, while Hong Kong, China had one discipline ranked No. 1. In terms of institutional performance, 20 universities worldwide held at least one globally top-ranked subject. Harvard University led the way with 18 No. 1 subjects, followed by Tsinghua University with 10. The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences had three top-ranked subjects, while China Agricultural University, Peking University, and the University of Oxford each had two. Another 14 universities had one globally top-ranked subject each. Looking at overall subject performance, 53 universities from China Mainland placed 204 subjects in the global Top 10, significantly outperforming the United States (162 subjects) and the United Kingdom (47 subjects). Chinese universities demonstrated particularly strong competitiveness in traditional STEM fields such as engineering, materials science, chemistry, and energy, while U.S. institutions maintained leadership in life sciences, medicine, humanities, and social sciences. At the institutional level, Harvard University had 26 subjects ranked in the global Top 10, spanning nearly all major life science and medical disciplines, underscoring its dominance in these fields. Stanford University and Tsinghua University each had 22 subjects in the global Top 10, while Zhejiang University had 21, highlighting the strength of their leading disciplines. In addition, the University of British Columbia was ranked in all 51 subjects covered by the rankings. Zhejiang University, Peking University, Sun Yat-sen University, Monash University, Ghent University, University of New South Wales, and the University of Melbourne each had 50 subjects ranked, demonstrating exceptional breadth and overall disciplinary strength.
Harvard Tops U.S. News Global University Rankings
On June 16, U.S. News released the 2026–2027 Best Global Universities Rankings on its official website. These institutions from the United States and more than 100 other countries and regions were ranked based on 13 indicators measuring their academic research performance, as well as their global and regional reputations. Among the ranked institutions, China Mainland had the largest representation, with 409 universities included in the rankings. The United States followed with 275 universities, while India had 126 universities on the list. Among the top 100 universities worldwide, the United States had 39 institutions, China Mainland had 11, and both the United Kingdom and Australia had 9 each. Within the global top 10, the United States accounted for six universities, the United Kingdom for three, and China Mainland for one. Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge retained their positions from the 2025–2026 rankings, remaining ranked No. 1 through No. 5, respectively. Tsinghua University rose from 11th place last year to 6th place, marking a significant improvement. The other universities in the global top 10 were University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, University College London (UCL), and Columbia University. Explore the Five-Year Ranking Changes of the Top 500 Universities Looking at the highest-ranked university in each country or region, Harvard University ranked first in the United States, University of Oxford ranked first in the United Kingdom, and Tsinghua University ranked first in Mainland China.
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