Best Universities of the World (Top Rankings)

“Of course there’s a lot of knowledge in best universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the seniors don’t take much away, so knowledge sort of accumulates.” – Abbott Lawrence Lowell

The role of education in human evolution has been the most important. According to the researchers, different education systems have been prevalent in this world for centuries. Secondary and primary education systems were introduced in different countries at different times. Although the modern education system dates back to the seventeenth century, the distinction of being the oldest university in the world goes to the University of Bologna in Italy, which was founded in 1080. Although this oldest university is still functional, it’s not listed in the top rankings of best universities.

Finding the best university for higher education is a very important step toward a student’s career. It is every student’s dream to get modern education from expert teachers in the most convenient premises. After getting higher education from these top universities, it becomes very easy for these students to find good-paying jobs or start their own businesses successfully. Today we will highlight the best universities of the world that are at the top of the educational institution rankings.

What ranking criteria were taken into account to compile the list of best universities in the world?

The data of top ranked universities is compiled on the basis of 8 indicators:

1. Academic Reputation
   An indicator to assess the quality of teaching and research at the world’s top ranking universities.
2. Employer Reputation
   This indicates the number of employers who identify the best university which produces talented graduates.
3. Faculty Student Ratio
   This is calculated on the bases of number of students per faculty member.
4. Citations Per Faculty
   The number of citations received by the papers of a university’s faculty members during the past five years.
5. International Faculty Ratio
   This ratio is calculated on the bases of the number of international faculty members to overall faculty members.
6. International Students Ratio
   This ratio is calculated on the bases of the number of international students to overall students.
7. International Research Network (IRN)
   This indicator shows the ability of educational institutions to diversify their IRN by long-lasting relationship with other higher education institutions.
8. Employment Outcomes
   It shows the capability of educational institutes to make sure that their graduates get hired by employers.

Let’s explore best universities of the world (top rankings) in descending order.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA)
2. University of Cambridge (UK)
3. Stanford University (USA)
4. University of Oxford (UK)
5. Harvard University (USA)
6. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (USA)
7. Imperial College London (ICL) (UK)
8. University College London (UCL)
9. ETH Zurich (Switzerland)
10. University of Chicago (USA)

10 University of Chicago (USA)

The University of Chicago is a privately managed research university which was established in the year 1856. It is one of the top universities of USA and takes 10th place in our list of best universities of the world. University of Chicago offers a lot of scholarship options for bright students to fund their degrees.

Being a top ranked university, it offers 36 undergraduate programs and 27 postgraduate programs. The curriculum of the university is considered to be the most advanced and robust due to which the graduates find it easy to get jobs in the practical field.

9 ETH Zurich (Switzerland)

It is a public research university established in 1854 in the largest city of Switzerland, Zurich. This is one of the leading universities in the fields of technology, architecture, and physics. Students from all over the world are eligible to apply for bachelor’s or master’s programs. All master-level programs are taught in English but to integrate socially; the German language is recommended for international students.

ETH Zurich accommodates needy students with scholarships if they cannot afford their study costs. However, students need to ensure that they are progressing in their studies and can later play a significant role in society. All over the world, ETH Zurich graduates are valued and offered good jobs.

8 University College London (UCL) (UK)

University College London is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom known for professional studies in Economics, Business, and Engineering. It was established in 1826 and was the very first university built in London city that allowed students to get admitted regardless of their religion.

The university is famous for its top-notch academics and excellent research in professional studies. As one of the best universities in England, UCL’s admission standards are high, and getting admission requires a lot of competition. However, once you are enrolled, consider your future bright because UCL graduates are warmly welcomed around the world.

7 Imperial College London (ICL) (UK)

Imperial College London is one of the best universities in the world, founded in 1907. Every year many talented students graduate from here and contribute to the betterment of society in the fields of science, medicine, engineering, and business. The university is very famous among students because it helps significantly in their career development.

It is difficult to get admitted at ICL because they offer limited academic courses and maintain good standards. However, students with high grades from all over the UK as well as rest of the world are warmly welcomed here. Because of this, the university is best known for its diverse culture. Imperial College London is also famous for its scholarship program, which is even given to home and international students as well.

6 California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (USA)

Caltech is another top ranked university established in 1891 by Sir Amos G. Throop. The university is known worldwide as an institute of science and engineering that has produced many talented people. At Caltech, research is emphasized so much that about 90% of students participate in research events regularly. During such events, the graduates get the guidance of faculty and seniors, which polishes their skills.

Getting admission to California Institute of Technology is relatively hard like other top-ranked universities in the world. GPA is required for those students who attended US schools; for all other students who attended non-US schools, no GPA is required. The university has no aid program based on merit; however, scholarships are granted to deserving students according to their needs. Caltech’s “Employment Outcomes” rate is high, which means the graduates from this institute have higher chances of getting hired by companies.

5 Harvard University (USA)

Harvard University, established in 1636, is one of the oldest and most renowned institute among the top universities in the world. It is providing quality education because most of the faculty members are Nobel Prize Winners and also possess membership in the Academy of Sciences. Harvard is not just a place to study or get a degree; it is an institute that changes students’ lives.

Acceptance rate in this university is low which is only 5%. Most of the students who are lucky enough to get admission at Harvard, hold minimum 4.18 GPA on average. Harvard has 100% Employer Reputation and Employment Outcomes rates which ensure its graduates the best jobs in the market.

4 University of Oxford (UK)

Oxford University needs no introduction because it is so famous in the world of education. It is the second oldest university in the world which is continuously operational. This university has global influence, rich traditions, and is known for innovative research with top-notch facilities.

Although the acceptance ratio at Oxford (17.5%) is higher than other top universities, but it is still not easy to get admission. Students who score at least 85% marks in A-levels can attempt admission to Oxford. However, even 85% marks is not a guarantee of getting admission to this university. Oxford University accommodates international students very well and also offer scholarship to bright students which fully covers their course fee.

3 Stanford University (USA)

Established in 1885, Stanford University scores 3rd position in our list of top ranked universities of the world. The academic standards of this university can be imagined from the fact that since 1952, more than 68 faculty and alumni have been Nobel laureates. This makes Stanford one of the best universities with world-class facilities and research opportunities.

Stanford University is known for its distinction in the fields of technology and science. Very high education standards and award-winning faculty help the students get extensive experience in their subjects. The university has a very complex admission process and only about 4% of candidates are accepted.

2 University of Cambridge (UK)

One of the greatest and oldest universities is Cambridge, which was established in 1209 by a group of students from Oxford. It is well-known in the world because of its research standards and traditional educational values.

The university provides excellent education in the fields of History, Geography, Medicine, and Law. Such a wide variety of subjects attract lots of bright students to take admission at Cambridge. A few years of hard work can get you admission to any university, but to get into Cambridge University you have to go through very tough exams. In terms of student scholarships as well, Cambridge has a very prestigious reputation.

1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), established in 1861, is ranked #1 university among the best universities of the world. Due to the world-class research, quality of modern education and its significance in the development of technology, this university is one of the top educational institutions in the world.

To get admission to MIT, you must possess a minimum of a 4.17 GPA. However, if you have a lower GPA, you can still apply if you have higher SAT/ACT scores. Students from all over the world dream of getting into this university because it has maintained best quality of education. Because of the high standards of modern education and research, this institute produces skilled engineers and scientists every year.