The 2026 QS World University Rankings are out! 
This year’s list includes over 1,500 universities from 106 countries.
MIT stays at the top for the 14th year in a row, while Stanford climbs to 3rd place. Oxford and Cambridge drop slightly, while Asian universities continue to rise. Let’s take a look at how the top 10 has changed over the last five years.
Top 10 Universities: 2026 vs Past Years
| Rank | 2026 (Score) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIT (100) | MIT | MIT | MIT | MIT |
| 2 | Imperial (99.4) | Imperial | Imperial | Cambridge | Cambridge |
| 3 | Stanford (98.9) | Oxford | Oxford | Cambridge | Stanford |
| 4 | Oxford (97.9) | Harvard | Harvard | Harvard | Harvard |
| 5 | Harvard (97.7) | Cambridge | Cambridge | Oxford | Cambridge |
| 6 | Cambridge (97.2) | Stanford | Stanford | Oxford | Oxford |
| 7 | ETH Zurich (96.7) | ETH Zurich | ETH Zurich | ETH Zurich | ETH Zurich |
| 8 | NUS (95.9) | NUS | NUS | NUS | NUS |
| 9 | UCL (95.8) | UCL | UCL | UCL | UCL |
| 10 | Caltech (94.3) | Caltech | Caltech | Caltech | Caltech |
What’s New This Year?
- MIT remains at #1.
- Imperial College London keeps its strong 2nd position.
- Stanford moves up from 6th to 3rd, its best position in years.
- Oxford and Cambridge drop slightly in the list.
- ETH Zurich, NUS, UCL, and Caltech stay strong and steady in the top 10.
Key Trends (2022–2026)
- Top schools remain essentially unchanged: MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, and Caltech have consistently ranked in the top 10 every year.
- Asia is rising: The National University of Singapore (NUS) is now a regular in the top 10. HKU (Hong Kong) moved up from 17th to 11th this year.
- UK universities are slipping: Over 60% of UK universities fell in the rankings. Oxford and Cambridge also dropped by 1–2 places.
- STEM-focused universities shine: Schools like Imperial, ETH Zurich, and Caltech are excelling, demonstrating the world’s focus on science and technology.
- UCL remains strong: UCL has ranked 9th for three consecutive years, demonstrating a steady global influence, particularly in research.
Conclusion
The 2026 rankings show that MIT remains the world’s top university, while Stanford’s rise proves its growing power in research. UK universities, however, are experiencing a decline in performance, which many attribute to a lack of funding. On the other hand, Asian and European schools, such as NUS and ETH Zurich, are proving they can compete with the best, thanks to their strong research and international focus.