The Top 10 Universities According to QS World University Rankings 2023

15/06/2022•7 minute read
The Top 10 Universities According to QS World University Rankings 2023

QS World University Rankings just released its 2023 Top Global University Rankings, and MIT continues its 11-year reign as the best college in the world!


Top universities from all over the world compete for a spot on this prestigious list. Unlike the US News Best National Universities rankings, the QS World University Rankings 2023 list includes nearly 1,500 institutions worldwide. While this year’s list includes many familiar names, it also has many lesser-known institutions in Asia, Europe and the United States.

What is the QS World Ranking?

QS Quacquarelli Symonds is a London-based company that analyzes global higher education and ranks institutions and various academic programs. It also provides analytics and insight into the global education sector. The QS World University Rankings list began in 2004 and is now one of the top sources for comparative data about universities.

Which University took the top spot in the 2023 QS World Rankings?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) continues its 11-year dominance as the top university in the world. While many top spots belong to university heavyweights, more than half of the US universities on the list experienced a slide in their overall standing. Additionally, 25 US universities made their debut on the list this year.

Top 10 Universities From QS World University Rankings 2023
RankUniversityLocation
1Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
2University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
3Stanford UniversityStanford, CA, USA
4University of OxfordOxford, UK
5Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA, USA
6California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA, USA
7Imperial College LondonLondon, UK
8University College of LondonLondon, UK
9ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of TechnologyZürich, Switzerland
10University of ChicagoChicago, IL, USA

College acceptance calculator

How Are The World’s Institutions Ranked?

The six indicators that determine the QS World University Ranking 2023 are: 

  1. Academic reputation (40%) - More than 130,000 experts in the higher education space review the quality and reputation of each university’s teaching and research.
  2. Employer reputation (10%) - Schools are evaluated based on how they prepare students for careers and which schools provide the most competent, innovative, and effective graduates.
  3. Faculty/student ratio (20%) - This indicator assesses the number of faculty compared to the number of students. Institutions with higher faculty/student ratios tend to provide students with more meaningful interactions with teachers.
  4. Citations per faculty (20%) - Research quality is another critical factor in this evaluation. They factor in the total number of academic citations in papers produced by anyone at the university over five years.
  5. International student ratio (5%) - A strong international presence is important in this evaluation. If an institution can attract faculty worldwide, they show they’re building global awareness.
  6. International faculty ratio (5%) - See above

How Do The QS World University Rankings Help You?

The QS World University Rankings help you learn about the world’s universities as you begin your search for your dream university. Through a variety of filters, you can find and compare universities from all over the world.

This list sparks curiosity and helps you create your university shortlist. Each university also has its own profile page. These pages include an overview of the institution, rankings, ratings, programs, campus locations, tuition fees, similar universities, and much more! They also have scores related to each universities’ sustainable development goals (SDGs.) This score allows you to see how universities create a more sustainable world.

How Crimson Can Help You Choose The Right College

While these rankings are helpful, they don’t cover everything, so diving deeper into the colleges that best fit your criteria is essential. Just because a university ranks in the top 10 list doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right fit for you. At Crimson, we help you find your best-fit university by learning about your interests, evaluating your test scores and grades, helping you determine a career path, and introducing you to the various college campus environments.

To get started, check out Crimson’s university profiles on some of the top US universities, or try our US Admissions Calculator or UK Admissions Calculator to generate a list of recommended colleges that best fit you. Speak to one of our expert admissions advisors if you’d like to learn more about our admissions support program.

Book a free consultation

What Makes Crimson Different

Start Your Journey To A Top University Today!

Crimson students are up to 7x more likely to gain admission into their dream school! Book a free consultation to learn more about how we can help you get there!