Stanford University Ranking: Perspective of Ranking Agencies 2026
The Stanford University situated in California is highly ranked as a frontrunner of research institutions. One of the major strengths that contributes towards Stanford ranking is academic excellence. The high levels of academic standards allow Stanford to stay among the top Universities at Global level. Now let’s quickly go through Stanford University Ranking through different parameters.
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Stanford University World Ranking
Over the years Stanford University has been working as a leading higher education institute. Moreover, the commitment towards high academic standards make Stanford top choice for learners around the world. Multiple Ranking metrics make it easier for students to make informed decision regarding higher education.
Moving forward, when looking at Stanford University world ranking by QS the University has been ranked at #6 experiencing a drop in its rankings when compared to previous years. As per THE university rankings for 2025, Stanford University is at #6 as compared to the #2 in the previous year. Additionally, in the US News Global Universities ranking’s 2025 category, Stanford University ranks #3 and has maintained this position for the last few years.
The decline in Stanford University ranking is because of the fierce competition among the top 10 Educational institutions. Every University is putting efforts for the improvements in ranking position. The same is true for the Stanford University. The table below displays Stanford University world ranking over the past years by different ranking bodies.
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARWU | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| US NEWS | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| THE | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| QS | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Stanford University QS Rankings
QS World University Ranking is a highly recognised ranking agency that compares global universities and colleges. QS ranks universities on the basis of different factors including academic reputation, research impact, employer reputation and others.
The Stanford University QS ranking has been experiencing a decline in its global rankings within last few years. However, with the high academic standards various subjects of Stanford University are highly ranked.
Go through the table below to learn about Stanford University QS ranking based on different parameters.
| Ranked by | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability | 3 | 19 | 19 |
| World University | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Accounting and Finance | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Architecture and Built Environment | 34 | 33 | 33 |
| Art and Design | 27 | 25 | 17 |
| Biological Sciences | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| Engineering and Technology | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Global MBA | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Law and Legal Studies | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Medicine | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Politics | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Sociology | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Stanford University Rankings: QS indicators
The QS World Universities Rankings are assessed based on 6 different indicators. These indicators include Academic Reputation. Employer Reputation, Faculty/Student Ratio, Citations per Faculty, International Student Ratio, and International Faculty Ratio. Each of these indicators is ranked on a scale of 100 to finalise overall rankings.
| Stanford University Ranking Indicator | Weigh out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Academic Reputation | 100 |
| Employer Reputation | 100 |
| Faculty/Student Ratio | 100 |
| Citations per Faculty | 99 |
| International Student Ratio | 60.8 |
| International Faculty Ratio | 70.3 |
The above-mentioned Stanford ranking scores are based on six different indicators and they help in a thorough evaluation of the University. These rankings help students to understand the strong areas of the University while making their decision.
Stanford University Course Ranking
In the global education market, Stanford University ranking is highly robust overall. Moreover, in the courses rankings, Stanford University has several courses with leading positions at the international level. Some of the highly ranked courses at Stanford include Global MBA, Chemical Engineering PG, Engineering and Technology, and Computer Engineering PG courses. Go through the table below to gain insights into Stanford University's highly ranked courses in 2024 and 2025.
| Courses | US News 2024 | THE 2024 | QS 2024 | ARWU 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Science (MS) | #1 | #2 | #2 | #3 |
| MBA | #1 | -- | #1 | -- |
| MA | #3 | #4 | #3 | #2 |
| Engineering | #3 | #2 | #2 | #5 |
| Business & Management Studies | #1 | #3 | #1 | #3 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | -- | #1 | #3 | #2 |
| Law | #1 | #1 | #5 | #6 |
Overall the Stanford University ranking is at the strong position in the Global market as it is one of the leading Universities around the world. Additionally, Stanford University excels in particular courses and subjects which makes it a top choice for students to pursue higher education.
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| ELIGIBILITY | IFP | UNDERGRADUATE | POSTGRADUATE |
| STANDARD | Grade 11 Standard (10+1) | Grade 12 Standard (10+2) | First class or upper second class |
| PERCENTAGE ACCEPTED | 80 % | 85 % | 60-80 % |
| BOARDS ACCEPTED | All state boards | All state boards | All state boards |
| tests | undergraduate | Postgraduate | PHD |
| IELTS | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| PTE | 68 | 68 | 68 |
Frequently Asked Questions
In global university rankings for 2026, Stanford University generally ranks within the Top 3-5. Recently it holds the #3 spot in QS World University Rankings, #5 in THE World University Rankings, and U.S. News places it at #3 for Best Global Universities
Yes! Stanford University has been ranked at the #3 position in the QS World University Ranking. Besides, its QS World University Rankings by Subject is #2, and its QS Sustainability Ranking is #13.
#5. Stanford University has secured 5th position in THE World Ranking for the year 2026.
Academic excellence, high-impact research, global faculty reputation, strong industry links, and innovation-driven culture, especially its leadership in technology, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem solving, make Stanford University ranked among the top institutes worldwide.
Stanford University has consistently ranked in the global top 10 in recent years.
- QS World Rankings has improved from 6th (2025) to 3rd (2026)
- Times Higher Education (THE) has stayed within the top 5-7 range.
These small changes reflect methodology updates and competition, not a drop in quality.
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