World University Rankings uses various metrics and indicators. Therefore, different universities achieve different ranks based on the rankings methodology. Top universities as well as the indicators employed by QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking), and the new ISC World University Rankings are illustrated in the following section.
| Rank | Top University | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oxford |
Teaching (the learning environment) – 30% Research (volume, income and reputation) – 30% Citations (research influence) – 30% International outlook (staff, students, research) – 7.5% Industry income (knowledge transfer) – 2.5% |
| 2 | University of Cambridge | |
| =3 | California Institute of Technology | |
| =3 | Stanford University | |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Rank | Top University | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Academic reputation (40%) Employer reputation (10%) Faculty/Student Ratio (20%) Citations per faculty (20%) International faculty ratio/International student ratio (5% each) |
| 2 | Stanford University | |
| 3 | Harvard University | |
| 4 | California Institute of Technology | |
| 5 | University of Cambridge |
| Rank | Top University | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University |
Quality of Education (10%) Quality of Faculty(40%) Research Output(40%) Per Capita Performance(10%) |
| 2 | Stanford University | |
| 3 | University of Cambridge | |
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | |
| 5 | University of California, Berkeley |
| Rank | Top University | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University |
Research (60%) Education (10%) Innovation (20%) International Activity (10%) |
| 2 | Stanford University | |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins University | |
| 5 | University of Michigan |
