The Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings 2025 have been released on 18 February, showcasing the most prestigious universities globally based on academic perception. This year, the rankings expanded to include 300 institutions from 38 countries and territories, providing a broader view of global academic excellence.
Top 10 Most Prestigious Universities in 2025
- Harvard University (United States)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (United States)
- University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
- Stanford University (United States)
- University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
- University of California, Berkeley (United States)
- Princeton University (United States)
- Tsinghua University (China)
- Yale University (United States)
- The University of Tokyo (Japan)
Harvard retains the top position for the 14th consecutive year, while Oxford rises to joint second—the highest placement for a UK university in a decade. The rankings also highlight the growing influence of Asian institutions, with Tsinghua University and The University of Tokyo securing top 10 positions.
How the Rankings Were Calculated
The 2025 rankings feature a revamped methodology designed to offer a more comprehensive evaluation of institutional reputation. The assessment is based on three core factors:
- Vote Counts – Evaluating how many academics worldwide recognize a university’s excellence in teaching and research.
- Pairwise Comparison – Encouraging respondents to rank institutions more thoughtfully rather than relying on well-known names.
- Voter Diversity – Rewarding universities that receive recognition from scholars across multiple countries and disciplines.
These rankings are derived from the THE Global Academic Reputation Survey, which gathered input from over 55,000 scholars worldwide.
With institutional reputation influencing student recruitment, funding, and global partnerships, these rankings remain a key benchmark for universities striving for academic excellence.
Browse the full results of the World Reputation Rankings 2025 at World Reputation Rankings 2025: top universities by prestige | Times Higher Education (THE).