RWTH Aachen University Rankings 2026

 

RWTH Aachen University stands as Germany's premier technical institution, renowned for its excellence in engineering, science, and innovation. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, it secured the 105th position globally, marking its highest rank to date.  

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 placed RWTH Aachen at 92nd globally, reflecting its strong performance in teaching, research, and international outlook. Regionally, it ranks 23rd among Western European universities  

Subject-specific achievements include: 

• Mechanical Engineering: Ranked 23rd globally, 8th in Europe, and 1st in Germany 
• Engineering: Ranked 36th worldwide 
• Computer Science: Ranked 60th globally  

With over 29,000 students and a 31% international student body, RWTH Aachen fosters a diverse and dynamic academic community. Its strong performance in the RWTH Aachen University Ranking reflects its commitment to interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration, further solidifying its position as a leading global university.

 

University of RWTH Aachen Ranking 2025–26 

The RWTH Aachen University Ranking highlights its status as one of Germany’s most prestigious technical institutions, consistently performing well in global evaluations. Known for excellence in engineering, technology, and applied sciences, the university has secured top spots across QS, Times Higher Education (THE), U.S. News, and ARWU rankings. 

Here’s how the RWTH Aachen University Ranking has trended over recent years: 

Ranking Body	2023	2024	2025 / 2026*
QS World University Rankings	#147	#106	#105
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings	#99	#90	#92
U.S. News ‐ Best Global Universities	#199	#218	#218
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking)	#201-300	#201-300	#201-300

 

Performance Overview 

• In QS, RWTH Aachen made its best run into the top 100 in 2025 (#99), though slipped slightly in 2026 (#105). 
• THE ranking is fairly stable: in the low 90s globally, reflecting strengths across research, teaching, and international outlook. 
• U.S. News shows RWTH at #218 globally, which is solid but somewhat behind its QS/THE positions. 
• In the ARWU / Shanghai Ranking, RWTH Aachen is in the 201-300 band worldwide, showing good but not top-tier research metrics as compared to the very top universities. 

 

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Subject-Wise Ranking of RWTH Aachen University

The RWTH Aachen University Ranking remains strong across several disciplines, particularly in engineering and technology, where the university is a global leader. International ranking agencies like QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News highlight RWTH’s reputation in mechanical engineering, computer science, and materials sciences.  

These subject-specific performances underline the university’s focus on research, innovation, and industry collaboration. 

QS Subject Rankings 2025 

QS evaluates subjects on academic reputation, employer reputation, citations, and research impact. The RWTH Aachen University Ranking in QS subject lists demonstrates its leadership in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, as well as strong positions in technology-related fields. 

Subject Area	Faculty/School	QS Ranking 2025
Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering	Faculty of Mechanical Engineering	#14
Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Faculty of Electrical Engineering & Information Technology	#20
Chemical Engineering	Faculty of Civil Engineering / Chemistry collaboration	#30
Materials Science	Faculty of Georesources & Materials Engineering	#38
Engineering & Technology (Overall)	Multiple Faculties (Engineering, Science, Technology)	#65

THE Subject Rankings 2025

Times Higher Education (THE) ranks subjects based on teaching quality, research influence, international outlook, and industry partnerships. RWTH Aachen performs particularly well in engineering and computer science, reflecting its research strength and global collaborations. 

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject. 

Subject Area	Faculty/School	THE Ranking 2025
Engineering	Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering	36
Computer Science	Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science & Natural Sciences	60
Physical Sciences	Faculty of Science	71
Medical and Health	Faculty of Medicine	126–150
Arts and Humanities	Faculty of Arts	201–250

Shanghai ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities) Subject Rankings 2024

The Shanghai ARWU evaluates universities based on objective indicators such as the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the number of highly cited researchers, and the number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science. 

Subject Area	Faculty/School	ARWU Ranking 2024
Mechanical Engineering	Faculty of Mechanical Engineering	#2
Civil Engineering	Faculty of Civil Engineering	#1
Chemical Engineering	Faculty of Chemistry / Civil & Chemical Eng	#1
Materials Science	Faculty of Georesources & Materials Eng	#3
Environmental Engineering	Faculty of Civil Engineering	#2
Medical Technology	Faculty of Medicine	#31
Mathematics	Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science & Natural Sciences	#10

 

Miscellaneous Rankings 2025

Beyond QS, THE, and U.S. News, the RWTH Aachen University Ranking is also evaluated by other global ranking systems such as CWUR, ARWU, SCImago, and QS Graduate Employability Rankings. These platforms measure factors like research productivity, innovation, graduate employability, and global influence, offering a broader picture of RWTH Aachen’s academic and societal impact. 

Ranking Name	Ranking Description	Ranking 2025
SCImago Institutions Rankings	Evaluates institutions on research, innovation, and societal impact.	#230
Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)	Assesses quality of education, alumni employment, research performance, and influence.	#224
QS Graduate Employability Rankings	Focuses on employer reputation, alumni outcomes, and industry partnerships.	#121–130

RWTH Aachen’s rankings reflect its dual strength in research excellence and industry collaboration. Its position in CWUR underscores its academic and research impact, while its QS Graduate Employability score highlights the value employers place on RWTH graduates.

 

RWTH Aachen University: Excellence and Achievements

RWTH Aachen University is a cornerstone of engineering and applied sciences in Europe. Beyond its top-tier rankings, RWTH is a hub of innovation, sustainability, and academic distinction. From award-winning teaching to groundbreaking research and vibrant student-led initiatives, RWTH continues to make a significant impact on society and industry. 

Academic Excellence and Global Recognition

RWTH Aachen is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and research initiatives. The university consistently receives accolades for its contributions to education and research. 

Category	Recognition
Outstanding Teaching Award 2025	Professor Dr. Paul Kögerler and his team were honored for their exceptional teaching in the "Fundamentals of Chemistry" course, part of the German Engineering College program.
Graduation Ceremony 2025	In September 2025, RWTH celebrated the graduation of 1,850 students, marking a significant milestone in the academic journey of its graduates.

 

Sustainability and Community Engagement

RWTH Aachen is committed to sustainability and community engagement, implementing initiatives that promote environmental responsibility and social impact. 

Category	Recognition
Sustainability Strategy	RWTH has developed a comprehensive sustainability strategy encompassing governance, studies and teaching, research, and operations, aiming to integrate sustainable practices across all university activities. a
Green Technology Focus	The university emphasizes green technology, exploring sustainable transformations that are ecologically, economically, and socially viable.

 

Innovation and Industry Impact

RWTH Aachen fosters strong collaborations with industry, driving innovation and contributing to technological advancements. 

Category	Recognition
Dassault Systèmes Partnership	In 2025, RWTH entered a 10-year collaboration with Dassault Systèmes to integrate the 3DEXPERIENCE platform into its mechanical engineering curricula, enhancing students' skills in model-based systems engineering.
Industry Relations	RWTH offers a broad spectrum of cooperation opportunities for industry partners, ranging from specific services and joint research to sponsoring partnerships at events and support for companies in their search for employees.

 

Cultural and Student-Led Achievements

Student life at RWTH is dynamic, with students actively participating in cultural and extracurricular activities that enrich the university community. 

Category	Recognition
Graduation Ceremony 2025	The graduation ceremony in September 2025 was a vibrant celebration of student achievements, featuring speeches and traditional ceremonies that highlighted the university's commitment to student success.

 

RWTH Aachen University Ranking Methodologies 

Top university rankings like QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News provide a benchmark for evaluating universities globally. Each ranking body has its unique methodology, emphasizing factors such as academic reputation, research output, employability, and international presence.  

Understanding these methodologies helps students and institutions interpret the RWTH Aachen University Ranking in context. 

QS World University Rankings 

QS evaluates universities on both academic excellence and employability outcomes. For 2026, QS continued to focus on research impact, employer reputation, and global diversity while adding indicators like Employment Outcomes and Sustainability to reflect evolving higher education priorities. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Research & Discovery	Academic Reputation	30%
	Citations per Faculty	20%
Employability	Employer Reputation	15%
	Employment Outcomes	5%
Global Engagement	International Faculty Ratio	5%
	International Research Network	5%
	International Student Ratio	5%
	International Student Diversity	0%
Learning Experience	Faculty/Student Ratio	10%
Sustainability	Sustainability Score	5%

 

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 

THE evaluates universities across five pillars: Teaching, Research, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry Income. For RWTH Aachen, the methodology emphasizes research quality, teaching environment, and global collaboration. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Teaching Reputation, Staff-to-Student Ratio, Doctorate Ratios, Income	29.5%
Research Environment	Research Reputation, Research Income, Productivity	29%
Research Quality	Citation Impact, Research Strength, Research Excellence	30%
International Outlook	International Students, Staff, Collaborative Research	7.5%
Industry	Industry Income, Patents	4%

 

U.S. News & World Report Rankings

U.S. News rankings focus on student outcomes and institutional performance, relevant to universities worldwide, including RWTH Aachen. They assess graduation rates, research influence, and alumni success. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Student Outcomes	Graduation, Retention, Pell Grant Rates	42%
Post-Graduation Success	Graduate Earnings, Borrower Debt	10%
Academic Reputation	Peer Assessments	20%
Financial Resources	Faculty Salaries, Expenditure per Student	16%
Faculty Excellence	Full-Time Faculty Ratio, Student-Faculty Ratio	7%
Standardized Tests	SAT/ACT Scores (optional)	5%

 

Conclusion

The RWTH Aachen University Ranking highlights its position as one of Europe’s premier technical institutions, combining academic excellence with strong industry connections and a significant global research impact. Its consistent performance across QS, THE, CWUR, ARWU, and other ranking systems highlights strengths in engineering, technology, and applied sciences. Beyond numerical rankings, RWTH excels in sustainability initiatives, student engagement, and innovation-driven collaborations, equipping graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving global workforce. 

For students seeking a world-class education in STEM and engineering, the RWTH Aachen University Ranking reflects a dynamic environment, cutting-edge research opportunities, and pathways to international careers, making it a top choice for ambitious learners worldwide.