Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ranking

Latest update: As of 2025, MIT remains a global leader, ranked #1 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and #2 in THE 2025 and U.S. News 2025.    It tops subject rankings in Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Arts, Business, and Social Sciences.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a global leader in innovation, research, and education. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of science, technology, and entrepreneurship, MIT consistently secures top positions in worldwide university rankings. Its interdisciplinary approach, cutting-edge research, and strong industry collaborations make it a hub for academic excellence and groundbreaking discoveries. 

MIT is consistently recognized as one of the world’s leading universities, renowned for its excellence in STEM, business, and innovation. Offering more than 50 undergraduate majors and over 70 graduate programs, it provides top-tier courses in Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Architecture, Economics, and through the Sloan School of Management, Business.  

The institute’s academic distinction is reinforced by decades of leadership in education, pioneering research, and tangible real-world impact, with cutting-edge programs in robotics, data science, and global policy. 

To know more about the Masachusetts Institute of Technology,  Check out its Overview page.  

MIT World Rankings 2024-26 

MIT’s consistently top-tier rankings across multiple global league tables highlight its unparalleled academic strength and international influence.  

By maintaining the #1 spot in QS and U.S. News rankings and a close second in THE, MIT demonstrates a sustained commitment to excellence, making it a highly sought-after destination for students worldwide. 

Below is a summary of MIT's rankings for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026: 

Ranking Body	2024 Ranking	2025 Ranking	2026 Ranking
QS World University Rankings	1	1	1
Times Higher Education (THE)	2	2	2
U.S. News & World Report	1	1	1

The repeated top positions underscore MIT’s leadership in education, research, and global impact. 

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Subject-Wise Rankings of MIT (2024–2026) 

MIT consistently excels across a wide array of disciplines, underscoring its global leadership in both STEM and business education.  

MIT excels across multiple disciplines, holding #1 in QS 2024–2026 for Engineering, Computer Science, AI, and Statistics, while Business ranks #5.  

THE ranks MIT #2–3 in Engineering, #3 in Computer Science, and #1 in Economics & Social Sciences. U.S. News places MIT #1 in Engineering and Computer Science and #5 in Business, highlighting its global leadership in STEM and business education. 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 

MIT consistently leads in QS subject rankings, reflecting its strength in STEM and business disciplines.  

The following table shows its top positions from 2024 to 2026. 

Subject	2024 Ranking	2025 Ranking	2026 Ranking
Engineering & Technology	1	1	1
Computer Science	1	1	1
Architecture/Built Environment	1	1	1
Artificial Intelligence	1	1	1
Economics & Econometrics	2	2	2
Business & Management	5	5	5
Statistics & Operational Research	1	1	1

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings by Subject 

THE rankings highlight MIT’s excellence in both STEM and social sciences. The table below presents its subject-wise positions for 2024–2026. 

Subject	Ranking for 2024	Ranking for 2025	Ranking for 2026
Engineering & Technology	2	1	1
Computer Science	3	1	1
Economics & Business	4	1	1

U.S. News & World Report Rankings by Subject 

U.S. News highlights MIT’s leadership in engineering, computer science, and business. The following table shows subject-wise rankings from 2024 to 2026. 

Subject	2024 Ranking	2025 Ranking	2026 Ranking
Engineering	1	1	1
Computer Science	1	1	1
Business	5	5	5

Miscellaneous Rankings 2025 

MIT's commitment to sustainability, affordability, and community engagement has earned it notable positions in various specialized rankings.  

Below are MIT's standings in key areas reflecting its dedication to environmental responsibility and social impact: 

Ranking Category	Description	Ranking/Recognition
Sustainability - STARS	Gold rating in the Sustainability Tracking & Rating System (STARS).	STARS Gold Rating
Zero Waste Initiatives	Participates in national waste reduction programs.	Campus Race to Zero Waste Participant
QS Sustainability Rankings	Ranked globally for environmental and social efforts.	33
Impact Rankings 2024	Significant contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals.	201-300
Gender Equality Rankings	Promotes gender equality across the campus.	601-800
Reduced Inequalities Rankings 2025	Efforts to reduce inequalities and promote inclusion.	61

These rankings highlight MIT’s dedication to sustainability, equity, and social responsibility alongside academic excellence. 

MIT continues to lead in sustainability and social responsibility, earning a STARS Gold Rating with a score of 69.67, which underscores its commitment to environmental initiatives. The university actively drives waste reduction through programs like the Campus Race to Zero Waste.  

Globally, MIT is ranked 33rd in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2025 and falls within the 201–300 range in the Impact Rankings 2024, reflecting significant contributions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.  

While it ranks 601–800 in Gender Equality, signaling areas for improvement, its 61st position in Reduced Inequalities demonstrates ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity. 

MIT Campuses: Excellence and Achievements 

MIT’s campuses are not only centers for academic excellence but also foster cultural, creative, and community-oriented achievements. These recognitions illustrate MIT’s holistic approach to education. 

Academic Excellence and National Recognition 

MIT’s campuses serve as hubs of innovation, research, and student development, offering world-class facilities and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. MIT encourages cultural, creative, and community engagement, making it an exciting environment for personal and professional growth. 

The university’s achievements reflect its dedication to excellence in research, teaching, and innovation. 
The table below highlights MIT’s highest academic honors and the remarkable achievements of its community: 

Award/Honor	Description
Nobel Prizes	MIT affiliates have received 105 Nobel Prizes, demonstrating their contributions to groundbreaking discoveries.
National Medals of Science	64 faculty members have been awarded the National Medal of Science for exceptional achievements.
National Medals of Technology & Innovation	35 MIT faculty members have been honored for pioneering innovations in technology.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions 

MIT is consistently recognized for its student-centered programs and sustainable, inclusive campus environment.  

The following table highlights key community and lifestyle achievements: 

Category	Recognition
Student Engagement	Top-ranked for student activities and involvement
Sustainability	Nationally recognized green campus initiatives
Inclusivity	Highly rated programs for diversity and equity

Cultural and Creative Excellence 

MIT nurtures arts, design, and global outreach, encouraging creativity and cross-cultural engagement.  

The table below shows major achievements in these areas: 

Category	Recognition
Arts & Culture	Strong support for music, theater, and visual arts
Innovation in Design	Award-winning architectural and creative programs
Global Outreach	Programs promoting cross-cultural exchange

MIT: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate 

MIT’s world-leading rankings go hand in hand with its extremely selective admissions, reflecting both academic excellence and high demand. Prospective students can use this insight to understand the competitiveness of different programs. 

The following table compares MIT’s ranking in specific programs with their corresponding acceptance rates: 

Program/Course	Ranking	Acceptance Rate
Undergraduate	1	6.7%
MBA	5	12%
Computer Science MS	1	8%
Engineering PhD	1	7%

Ranking Bodies Methodologies 

MIT’s consistent ranking success is closely tied to how major ranking bodies evaluate universities. Understanding these methodologies gives insight into MIT’s global performance and strengths across research, teaching, and innovation.  

Each ranking uses specific focus areas with assigned weightages to measure overall quality and impact. 

QS World University Rankings 

QS evaluates universities based on reputation, faculty quality, research output, and international diversity.  

The table below shows the focus areas and weightages that contribute to MIT’s ranking in the QS system 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Academic Reputation	Global survey of academics	40%
Employer Reputation	Employer survey on graduate employability	10%
Faculty/Student Ratio	Teaching quality measurement	20%
Citations per Faculty	Research impact	20%
International Faculty/Students	Diversity and global presence	10%

QS emphasizes both academic and employer reputation while valuing research impact and internationalization. 

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 

THE Rankings assess teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry income. MIT’s performance across these areas reflects its broad excellence in education, innovation, and global engagement. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Teaching	Learning environment and faculty/student engagement	30%
Research	Volume, income, and reputation	30%
Citations	Research influence globally	30%
International Outlook	Staff, students, and collaborations	7.5%
Industry Income	Knowledge transfer and innovation	2.5%

THE gives substantial weight to teaching, research quality, and research influence, highlighting MIT’s academic strengths. 

U.S. News and World Report Rankings 

U.S. News evaluates universities primarily on research performance, publications, and reputation. MIT’s top position is a result of strong metrics across these indicators. 

Focus Area	Indicators	Weightage
Global Research Reputation	Survey of academics worldwide	12.5%
Regional Research Reputation	Regional academic influence	12.5%
Publications	Research volume and impact	12.5%
Conference Papers	Participation in scientific discourse	12.5%
Normalized Citation Impact	Quality of research output	50%

U.S. News emphasizes research quality, output, and influence, all areas where MIT consistently excels, reinforcing its top MIT ranking positions. 

Conclusion  

MIT’s ranking consistently reflects its position as a global leader in higher education. According to the latest QS World University Rankings 2026, MIT holds the #1 spot worldwide, maintaining its dominance in engineering, technology, and computer science. Similarly, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 places MIT at #2 globally, underlining its excellence in research, teaching, and innovation. 

The MIT ranking highlights not only its overall global standing but also its subject-wise leadership across disciplines like business, economics, and the sciences. By consistently achieving top ranks, MIT demonstrates its ability to attract the best talent, foster groundbreaking discoveries, and prepare students for global challenges.