Michigan Universities Shine in 2026 World Rankings, U-M In Top 25

The University of Michigan secured the 23rd position among 2,191 global institutions in the Times Higher Education 2026 World Rankings. Michigan State made a striking leap, climbing 17 spots to claim the 105th position worldwide.

The assessment covered institutions across 115 nations, weighing 18 distinct factors. Student-to-faculty ratios, citation impact, and revenue generation shaped the final scores. Five core areas determined rankings: classroom excellence, scholarly environment, research impact, worldwide connections, and commercial partnerships, according to Mlive.

Among public schools in America, U-M Ann Arbor stands with three other elite institutions in the global top 25. UC Berkeley claimed ninth place, while UCLA took 18th. The University of Washington rounded out this select group at 25th.

MSU now sits alongside Finland's University of Helsinki at 105th place. MSU's strengths shone through specific fields—placing 15th for education studies and clinching 53rd in business and economics.

CMU maintained its position within the 1001-1200 bracket globally. Its medical, health, and education programs earned spots in the 501-600 range.

Several state schools dropped from the 2026 rankings. Western, Eastern, and Northern Michigan Universities vanished from the list. Michigan Tech and U-M's Dearborn and Flint campuses also lost their spots.

The ranking system weighed five crucial elements. Teaching methods, scholarly output, global outreach, and industry collaboration determined final placement. Raw data and academic peer reviews shaped the scores.

This year's standings mark subtle shifts. U-M Ann Arbor slipped just one spot from 22nd, while MSU showed remarkable progress, jumping from its previous 122nd position.