The University of Washington has once again been recognized as one of the world’s top universities, earning strong results in two major international rankings released in mid-June.
In the 2026–27 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings, the UW placed number 12 in the world and number 3 among U.S. public universities. The rankings evaluate 2,250 institutions across 105 countries, with a strong emphasis on research reputation and academic performance. The methodology considers measures such as publications, citations and international research collaboration.
The UW also ranked among the world’s top 10 in six subject areas:
- Public, environmental and occupational health: #4
- Molecular biology and genetics: #6
- Microbiology: #7
- Biology and biochemistry: #7
- Infectious diseases: #7
- Clinical medicine: #8
The university also performed well in the QS World University Rankings, placing number 92 globally and number 7 among U.S. public universities. Overall, the UW ranked number 23 in the United States. The 23rd edition of the QS rankings includes more than 1,500 universities across 106 higher education systems, including 184 in the U.S.
QS evaluates universities using a range of indicators, including research and discovery, employability and outcomes, global engagement, learning experience and sustainability.
Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the nation’s leading public research universities. Its largest campus is in Seattle, with additional campuses in Bothell and Tacoma that opened in 1990. About 70% of students across the three campuses are undergraduates, while the university also offers more than 370 graduate-level programs. Each spring, thousands of visitors come to the Seattle campus to see its iconic cherry trees in bloom.
