Penn State is ranked No. 18 among U.S. public institutions and No. 38 among all U.S. universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, released Sept. 29. Overall, the University ranked No. 101 globally, a seven-place rise over last year's ranking, placing Penn State in the top 5% worldwide among 2,297 ranked universities. Penn State also remains the top-ranked public university in Pennsylvania.
"I am proud of our students, faculty and staff, who continue to make Penn State one of the best institutions in the world," said Jody Pritt, interim vice provost for Penn State Global. "At a time when national and international institutions are competing for excellence, Penn State continues to produce world-class education, research and service."
Times Higher Education's World University Rankings are considered one of the three most respected international university ranking systems, along with the QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities. For this ranking, THE evaluates research-intensive universities worldwide across four core areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
According to THE, it uses 18 performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons relative to research institutions. The performance indicators are grouped into five pillars: Teaching (the learning environment); Research Environment (volume, income and reputation); Research Quality (citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence); International Outlook (staff, students and research); and Industry (income and patents).
Penn State's scores improved or remained consistent across nearly every measure in the 2027 rankings, with the University's highest-scoring indicators aligning with its teaching and research missions. Penn State's overall ranking is buoyed by its $1.44 billion research enterprise, with Research Environment serving as the University's highest-ranked pillar, placing No. 69 in the world. Penn State also ranked highly in the Teaching pillar, coming in at No. 100 globally.
Times Higher Education places significant weight on an institution's research community, evaluating its reputation among peers, overall excellence, global influence and industry impacts. Penn State's research enterprise extends around the world from its home in Pennsylvania, impacting people and communities across the globe. As examples of the University's global reach:
Penn State researchers developed a computational framework that uses real-time measurements and artificial intelligence to assess how frozen soil is melting in Alaska and more accurately predict the impacts of warming on permafrost around the world.
Researchers at Penn State are studying water access and how increasingly frequent and severe droughts around the globe can influence life long into the future.
The University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian AI Research Organization to expand global collaboration in artificial intelligence - supporting joint research, faculty and student exchanges, and training of early-career scientists.
Penn State connects fundamental ceramic science with industrial challenges in materials processing, reliability and emerging electronic technologies. A leader in these efforts, Evan Pugh University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Clive Randall, was recognized with the inaugural international Inamori-KYOCERA Award.
Penn State continues to place highly in rankings released by organizations with methodologies that focus on faculty and research excellence. In the 2026 Center for World University Rankings, Penn State ranked No. 32 nationally and No. 61 worldwide. The University placed No. 7 among U.S. public institutions, No. 23 among all U.S. universities, and No. 92 globally in the 2027 QS World University Rankings. Penn State also tied at No. 92 worldwide in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Global Universities" ranking for 2026-27.
To learn more about the University's standing in major national and international rankings, visit Penn State's Facts and Rankings page.
