Penn State was ranked No. 108 out of 2,191 ranked universities worldwide in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

The university tied for No. 17 in public institutions in the U.S. and No. 39 for all U.S. universities. They tied with three other institutions for No. 108 globally.

“Despite almost a hundred new institutions entering the rankings, our position remains strong. This is a reflection of the fact that our faculty continue to conduct impactful, cutting-edge research while providing a world-class teaching experience for our students,” vice provost for Penn State Global, Sabine Klahr, said in a release.

Alongside QS World University Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, THE World University Rankings is one of the most respected global institution ranking systems.

Penn State’s 2026 scores improved or remained consistent across almost every measurement. THE ranks of 18 performance indicators.

The indicators include five pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry. 

Research environment was the university’s highest-ranked pillar, aided by its $1.3 billion research expenditures. THE’s decision was impacted by Penn State’s global influence, reputation, and research community.

You can find THE’s full ranking list here.

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