7 PA Schools Ranked Among Best Global Universities: U.S. News

PENNSYLVANIA — An interesting new report from U.S. News & World Report recognizes seven Pennsylvania schools as among the best in the world. But there some conspicuous absences from the list.

The outlet's 2021 Best Global Universities list ranked more than 1,500 schools in dozens of countries. The ranking is based, they said, on academic research and reputation.

And the top of the list was unsurprising. Harvard University maintained its No. 1 overall rank, while the University of Pennsylvania led the Keystone State at 14th overall. But the research-heavy ranking excluded some universities often considered among Pennsylvania's best.

Here's a list of all Pennsylvania schools that were recognized in the top 500:

14. University of Pennsylvania

43. University of Pittsburgh

75. Penn State

94. Carnegie Mellon

312. Temple University

387. Drexel University

390. Thomas Jefferson University

Some Pennsylvania institutions which did not fare well using these metrics: Villanova University, Lehigh University, Lafayette College, Haverford College, St. Joseph's University, and more.

To compile the rankings, U.S. News analyzed data and metrics provided by global analytics company, Clarivate, including student-to-faculty ratio and number of degrees awarded.

Researchers then weighed indicators such as publications, citations and international collaboration. Each subject ranking has its own methodology based on academic research performance in that specific area.

U.S. News added 10 additional subject metrics in 2021, according to a release. Researchers said that given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it’s more important than ever to help prospective students decide whether to study abroad and where.

Hundreds of U.S. schools made the 2021 list, and comprise a majority of the top 10 schools overall.

Harvard University maintained its No. 1 rank, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in at No. 2. Stanford University and the University of California - Berkeley are third and fourth, respectively. The United Kingdom’s University of Oxford finishes out the top five in the overall ranking.

The U.S. has the most universities in the overall ranking with 255, followed by these countries:

• China: 176
• U.K.: 87
• France: 70
• Germany: 68

Best Global Universities is one of several rankings published by U.S. News annually. The publication also releases Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools and Best Online Programs to help students navigate higher education options.