Seattle’s UW ranks No. 12 globally
The University of Washington has ranked third within public universities and twelfth globally by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026-2027 Best Global Universities, which evaluated 2,250 academic institutions worldwide.
The rankings are based on several factors, including academic reputation, research output and citations. The UW also earned top 10 global rankings in six subject areas, led by fourth in public, environmental and occupational health and sixth in molecular biology and genetics. Many of these top-ranked disciplines align closely with Washington’s strengths in life sciences, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a leader in research, innovation and health sciences.
Strong academic research is a key driver of innovation across the state’s life sciences industry. Continued recognition of the University of Washington’s research excellence reinforces region’s position as a hub for scientific discovery.