The 2026 QS World University Rankings, released on June 19, 2025, show no Nigerian university among the top 1,000 globally for the third year. Out of Nigeria’s 297 institutions, only three appeared in the rankings. The University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos held steady in the 1,001–1,200 range, as in 2025. Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria joined the list for the first time, placing in the 1,201–1,400 band.
The rankings, compiled yearly by UK-based Quacquarelli Symonds, assess universities using eight criteria: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, research citations, international faculty and student ratios, global research collaboration, employment outcomes, and sustainability. Nigerian universities struggle with research impact, international partnerships, and graduate employability, which are critical for higher rankings.
Egypt topped African representation with 20 universities, followed by South Africa with 11. Tunisia had four, while Ghana and Morocco each had two. Kenya, Libya, Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia each had one. South Africa stood out as the only African nation with universities in the global top 300, led by the University of Cape Town at 150th and the University of the Witwatersrand at 291st.
Globally, the top 10 universities include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA), Imperial College London (UK), Stanford University (USA), University of Oxford (UK), Harvard University (USA), University of Cambridge (UK), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), National University of Singapore, University College London (UK), and California Institute of Technology (USA). These institutions lead due to strong research, global engagement, and employability.
