Ranking
QS World University Rankings: Politecnico di Milano ranks 98th
It is the first Italian university to enter the global Top 100
For the first time, an Italian university enters the Top 100 of the QS World University Rankings, one of the world’s most prestigious academic ranking: Politecnico di Milano ranks 98th in the 2026 edition, achieving a historic result that marks a national record and at the same time an important recognition of the value of Italian excellence in education and research.
With this achievement, the Politecnico ranks in the top 6 percent of world universities. The shift from 111th to 98th position testifies to the solidity of a steady growth over time: in ten years, the University has climbed as many as 89 positions, 41 of which in the last three years (from 139th in 2023), distinguishing itself as a point of reference for the Italian university system and among international academic excellence.
In Italy, the Politecnico di Milano is confirmed first in overall performance and in the quality of its key indicators.
Among the indicators that contributed most to the achievement of the Top 100 were Employer Reputation and Academic Reputation. The first – which measures the esteem in which graduates are held by international employers – highlights Politecnico’s ability to train highly qualified professionals who are ready to face the challenges of the world of work. The second – which assesses the prestige perceived by the global academic community – confirms the high quality of research and teaching carried out at the University.
Excellent results were also achieved in the Employment Outcomes criteria, which attests to a high employment rate among graduates and a significant impact of their careers in their respective fields. The figure for Citations per Faculty, which measures the average number of scientific citations per faculty member and reflects the relevance of scientific production at the international level, also rose sharply.
These positive results are also supported by a significant increase in scientific productivity, a tangible sign of an active, attractive and innovation-oriented academic community.
This is a particularly significant achievement. Italy finally enters the top 100 of the QS World Rankings like the other G7 countries. This is a demonstration of the relevance and prestige not only of Politecnico di Milano, but of the Italian education and research system. A leap forward that started ten years ago. It is an expression of a clear growth strategy; of the passion and dedication of the entire Politecnico di Milano community; of careful planning and management of resources; and of an effective system of interaction with businesses and the territory.
Donatella Sciuto, Rector of Politecnico di Milano
The QS World University Rankings 2026 analyzed more than 8,400 universities in 106 countries. Of these, 1,501 made the rankings, including 43 Italian ones. Politecnico di Milano’s result represents a turning point for Italian universities and a strong signal of its ability to compete, innovate and grow globally.
Key Figures
Overall ranking: 98th out of more than 8,400 universities evaluated. This is the first time an Italian university has entered the QS Top 100 ranking.Position in Italy: 1st place overall.Universities analyzed: 8,467 universities from 106 countries. Of these, 1,501 entered the ranking. There are 43 Italian universities present.Indicators of excellence:
- Employer Reputation: 90.1/100
- Academic Reputation: 83.4/100
- Employment Outcomes: 72.0/100
- Citations per Faculty: 53.9/100
- International Faculty: 74.4/100
Ten-year trend: +89 positions gained in ten years. The Politecnico rose from 187th place in 2016 to 98th in 2026.Scientific Productivity: over 27,000 publications and 270,000 citations in 2019-2024 (source: Scopus/QS).
See the rankings: https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings