South Korean Media: 16 Chinese Universities Enter Global Top 100, Only 1 in South Korea!
On September 16, South Korean media outlet Seoul Economic Daily published an article stating that according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2026 released by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, a total of 234 universities from mainland China have entered the global top 1,000, with 16 making it into the top 100. This indicates that Chinese universities are rapidly enhancing their research competitiveness.
The number of mainland Chinese universities ranked within the global top 1,000 has reached 234—up 12 from last year—surpassing the United States’ 187 institutions and becoming the highest in the world. The number of universities entering the top 100 has also increased by three, reaching 16, which is double that of the UK and ranks second globally, just behind the United States. However, there remains a significant gap compared to the U.S., which has 37 universities in the top 100. This reflects that both of the world’s largest economies possess a substantial number of outstanding universities.
Tsinghua University ranks 18th globally, maintaining its position within the top 20 and firmly holding the top spot among Asian universities. Peking University ranks 22nd, Zhejiang University 24th, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 27th, University of Science and Technology of China 39th, and Fudan University 41st. All six of China’s leading universities have maintained their positions within the global top 50. From an economic perspective, these institutions have contributed significantly to cultivating talent for China’s emerging industries.
Sun Yat-sen University ranks 62nd, Nanjing University 70th, Huazhong University of Science and Technology 72nd, Sichuan University and Wuhan University jointly rank 77th, Xi’an Jiaotong University 79th, and Central South University 83rd—all remaining within the global top 100. Southeast University (89th), Harbin Institute of Technology (97th), and Tianjin University (98th) have entered the global top 100 for the first time this year.
Notably, as many as 22 universities not designated as "Double First-Class" institutions have entered the global top 500.
In South Korea, Seoul National University is the only institution to enter the global top 100, ranking 87th. A total of 11 South Korean universities made it into the global top 500, and 29 into the top 1,000.
In the world university rankings, U.S. universities occupy eight of the top ten spots. Harvard University has held the number one position for 24 consecutive years. Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rank second and third, respectively. In Europe, Cambridge University and Oxford University rank fourth and seventh globally.
This ranking is the world’s first comprehensive university ranking, first launched in 2003, and this year marks its 24th edition. Based on an objective, transparent evaluation system centered on research performance, it enjoys immense global influence. Governments and universities worldwide use this ranking as a key indicator for comparing and analyzing university competitiveness and formulating research and education policies.
This ranking shows that although China now surpasses the United States in the number of universities ranked within the global top 1,000, it still lags behind in terms of the quantity and influence of elite institutions, indicating that China continues to catch up with the world’s largest economy—the United States. Meanwhile, the growing number of universities ranked in the global top 100 and the rapid rise of non-elite institutions demonstrate that China’s higher education research capabilities are expanding beyond a few prestigious institutions to cover various regions and universities nationwide.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876488295404551/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official stance of the publisher.