It’s the fall rankings season, when groups publish their estimations of top universities. That’s fun for MIT, because we generally do very well. This year, MIT blew off the top. The Institute was named top university in the world for 2012-13 by QS World University Rankings, published by Quacquarelli Symonds, an organization specializing in education and study abroad.
QS criteria for excellence
Of course, we are curious about the criteria. Conveniently, QS offers their six-point ranking system: The weightiest indicator—40 percent—was academic reputation garnered from a global survey. The lightest indicator—at 5 percent—is the proportion of global faculty. QS even noted an increase in this category for MIT.
QS also ranked MIT as the world’s best university in chemistry, economics and econometrics, linguistics, materials science, mathematics, and physics and astronomy.
The larger implication, however, is that science and technology education is no longer a special interest. QS says that the high rankings of MIT and peer schools show “tech-focused universities across the world on an upward trajectory.”
US News & World Report‘s undergraduate rankings place MIT as the nation’s top engineering school and six of its departments ranked first: aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering; chemical engineering; computer engineering; electrical/electronic/communications engineering; materials engineering; and mechanical engineering. Sloan was tapped as the number two undergraduate business program.
Overall, MIT shares the number six spot with Stanford University. MIT tied for first with several other peer universities in criteria such as selectivity and high school guidance counselors’ assessment.
Look to Mashable to report tips about savvy use of social media. According to Mashable, MIT placed number four in Social Net-Working It in a ranking published by Unigo, a college resource firm that provides reviews for US News & World Report rankings. MIT was lauded not only for its Facebook likes and tweets but also the work of the MIT News Office to the Media Lab’s Sociable Media Group.
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MIT heads the list universities globally, pushing Cambridge, UK to second position. This is matter of great pride for MIT alumni. I did in MIT my S.M (Met) in 1961 & Sc.D. (Met) in 1963. Now the discipline is diverified into the field of Materials Science which field has contributed significantly to the upward movement of my Alma Mater. We are confident that this vertical movement of MIT to the domain of acquiring knowledge & translating into useful application will continue.
I wonder where oxbridge sits in this list?
Bill…
Can you believe that?
UVA and Longwood must have dropped out of the competition.
Bruce
PS Getting about time for another lunceon?
These rankings are of some, but limited, value. Whatever criteria are used, the “best” school for each individual is obviously a matter of “fit” and is a moving target.
I’m a proud graduate and was fortunate enough to serve on a Visiting Committee many years ago. I have strong feelings about MIT and the value of the university. But it will never reach its apogee until it can reduce the cost of its education and spread the benefit of that education broadly, and until it will be considered “cool” to attend as an undergraduate. The university has made great strides in that direction, but still has a long way to go. Strong focus on the environment and on the arts in all forms can make an enormous difference while making immense contributions to both fields. I think another area that could become a significant draw for undergraduates is an increasing interest in the juncture of science, technology, ethics and philosophy (understood in its broadest terms, not the small and insignificant field it has largely become over the last forty years as it lost its emphasis on “how to live”).
For my money, Stanford and MIT are the most interesting and important centers of research and learning in the United States and have the DNA that should keep them in that position for a generation. Stanford has long ago managed to significantly broaden its appeal and interests beyond its original strictly utilitarian purpose. MIT needs to continue to work in that direction.
A lot of young people think MIT is cool. You’re hanging out with the wrong crowd.
From what I can tell, MIT is considered “cool” to attend among those who understand what MIT is. Even among those who don’t really understand what it is, the name recognition of the university is impressive. When you tell someone you went to MIT, you instantly see that effect in their face. Many students believe MIT is unattainable not because of cost, but because of the standards of admission and the reputation of the school, and rightly so. I certainly don’t want to see admission standards decrease, but I would like to see the educational standards of the country and the academic “seriousness” of American students increase such that more American students could see themselves getting an education at MIT if they so desired. That is a much more difficult problem to solve, and it really has to do with the attitudes within the society-at-large. MIT and other universities can do only so much to encourage the concept that education is important. MIT and other technology-focused universities can do only so much to impress upon people how important STEM skills and their development are in an increasingly technology-driven world.
It is a matter of both honor and pride to see MIT topped it all. I Came to USA in September 1963, received the S.M Degree in civil Engineering (Soils Major, in 1965 and then I proceeded to complete my Sc. D in 1965. Much more than the degrees per-se, the depth to which the professor drove me to understand the subject , I do not know how I can thank them I can only humbly say my thanks to all my professors and I hope MIT continues to be the brightest star forever . Rao
The future belongs to MIT and I am eternally grateful for the education I received there and humbled to be part of this exciting community.
Long live MIT!
This is a technology century and appropriately the future belongs to MIT. I am proud of my great education at MIT. Long live MIT!
This is hilarious. For MIT the home of the ultimate climate denier Richard Lindzen to be listed as a top university is absurd. I am all for academic freedom but not for academic lunacy. You are judged by your faculty and Richard Lindzen is not qualified to teach at a community college.
So the opinions of one faculty member are enough to bring down an entire university? I believe you need to rethink your ideas on absurdity!
Ah, the Internet! This site should have a policy of making commenters use their full names.
Agreed.
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