CMU ranks in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings for a second year

Central Michigan University ranked in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings for the second consecutive year. The QS World University Rankings is an international system that incorporates the research output of universities. The evaluation includes the impact, quality, and amount of research generated by a university.   

Various metrics are used to rank the universities, with citations per faculty accounting for 20% of the QS criteria and participating in international research accounts for 5% of the criteria. Other factors affecting the overall ranking include sustainability and employment outcomes.   

QS World University Rankings is one of three major systems to evaluate universities. Ranking in the QS World University Rankings system places CMU above other universities which remain unranked. Such rankings hold particular importance for international graduate students. Many countries will not send graduate students to universities that are not ranked in one of the three major systems.  

The other two systems are Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking). THE is seen as one of the most prestigious ranking systems. David C. Weindorf, Ph.D., CMU’s Vice President for Research and Innovation, believes now that CMU has ranked for a second year in QS, it has a chance of ranking in THE in future years.  

CMU recently surpassed Western Michigan University in scholarly output. WMU is currently ranked in both QS and THE. Surpassing WMU is another reason why Weindorf believes CMU will soon rank in THE. 

One goal which Weindorf has for CMU is for the university to evolve in the way it views itself. CMU has long had a reputation for excellence in teaching, but he hopes that in the future, it will view itself as a truly comprehensive university – that is, one focused dually on teaching and research excellence. He says, “CMU’s research is unmistakably high in quality. We are addressing society’s grand challenges head on, not only in Michigan, but nationally and internationally as well.”  

This story is brought to you by the  Office of Research and Graduate Studies.