Cranfield University has strengthened its global position in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 – now ranking in the top 10% of universities worldwide.
Cranfield is in the UK top 50 and the global top 200, ranked 193 overall out of 2,002 institutions. The University’s overall score increased from 76 to 84, reflecting a growing global impact across sustainability research, education and practice.
Compiled by global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the rankings assess universities’ performance across environmental, social and governance criteria.
High scores in environmental impact and education
For Environmental Impact, which assesses research, education, and sustainability strategy and operations, Cranfield is in the global top 100, and 21 in the UK.
In Social Impact, Cranfield’s scoring for Impact of Education rose to 63.6 from 37, highlighting Cranfield’s increased focus on sustainability-driven teaching and real-world impact. For Health and Wellbeing, Cranfield was highly scored at 97.2, reflecting its commitment to promoting the wellbeing of staff, students and society through health initiatives and policies.
Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE FREng, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, said: “These results reflect the real progress we are making in embedding sustainability across our research, education and operations. They demonstrate Cranfield’s growing global impact in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
Cranfield has committed to becoming net zero by 2030, ensuring sustainability remains central to everything the University does.
The full QS Sustainability University Rankings 2026 are available here.
