A new ranking of the world’s top 2,000 universities places Cranfield University in the overall global top 5%. The 2026 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) also ranked Cranfield 8th in the UK for employability – reflecting the university’s close links to industry and practice-based teaching, supported by a 6:1 student to teaching staff ratio, one of the best in the world.
Ranked 54th in the UK overall, Cranfield continues to stand out for the professional success of its graduates with a particularly strong performance in employability, where it is placed in the world’s top 300. 92% of Cranfield’s graduates are in professional employment or further study 15 months post completion of their course (HESA graduate outcomes survey 2024 – 2021/22 cohort).
Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE FREng, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, said: “Our students develop the knowledge, skills and network to succeed in their chosen industries. It’s fantastic to see this recognised in the latest global rankings, with Cranfield performing so strongly for employability.
“Our close collaboration with industry is a real strength, and it means that students are tackling real-world challenges throughout their studies, building highly sought-after capabilities that set them apart and enable them to thrive in their careers.”
The CWUR ranking assesses over 21,000 universities and lists the top 2,000 universities – making it the largest academic ranking of global universities. Institutions are assessed on four factors: education, employability, faculty and research.
