Penn State biology rises to top 10% in 2025 QS World University Rankings
Penn State ranked 76th for biological sciences in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, rising from 85th in 2024 and placing the University in the top 10% worldwide.
“I am really pleased Penn State biology is in the top 10% of programs globally, where it belongs,” said Elizabeth McGraw, head of the Department of Biology. “It is great to see our impactful research and commitment to education be recognized beyond the institution. I congratulate everyone in our department for this shared success.”
The University also showcased its interdisciplinarity, continuing to rank in the top 100 in the world in subject areas that are key strengths in the Eberly College of Science, including natural sciences (astronomy and physics), statistics, math and chemistry.
“This strong showing in the internationally recognized QS annual rankings reaffirms what we already know: Our college is a leader in both research and education,” said Mary Beth Williams, acting dean of the Eberly College of Science and James and Alvina Balog Faculty Fellow in Science. “I continue to be proud of the breadth and impact of our faculty’s scholarly expertise and the collaborative approach they take across our disciplines to truly advance scientific discovery.”
The QS subject rankings are based on academic and employer reputation surveys; research output, sourced from information analytics company Elsevier; and international research network, which examines a university’s sustained international research collaboration.
Overall, Penn State ranked in 46 out of 52 subjects in the rankings, which were released on March 12. The release of the 2025 QS subject rankings follows the June 2024 release of the overall 2025 QS World University Rankings, in which Penn State tied at No. 89 in the world, placing the University in the top 6% worldwide among the more than 1,500 institutions ranked by QS.
The QS rankings are considered one of the three most respected international university ranking systems, along with the rankings compiled by Times Higher Education and the Academic Ranking of World Universities.