3 Nigerian Universities Feature in 2026 QS World Rankings [See Top 10]

Only three Nigerian universities have secured spots in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, released on Thursday by global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)—and none managed to break into the top 1,000.

The universities listed include the University of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (UNILAG), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. Both UI and UNILAG maintained their positions in the 1001–1200 category, consistent with their rankings from the 2025 edition. ABU, which was unranked in 2025, made its debut in the 1201–1400 bracket for 2026.

QS ranks universities worldwide using a comprehensive set of indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research citations, international student diversity, global research partnerships, graduate employability, and sustainability practices.

Out of Nigeria’s 297 recognized universities—according to the National Universities Commission—only three made the global list. This year’s ranking features 1,501 institutions across 106 countries.

Regionally, Nigerian universities continued to trail behind their African counterparts. Egypt led the continent with 20 universities represented, followed by South Africa with 11, and Tunisia with four. Ghana and Morocco each had two universities on the list, while Kenya, Libya, Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia each had one.

The top-performing African institutions were both from South Africa: the University of Cape Town, ranked 150th globally, and the University of the Witwatersrand, placed at 291st.

Top 10 Universities in the 2026 QS World University Rankings:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – United States

2. Imperial College London – United Kingdom

3. Stanford University – United States

4. University of Oxford – United Kingdom

5. Harvard University – United States

6. University of Cambridge – United Kingdom

7. ETH Zurich – Switzerland

8. National University of Singapore (NUS) – Singapore

9. University College London (UCL) – United Kingdom

10. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – United States

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