QS and Times Higher Education have introduced 2026 sustainability-focused rankings that assess universities on environmental, social and governance performance. Lund University leads the QS Sustainability ranking, while the University of Manchester overtook Western Sydney University in the THE Impact Ratings.

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 was launched in November 2025, expanding the QS portfolio to evaluate institutions worldwide on sustainability performance [1]. The Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 were released in June 2026, with a detailed report published on 24 June 2026 [3]. Both rankings cover universities across all regions, with notable results for Lund University in Sweden, the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and Western Sydney University in Australia [1][3].

Key organizations behind the new rankings are QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) and Times Higher Education, each publishing a separate list that measures sustainability and social responsibility [1][2]. The rankings were compiled using criteria that assess environmental impact, social impact, and governance (ESG) factors, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [2]. Data collection involved university-reported metrics, third-party audits, and publicly available information, processed through weighted scoring models specific to each ranking [2][4].

New Sustainability Rankings Expand University Evaluation

The QS Sustainability ranking evaluates institutions on three pillars: environmental impact, social impact, and governance [1][4]. In its fourth edition, Lund University was named the world’s most sustainable university, achieving high scores across all three categories [1][4]. The ranking includes over 500 universities, with scores published on the QS website and disseminated through press releases and academic media [1].

THE’s Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 assess how universities contribute to the UN SDGs, using 17 impact metrics that span research, outreach, stewardship, and teaching [2]. The 2026 edition placed the University of Manchester at the top of the overall table, displacing Western Sydney University, which had held the lead in the previous year [3]. The report also highlighted that lower-income nations such as Malaysia are narrowing the performance gap with wealthier countries, indicating broader global engagement with sustainability agendas [3].

Both rankings are positioned as complementary to traditional academic rankings, offering prospective students, faculty, and funders additional data points on institutional responsibility [1][2].

Both rankings are positioned as complementary to traditional academic rankings, offering prospective students, faculty, and funders additional data points on institutional responsibility [1][2]. QS and THE announced that the sustainability rankings will be updated annually, with future editions planned to incorporate emerging ESG indicators and expanded regional coverage [1][2].

Methodology Centers on ESG Criteria and UN Goals

QS’s methodology assigns equal weight to environmental, social, and governance categories, each scored on a scale of 0-100 based on quantitative indicators such as carbon emissions, diversity statistics, and governance transparency [1][4]. Universities submit data through a standardized questionnaire, which QS cross-checks with external datasets including national carbon registries and equity audits [1].

THE’s Impact Ratings employ a multi-dimensional framework that maps university activities to the 17 SDGs. Each metric is normalized to account for institution size and research intensity, then aggregated into a composite score [2]. The 2026 ratings introduced a new “Community Engagement” metric, measuring partnerships with local NGOs and policy bodies [2]. Both rankings require universities to undergo an independent verification process to ensure data integrity [2][4].

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The emphasis on ESG and SDG alignment reflects a broader trend in higher education to embed sustainability into strategic planning, curriculum design, and campus operations [2]. By quantifying these efforts, the rankings aim to provide a transparent benchmark for institutional progress toward global sustainability targets [1][2].

Immediate Impact on Students, Institutions, and Policy Makers

Students reviewing university options now have access to sustainability scores alongside traditional rankings, allowing them to factor environmental and social performance into enrollment decisions [1][3]. Early enrollment data from QS indicates a modest increase in applications to top-ranked sustainable institutions in the 2025-2026 admission cycle [1].

The emphasis on ESG and SDG alignment reflects a broader trend in higher education to embed sustainability into strategic planning, curriculum design, and campus operations [2].

Universities are responding by allocating additional resources to sustainability offices, expanding carbon-reduction initiatives, and reporting on SDG-related outcomes to improve future rankings [2][4]. Several institutions announced new climate-action plans in the weeks following the rankings’ release, citing the need to remain competitive in the emerging sustainability metric space [2].

Policy makers and funding bodies are also referencing the rankings when shaping research grants and public-private partnerships, using the ESG scores as eligibility criteria for sustainability-focused funding streams [3]. The visibility of lower-income countries improving their scores may encourage increased international collaboration and capacity-building programs aimed at closing the sustainability gap [3].

Key Facts

What: QS and THE launched 2026 sustainability rankings that assess universities on ESG and UN SDG criteria.

When: QS ranking announced November 2025; THE Impact Ratings published June 2026.

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Impact: Students can compare sustainability performance; universities are adjusting strategies to improve ESG scores; funders are using rankings to guide sustainability-linked investments.

Impact: Students can compare sustainability performance; universities are adjusting strategies to improve ESG scores; funders are using rankings to guide sustainability-linked investments.