August 17, 2015
UW holds steady at No. 15 in world university ranking
The University of Washington remained No. 15 on the 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities, conducted by researchers at the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which was released Monday.
The UW again ranked 13th among U.S. universities and fourth among public institutions worldwide. The ranking considers several indicators of academic or research performance, including alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, highly cited researchers, papers published in the journals Nature and Science, papers indexed in major citation indices, and the per capita academic performance of an institution, according to the organization.
“The recognition a global ranking such as this brings to our faculty, students, staff and alumni is gratifying, because they’re the ones having an impact on our world,” said Interim President Ana Mari Cauce. “What’s equally satisfying is for the UW to be recognized as one of the four best public universities on the planet. Our public mission is central to who we are as a university, and the people of Washington and our many friends should feel proud of this honor, which is a reflection of their support for the UW.”
After climbing from No. 16 to 15 in 2014, the UW maintained what remains its highest ranking since the ARWU began releasing them in 2003. The UW has held a position in the world’s top 20 since the inaugural year, but last year’s jump came after a seven-year stay at No. 16.
The UW also remained third best in the world in clinical medicine and pharmacy, and sixth best in the world in life sciences.
Last year, in the weeks following the initial rankings, an “Alternative Ranking” — removing Nobel Prizes and Field Medals that may have been won dozens of years ago from consideration — was released in which the UW landed at No. 10.
