Each year, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) sets the gold standard for academic excellence, spotlighting institutions at the cutting edge of innovation and shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
SAF is proud to announce that in the recently unveiled 2025 top-ranked universities, over 20 of its partner schools have earned spots in the prestigious top 100. This means around one-third of the world’s best universities are part of the SAF network, reflecting its unwavering commitment to providing top-tier education and life-changing study experiences at the highest level.
Among these esteemed institutions are those sitting at the very peak of global academia, such as the University of Oxford, which has maintained its rank as the world’s #1 university for a record nine consecutive years. Not far behind are other academic giants like Harvard University, rising from last year’s #4 to crack the top three this year, and the University of Cambridge, a stalwart in the rankings, holding strong at #5.
Representing the academic strength of America's West Coast, the University of California, Berkeley – a long-time SAF partner and student favorite – continues to shine, climbing to #8 in the 2025 THE rankings.
Ivy League institutions continued their strong showing this year, with the University of Pennsylvania rising to #14, while Columbia University and Cornell University secured spots at #18 and #20, respectively.
THE’s methodology evaluates institutions across five key categories: teaching (29.5%), research environment (29%), research quality (30%), international outlook (7.5%), and industry-academia collaboration (4%).
SAF partner universities in 2025 THE Top 100:
1 | |
Harvard University | 3 |
5 | |
8 | |
14 | |
16 | |
18 (tied) | |
18 (tied) | |
20 | |
21 | |
22 | |
25 | |
29 | |
34 | |
50 | |
53 | |
58 | |
62 | |
67 | |
76 | |
77 | |
78 | |
83 | |
87 (tied) |
Meanwhile, US Today, another highly regarded ranking system, has released its 2025 list of the best U.S. colleges, and SAF is thrilled to announce that seven partner universities made it into the prestigious Top 25. Among the top performers are well-known names like Harvard, Berkeley, Columbia, Cornell, and UPenn, alongside the impressive Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #6, and UCLA, securing the #15 spot.
SAF partner universities in the US Today Top 25:
Harvard University | 3 |
6 | |
10 | |
11 | |
13 | |
15 | |
17 |
Congratulations to all the universities that made the list! SAF is proud to offer world-class international study experiences, connecting bright students to top institutions around the globe. Through innovative partnerships and programs, SAF bridges the gap between continents and cultures. If you're ready to explore opportunities at some of the finest academic institutions worldwide, reach out to an SAF advisor today.
