Which institution is number one in the 2026 japan ranking?

University of Tokyo, based in Tokyo, ranks first with an overall score of 91.4 out of 100.

How is this ranking calculated?

Every entry is scored on the same six weighted indicators — Graduate outcomes (30%), Salary uplift (20%), Faculty & research strength (15%), Selectivity (15%), Employer reputation (10%), Cohort & network reach (10%) — each normalised across the table and combined into an overall score out of 100. Nothing is reweighted table by table.

How many institutions are ranked, and how often is the table updated?

98 institutions appear in the 2026 edition. A new edition is published every year on 30 September, with all six indicators re-collected for that edition.

Can an institution pay to appear or move up?

No. No institution pays to be assessed, to appear in a table, or to change its position, and no score is shown to an institution before publication.

Country ranking — 2026 edition

Best Universities in Japan

Japan's national universities dominate research output while the leading private institutions hold exceptional corporate recruiting positions, which the employer indicator captures.

University of Tokyo is ranked first in the 2026 best universities in japan, with an overall score of 91.4 out of 100. Kyoto University is second and Osaka University third. 98 institutions are ranked in this edition.

Published 30 September 2025

Outcomes 30%Salary 20%Faculty 15%Selectivity 15%Employers 10%Network 10%

RankInstitution & programmeOverall

1
University of Tokyo
Tokyo
Outcomes92
Salary88
Faculty95
Selectivity95
Employers92
Network85
91.4
Score
2
Kyoto University
Kyoto
Outcomes89
Salary85
Faculty93
Selectivity93
Employers89
Network81
88.1
Score
3
Osaka University
Osaka
Outcomes84
Salary81
Faculty87
Selectivity87
Employers82
Network76
82.3
Score
4
Tohoku University
Sendai
Outcomes82
Salary79
Faculty86
Selectivity85
Employers80
Network75
80.7
Score
5
Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo
Outcomes83
Salary82
Faculty84
Selectivity85
Employers78
Network72
79.8
Score
6
Nagoya University
Nagoya
Outcomes80
Salary78
Faculty83
Selectivity83
Employers78
Network73
78.2
Score
7
Keio University
Tokyo
Outcomes83
Salary84
Faculty71
Selectivity82
Employers82
Network76
77.5
Score
8
Waseda University
Tokyo
Outcomes82
Salary82
Faculty71
Selectivity81
Employers82
Network79
76.8
Score
9
Kyushu University
Fukuoka
Outcomes72
Salary73
Faculty72
Selectivity75
Employers79
Network74
76.3
Score
10
Hokkaido University
Sapporo
Outcomes72
Salary73
Faculty72
Selectivity71
Employers74
Network73
75.8
Score
11
Hitotsubashi University
Tokyo
Outcomes75
Salary79
Faculty73
Selectivity77
Employers75
Network78
75.1
Score
12
University of Tsukuba
Tsukuba
Outcomes77
Salary76
Faculty73
Selectivity79
Employers71
Network77
74.8
Score
13
Kobe University
Kobe
Outcomes70
Salary75
Faculty78
Selectivity73
Employers77
Network70
74.4
Score
14
Hiroshima University
Hiroshima
Outcomes76
Salary76
Faculty77
Selectivity75
Employers74
Network78
73.9
Score
15
Chiba University
Chiba
Outcomes77
Salary77
Faculty75
Selectivity74
Employers78
Network74
73.2
Score
16
Okayama University
Okayama
Outcomes73
Salary69
Faculty69
Selectivity69
Employers73
Network74
72.7
Score
17
Kanazawa University
Kanazawa
Outcomes76
Salary75
Faculty70
Selectivity73
Employers76
Network72
72.1
Score
18
Niigata University
Niigata
Outcomes68
Salary70
Faculty72
Selectivity73
Employers74
Network75
71.5
Score
19
Kumamoto University
Kumamoto
Outcomes70
Salary74
Faculty73
Selectivity72
Employers73
Network74
70.9
Score
20
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Tokyo
Outcomes68
Salary72
Faculty68
Selectivity75
Employers71
Network74
70.2
Score
21
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Tokyo
Outcomes71
Salary69
Faculty70
Selectivity66
Employers71
Network66
69.7
Score
22
Yokohama National University
Yokohama
Outcomes73
Salary71
Faculty65
Selectivity72
Employers70
Network67
69.4
Score
23
Nagasaki University
Nagasaki
Outcomes68
Salary67
Faculty66
Selectivity71
Employers72
Network69
69.1
Score
24
Gifu University
Gifu
Outcomes68
Salary66
Faculty73
Selectivity65
Employers67
Network67
68.4
Score
25
Shinshu University
Matsumoto
Outcomes65
Salary63
Faculty71
Selectivity70
Employers70
Network67
67.7
Score
26
Tokushima University
Tokushima
Outcomes67
Salary71
Faculty71
Selectivity67
Employers66
Network65
67.3
Score
27
Ehime University
Matsuyama
Outcomes62
Salary62
Faculty67
Selectivity65
Employers68
Network69
66.6
Score
28
Kagoshima University
Kagoshima
Outcomes64
Salary63
Faculty69
Selectivity65
Employers64
Network67
66.1
Score
29
Yamaguchi University
Yamaguchi
Outcomes64
Salary62
Faculty69
Selectivity64
Employers62
Network65
65.5
Score
30
Mie University
Tsu
Outcomes66
Salary67
Faculty67
Selectivity65
Employers62
Network62
65.1
Score
31
Shizuoka University
Shizuoka
Outcomes63
Salary60
Faculty61
Selectivity62
Employers63
Network62
64.4
Score
32
Saitama University
Saitama
Outcomes65
Salary60
Faculty67
Selectivity62
Employers68
Network62
64.0
Score
33
Utsunomiya University
Utsunomiya
Outcomes67
Salary65
Faculty61
Selectivity67
Employers61
Network66
63.3
Score
34
Gunma University
Maebashi
Outcomes63
Salary65
Faculty63
Selectivity58
Employers66
Network61
62.9
Score
35
Ibaraki University
Mito
Outcomes59
Salary65
Faculty58
Selectivity63
Employers64
Network62
62.2
Score
36
Yamagata University
Yamagata
Outcomes64
Salary63
Faculty60
Selectivity57
Employers66
Network62
61.6
Score
37
Iwate University
Morioka
Outcomes57
Salary61
Faculty57
Selectivity65
Employers57
Network62
61.1
Score
38
Hirosaki University
Hirosaki
Outcomes59
Salary56
Faculty58
Selectivity61
Employers58
Network64
60.6
Score
39
Akita University
Akita
Outcomes58
Salary59
Faculty57
Selectivity63
Employers60
Network64
59.9
Score
40
Fukushima University
Fukushima
Outcomes56
Salary58
Faculty63
Selectivity59
Employers57
Network63
59.4
Score
41
Toyama University
Toyama
Outcomes55
Salary63
Faculty55
Selectivity57
Employers59
Network61
58.7
Score
42
Fukui University
Fukui
Outcomes57
Salary60
Faculty58
Selectivity55
Employers60
Network57
58.0
Score
43
Yamanashi University
Kofu
Outcomes54
Salary61
Faculty55
Selectivity58
Employers56
Network61
57.3
Score
44
Shiga University
Hikone
Outcomes60
Salary53
Faculty60
Selectivity59
Employers57
Network59
56.6
Score
45
Nara Women's University
Nara
Outcomes58
Salary54
Faculty54
Selectivity53
Employers54
Network59
55.9
Score
46
Ochanomizu University
Tokyo
Outcomes59
Salary53
Faculty59
Selectivity58
Employers57
Network58
55.1
Score
47
Nara Institute of Science and Technology
Ikoma
Outcomes54
Salary52
Faculty52
Selectivity59
Employers51
Network52
54.7
Score
48
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Nomi
Outcomes55
Salary52
Faculty56
Selectivity54
Employers57
Network52
54.3
Score
49
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
Onna
Outcomes52
Salary54
Faculty57
Selectivity54
Employers58
Network55
53.9
Score
50
Sophia University
Tokyo
Outcomes51
Salary57
Faculty57
Selectivity51
Employers56
Network52
53.5
Score
51
Meiji University
Tokyo
Outcomes55
Salary57
Faculty49
Selectivity51
Employers54
Network50
52.8
Score
52
Rikkyo University
Tokyo
Outcomes51
Salary52
Faculty50
Selectivity54
Employers52
Network48
52.2
Score
53
Chuo University
Tokyo
Outcomes56
Salary56
Faculty50
Selectivity54
Employers49
Network52
51.9
Score
54
Hosei University
Tokyo
Outcomes53
Salary50
Faculty50
Selectivity47
Employers47
Network51
51.4
Score
55
Aoyama Gakuin University
Tokyo
Outcomes47
Salary52
Faculty53
Selectivity47
Employers55
Network52
50.9
Score
56
Gakushuin University
Tokyo
Outcomes54
Salary54
Faculty50
Selectivity51
Employers53
Network50
50.3
Score
57
Doshisha University
Kyoto
Outcomes49
Salary53
Faculty52
Selectivity53
Employers47
Network51
49.5
Score
58
Ritsumeikan University
Kyoto
Outcomes54
Salary49
Faculty51
Selectivity47
Employers52
Network47
49.2
Score
59
Kansai University
Osaka
Outcomes46
Salary47
Faculty48
Selectivity48
Employers52
Network44
48.5
Score
60
Kwansei Gakuin University
Nishinomiya
Outcomes45
Salary48
Faculty45
Selectivity51
Employers47
Network52
47.9
Score
61
Nanzan University
Nagoya
Outcomes46
Salary44
Faculty47
Selectivity51
Employers45
Network48
47.2
Score
62
Kindai University
Osaka
Outcomes49
Salary48
Faculty43
Selectivity46
Employers46
Network50
46.4
Score
63
Tokai University
Tokyo
Outcomes48
Salary48
Faculty45
Selectivity45
Employers46
Network46
46.0
Score
64
Nihon University
Tokyo
Outcomes50
Salary46
Faculty44
Selectivity49
Employers42
Network48
45.7
Score
65
Toyo University
Tokyo
Outcomes49
Salary42
Faculty47
Selectivity50
Employers43
Network46
45.2
Score
66
Komazawa University
Tokyo
Outcomes44
Salary48
Faculty47
Selectivity49
Employers42
Network41
44.8
Score
67
Senshu University
Tokyo
Outcomes45
Salary48
Faculty45
Selectivity45
Employers47
Network48
44.3
Score
68
Musashi University
Tokyo
Outcomes47
Salary42
Faculty47
Selectivity46
Employers41
Network45
43.6
Score
69
Seikei University
Tokyo
Outcomes40
Salary46
Faculty40
Selectivity43
Employers40
Network41
43.1
Score
70
Seijo University
Tokyo
Outcomes44
Salary42
Faculty44
Selectivity43
Employers42
Network42
42.8
Score
71
Tokyo University of Science
Tokyo
Outcomes46
Salary46
Faculty40
Selectivity42
Employers44
Network39
42.4
Score
72
Shibaura Institute of Technology
Tokyo
Outcomes39
Salary40
Faculty45
Selectivity46
Employers43
Network45
41.7
Score
73
Kogakuin University
Tokyo
Outcomes44
Salary39
Faculty45
Selectivity39
Employers39
Network39
41.2
Score
74
Tokyo Denki University
Tokyo
Outcomes43
Salary43
Faculty44
Selectivity41
Employers41
Network43
41.2
Score
75
Osaka Metropolitan University
Osaka
Outcomes45
Salary41
Faculty40
Selectivity38
Employers39
Network38
41.2
Score
76
Nagoya Institute of Technology
Nagoya
Outcomes40
Salary44
Faculty43
Selectivity38
Employers43
Network43
41.2
Score
77
Kyoto Institute of Technology
Kyoto
Outcomes38
Salary43
Faculty38
Selectivity41
Employers40
Network39
41.2
Score
78
Kyushu Institute of Technology
Kitakyushu
Outcomes46
Salary40
Faculty45
Selectivity38
Employers40
Network40
41.2
Score
79
Muroran Institute of Technology
Muroran
Outcomes44
Salary40
Faculty38
Selectivity43
Employers38
Network38
41.2
Score
80
Nagaoka University of Technology
Nagaoka
Outcomes40
Salary45
Faculty46
Selectivity45
Employers41
Network40
41.2
Score
81
Toyohashi University of Technology
Toyohashi
Outcomes42
Salary39
Faculty39
Selectivity41
Employers42
Network43
41.2
Score
82
Yamaguchi Prefectural University
Yamaguchi
Outcomes38
Salary44
Faculty45
Selectivity45
Employers44
Network45
41.2
Score
83
Hyogo Prefectural University
Kobe
Outcomes44
Salary44
Faculty39
Selectivity39
Employers38
Network45
41.2
Score
84
Aichi Prefectural University
Nagakute
Outcomes38
Salary42
Faculty39
Selectivity41
Employers39
Network45
41.2
Score
85
Shiga Prefectural University
Hikone
Outcomes42
Salary40
Faculty40
Selectivity38
Employers41
Network43
41.2
Score
86
Kyoto Prefectural University
Kyoto
Outcomes41
Salary42
Faculty38
Selectivity39
Employers43
Network42
41.2
Score
87
Osaka Kyoiku University
Kashiwara
Outcomes40
Salary45
Faculty44
Selectivity44
Employers38
Network43
41.2
Score
88
Tokyo Gakugei University
Tokyo
Outcomes40
Salary43
Faculty41
Selectivity41
Employers45
Network38
41.2
Score
89
Waseda Global
Tokyo
Outcomes43
Salary44
Faculty42
Selectivity42
Employers46
Network45
41.2
Score
90
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Beppu
Outcomes45
Salary43
Faculty42
Selectivity42
Employers44
Network44
41.2
Score
91
International Christian University
Tokyo
Outcomes39
Salary41
Faculty43
Selectivity38
Employers45
Network41
41.2
Score
92
Akita International University
Akita
Outcomes43
Salary38
Faculty38
Selectivity42
Employers41
Network41
41.2
Score
93
Soka University
Tokyo
Outcomes38
Salary38
Faculty44
Selectivity45
Employers38
Network44
41.2
Score
94
Kanazawa Institute of Technology
Nonoichi
Outcomes44
Salary40
Faculty44
Selectivity43
Employers46
Network42
41.2
Score
95
Fukuoka University
Fukuoka
Outcomes40
Salary39
Faculty42
Selectivity41
Employers42
Network45
41.2
Score
96
Setsunan University
Neyagawa
Outcomes44
Salary41
Faculty43
Selectivity39
Employers45
Network42
41.2
Score
97
Konan University
Kobe
Outcomes45
Salary46
Faculty40
Selectivity43
Employers45
Network45
41.2
Score
98
Otaru University of Commerce
Otaru
Outcomes45
Salary38
Faculty43
Selectivity38
Employers38
Network44
41.2
Score

Japan 2026: frequently asked questions

Which institution is number one in the 2026 japan ranking?: University of Tokyo, based in Tokyo, ranks first with an overall score of 91.4 out of 100.
How is this ranking calculated?: Every entry is scored on the same six weighted indicators — Graduate outcomes (30%), Salary uplift (20%), Faculty & research strength (15%), Selectivity (15%), Employer reputation (10%), Cohort & network reach (10%) — each normalised across the table and combined into an overall score out of 100. Nothing is reweighted table by table.
How many institutions are ranked, and how often is the table updated?: 98 institutions appear in the 2026 edition. A new edition is published every year on 30 September, with all six indicators re-collected for that edition.
Can an institution pay to appear or move up?: No. No institution pays to be assessed, to appear in a table, or to change its position, and no score is shown to an institution before publication.

Related rankings

Scored on the composite set out in our methodology. See also all rankings.

Best Universities in Japan

University of Tokyo

Kyoto University

Osaka University

Tohoku University

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Nagoya University

Keio University

Waseda University

Kyushu University

Hokkaido University

Hitotsubashi University

University of Tsukuba

Kobe University

Hiroshima University

Chiba University

Okayama University

Kanazawa University

Niigata University

Kumamoto University

Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Yokohama National University

Nagasaki University

Gifu University

Shinshu University

Tokushima University

Ehime University

Kagoshima University

Yamaguchi University

Mie University

Shizuoka University

Saitama University

Utsunomiya University

Gunma University

Ibaraki University

Yamagata University

Iwate University

Hirosaki University

Akita University

Fukushima University

Toyama University

Fukui University

Yamanashi University

Shiga University

Nara Women's University

Ochanomizu University

Nara Institute of Science and Technology

Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

Sophia University

Meiji University

Rikkyo University

Chuo University

Hosei University

Aoyama Gakuin University

Gakushuin University

Doshisha University

Ritsumeikan University

Kansai University

Kwansei Gakuin University

Nanzan University

Kindai University

Tokai University

Nihon University

Toyo University

Komazawa University

Senshu University

Musashi University

Seikei University

Seijo University

Tokyo University of Science

Shibaura Institute of Technology

Kogakuin University

Tokyo Denki University

Osaka Metropolitan University

Nagoya Institute of Technology

Kyoto Institute of Technology

Kyushu Institute of Technology

Muroran Institute of Technology