Country ranking — 2026 edition
Best Universities in South Korea
Korean higher education is intensely competitive at entry and closely tied to the chaebol recruiting cycle, which the employer reputation indicator reflects.
Seoul National University is ranked first in the 2026 best universities in south korea, with an overall score of 85.7 out of 100. KAIST is second and Yonsei University third. 97 institutions are ranked in this edition.
Published
Outcomes 30%Salary 20%Faculty 15%Selectivity 15%Employers 10%Network 10%
RankInstitution & programmeOverall
- 1
Seoul National University
Seoul
Outcomes87Salary84Faculty88Selectivity92Employers85Network8085.7Score - 2
KAIST
Daejeon
Outcomes86Salary84Faculty88Selectivity91Employers82Network7683.4Score - 3
Yonsei University
Seoul
Outcomes82Salary81Faculty79Selectivity88Employers81Network7779.6Score - 4
Korea University
Seoul
Outcomes82Salary81Faculty78Selectivity88Employers81Network7578.9Score - 5
POSTECH
Pohang
Outcomes81Salary80Faculty85Selectivity89Employers74Network6877.8Score - 6
Sungkyunkwan University
Seoul
Outcomes78Salary78Faculty76Selectivity84Employers76Network7275.2Score - 7
Hanyang University
Seoul
Outcomes79Salary73Faculty73Selectivity77Employers75Network7674.6Score - 8
Kyung Hee University
Seoul
Outcomes71Salary77Faculty72Selectivity79Employers78Network7074.3Score - 9
Ewha Womans University
Seoul
Outcomes70Salary71Faculty71Selectivity74Employers70Network7073.8Score - 10
Sogang University
Seoul
Outcomes69Salary77Faculty76Selectivity73Employers71Network6973.1Score - 11
Chung-Ang University
Seoul
Outcomes70Salary72Faculty71Selectivity70Employers73Network7072.8Score - 12
UNIST
Ulsan
Outcomes73Salary76Faculty69Selectivity75Employers72Network7472.1Score - 13
GIST
Gwangju
Outcomes75Salary76Faculty73Selectivity70Employers72Network6871.6Score - 14
DGIST
Daegu
Outcomes73Salary75Faculty73Selectivity70Employers71Network6971.2Score - 15
Konkuk University
Seoul
Outcomes73Salary67Faculty73Selectivity71Employers68Network6970.5Score - 16
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Seoul
Outcomes68Salary66Faculty70Selectivity67Employers73Network6769.8Score - 17
Sejong University
Seoul
Outcomes66Salary71Faculty66Selectivity66Employers68Network6869.4Score - 18
Dongguk University
Seoul
Outcomes68Salary70Faculty73Selectivity69Employers68Network6768.9Score - 19
Inha University
Incheon
Outcomes69Salary70Faculty71Selectivity69Employers66Network6768.5Score - 20
Ajou University
Suwon
Outcomes65Salary65Faculty64Selectivity67Employers70Network6768.1Score - 21
Kookmin University
Seoul
Outcomes71Salary68Faculty69Selectivity66Employers71Network6567.4Score - 22
Soongsil University
Seoul
Outcomes64Salary70Faculty64Selectivity66Employers69Network7066.9Score - 23
Sookmyung Women's University
Seoul
Outcomes63Salary65Faculty69Selectivity67Employers69Network6466.3Score - 24
Catholic University of Korea
Seoul
Outcomes62Salary67Faculty70Selectivity63Employers67Network6565.9Score - 25
Pusan National University
Busan
Outcomes69Salary67Faculty68Selectivity62Employers68Network6265.6Score - 26
Kyungpook National University
Daegu
Outcomes69Salary67Faculty69Selectivity63Employers68Network6265.3Score - 27
Chonnam National University
Gwangju
Outcomes66Salary68Faculty66Selectivity66Employers62Network6664.6Score - 28
Chungnam National University
Daejeon
Outcomes62Salary63Faculty62Selectivity68Employers68Network6264.2Score - 29
Chungbuk National University
Cheongju
Outcomes66Salary65Faculty62Selectivity67Employers60Network6663.5Score - 30
Jeonbuk National University
Jeonju
Outcomes61Salary64Faculty65Selectivity62Employers63Network6763.0Score - 31
Kangwon National University
Chuncheon
Outcomes62Salary67Faculty60Selectivity64Employers65Network6062.6Score - 32
Gyeongsang National University
Jinju
Outcomes65Salary63Faculty62Selectivity66Employers62Network6061.9Score - 33
Jeju National University
Jeju
Outcomes59Salary63Faculty61Selectivity61Employers61Network6561.6Score - 34
University of Seoul
Seoul
Outcomes65Salary60Faculty62Selectivity59Employers61Network5861.0Score - 35
Incheon National University
Incheon
Outcomes61Salary64Faculty63Selectivity64Employers57Network5660.5Score - 36
Korea Aerospace University
Goyang
Outcomes63Salary60Faculty59Selectivity57Employers56Network5759.7Score - 37
Korea Maritime and Ocean University
Busan
Outcomes57Salary56Faculty55Selectivity56Employers58Network5859.2Score - 38
Seoul National University of Science and Technology
Seoul
Outcomes55Salary55Faculty60Selectivity57Employers56Network5658.6Score - 39
Kumoh National Institute of Technology
Gumi
Outcomes59Salary57Faculty58Selectivity55Employers56Network5458.2Score - 40
Hallym University
Chuncheon
Outcomes54Salary55Faculty58Selectivity59Employers59Network5457.6Score - 41
Dankook University
Yongin
Outcomes59Salary62Faculty61Selectivity59Employers56Network5857.3Score - 42
Myongji University
Seoul
Outcomes61Salary58Faculty54Selectivity55Employers54Network5356.8Score - 43
Gachon University
Seongnam
Outcomes52Salary60Faculty59Selectivity60Employers59Network6056.2Score - 44
Hongik University
Seoul
Outcomes58Salary57Faculty58Selectivity58Employers52Network5355.8Score - 45
Kwangwoon University
Seoul
Outcomes55Salary56Faculty58Selectivity54Employers58Network6055.5Score - 46
Sangmyung University
Seoul
Outcomes54Salary58Faculty55Selectivity59Employers53Network5855.2Score - 47
Hanbat National University
Daejeon
Outcomes57Salary52Faculty56Selectivity56Employers59Network5954.9Score - 48
Pukyong National University
Busan
Outcomes53Salary52Faculty58Selectivity52Employers55Network5554.2Score - 49
Andong National University
Andong
Outcomes53Salary56Faculty54Selectivity51Employers56Network5353.6Score - 50
Changwon National University
Changwon
Outcomes52Salary54Faculty54Selectivity58Employers49Network5053.3Score - 51
Kongju National University
Gongju
Outcomes50Salary55Faculty55Selectivity49Employers54Network5352.9Score - 52
Kunsan National University
Gunsan
Outcomes57Salary54Faculty55Selectivity48Employers48Network5352.1Score - 53
Mokpo National University
Muan
Outcomes55Salary55Faculty49Selectivity52Employers52Network4851.4Score - 54
Sunchon National University
Suncheon
Outcomes51Salary55Faculty49Selectivity49Employers55Network5450.9Score - 55
Korea National University of Education
Cheongju
Outcomes53Salary52Faculty52Selectivity47Employers53Network4650.2Score - 56
Handong Global University
Pohang
Outcomes52Salary53Faculty47Selectivity47Employers48Network5349.6Score - 57
Yeungnam University
Gyeongsan
Outcomes53Salary48Faculty53Selectivity47Employers48Network4948.9Score - 58
Keimyung University
Daegu
Outcomes51Salary51Faculty45Selectivity46Employers53Network5248.3Score - 59
Inje University
Gimhae
Outcomes49Salary49Faculty50Selectivity47Employers46Network4947.8Score - 60
Dong-A University
Busan
Outcomes45Salary45Faculty45Selectivity47Employers48Network4847.4Score - 61
Kyungsung University
Busan
Outcomes49Salary50Faculty46Selectivity46Employers46Network5147.0Score - 62
Silla University
Busan
Outcomes48Salary42Faculty47Selectivity48Employers51Network4246.4Score - 63
Wonkwang University
Iksan
Outcomes45Salary42Faculty44Selectivity50Employers44Network4845.8Score - 64
Chosun University
Gwangju
Outcomes42Salary44Faculty45Selectivity44Employers49Network4945.1Score - 65
Soonchunhyang University
Asan
Outcomes49Salary45Faculty40Selectivity43Employers42Network4444.4Score - 66
Hoseo University
Asan
Outcomes42Salary44Faculty45Selectivity41Employers46Network4344.1Score - 67
Kyonggi University
Suwon
Outcomes46Salary46Faculty45Selectivity39Employers43Network4343.4Score - 68
Anyang University
Anyang
Outcomes40Salary45Faculty43Selectivity42Employers43Network4042.7Score - 69
Daegu University
Gyeongsan
Outcomes42Salary40Faculty42Selectivity44Employers46Network4342.3Score - 70
Daejeon University
Daejeon
Outcomes39Salary39Faculty45Selectivity39Employers38Network3841.5Score - 71
Hanshin University
Osan
Outcomes40Salary41Faculty39Selectivity38Employers46Network4341.2Score - 72
Seoul Women's University
Seoul
Outcomes40Salary46Faculty38Selectivity44Employers39Network4341.2Score - 73
Duksung Women's University
Seoul
Outcomes38Salary44Faculty41Selectivity41Employers43Network3841.2Score - 74
Sungshin Women's University
Seoul
Outcomes40Salary44Faculty43Selectivity42Employers38Network4341.2Score - 75
Korea National University of Arts
Seoul
Outcomes40Salary38Faculty45Selectivity40Employers39Network4441.2Score - 76
Chung-Ang Anseong
Anseong
Outcomes45Salary43Faculty42Selectivity41Employers42Network4141.2Score - 77
Hanyang ERICA
Ansan
Outcomes42Salary45Faculty40Selectivity38Employers43Network4241.2Score - 78
Sungkyul University
Anyang
Outcomes45Salary40Faculty38Selectivity38Employers40Network3841.2Score - 79
Kyungnam University
Changwon
Outcomes38Salary42Faculty44Selectivity44Employers44Network3941.2Score - 80
Halla University
Wonju
Outcomes44Salary42Faculty42Selectivity43Employers38Network3941.2Score - 81
Sahmyook University
Seoul
Outcomes41Salary41Faculty41Selectivity39Employers45Network3841.2Score - 82
Seokyeong University
Seoul
Outcomes42Salary45Faculty40Selectivity41Employers39Network3841.2Score - 83
Sangji University
Wonju
Outcomes44Salary39Faculty38Selectivity41Employers39Network3841.2Score - 84
Woosuk University
Wanju
Outcomes40Salary38Faculty43Selectivity42Employers38Network4441.2Score - 85
Kyungdong University
Wonju
Outcomes45Salary45Faculty38Selectivity40Employers44Network4141.2Score - 86
Far East University
Eumseong
Outcomes39Salary42Faculty45Selectivity44Employers41Network4341.2Score - 87
Semyung University
Jecheon
Outcomes39Salary40Faculty38Selectivity38Employers42Network4141.2Score - 88
Baekseok University
Cheonan
Outcomes38Salary44Faculty44Selectivity40Employers39Network3941.2Score - 89
Namseoul University
Cheonan
Outcomes41Salary41Faculty41Selectivity38Employers38Network4541.2Score - 90
Konyang University
Nonsan
Outcomes40Salary38Faculty38Selectivity44Employers39Network4241.2Score - 91
Joongbu University
Geumsan
Outcomes44Salary43Faculty38Selectivity38Employers39Network4141.2Score - 92
Sunmoon University
Asan
Outcomes38Salary42Faculty38Selectivity43Employers39Network4341.2Score - 93
Cheongju University
Cheongju
Outcomes38Salary38Faculty45Selectivity38Employers41Network4041.2Score - 94
Youngdong University
Yeongdong
Outcomes41Salary44Faculty39Selectivity38Employers39Network4641.2Score - 95
Dongseo University
Busan
Outcomes44Salary43Faculty41Selectivity43Employers38Network4441.2Score - 96
Busan University of Foreign Studies
Busan
Outcomes43Salary39Faculty41Selectivity40Employers39Network3841.2Score - 97
Catholic University of Daegu
Gyeongsan
Outcomes38Salary40Faculty43Selectivity45Employers39Network3841.2Score
South Korea 2026: frequently asked questions
- Which institution is number one in the 2026 south korea ranking?
- Seoul National University, based in Seoul, ranks first with an overall score of 85.7 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?
- 97 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.
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Scored on the composite set out in our methodology. See also all rankings.