The latest QS World University Rankings 2026 have just been released, and Università Cattolica continues its upward trajectory that has been steadily progressing for the past decade. The University now ranks 409th globally, marking an impressive climb of 33 positions compared to last year.

This achievement rewards the consistent efforts made in recent years to enhance the University's reputation—already strong within Italy—on the international stage, particularly in the field of research. The most significant improvements were seen in the "Citations per Faculty" indicator, which measures scientific output per academic staff member, with a leap of 101 places. Similarly, the University advanced by 136 positions in the "International Research Network" indicator, which assesses the global reach and collaboration of its research activities.

The highest-ranked indicator for Università Cattolica is "Employer Reputation," where it stands at 311th worldwide. This metric is based on a survey of thousands of professionals across the globe, who are asked to identify the universities that produce the most competent and prepared graduates.

This year, QS evaluated a total of 8,468 universities worldwide, with 1,501 institutions making it into the final rankings (112 more than the previous year), 43 of which are located in Italy.

Further confirmation of the efforts to consolidate and enhance the University’s international reputation is also reflected in two other renowned rankings: Times Higher Education (THE), where Università Cattolica ranks among the top 350 universities worldwide, and US News, where it holds the 341st position globally.