US Universities Earn Top Marks in 2025 QS Rankings
The latest edition of the QS World University Rankings has once again spotlighted the world’s leading institutions for agriculture and forestry, and the results are both familiar and surprising.
As expected, several U.S. universities maintained their stronghold in the top tier, continuing a long tradition of excellence in agricultural education and research. But this year’s rankings also brought attention to rapidly rising international institutions, signaling a shift in the global academic landscape.
Among the standout performers is Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, which retained its position as the top-ranked university in the world for agriculture and forestry. Known for its cutting-edge research and sustainability focus, Wageningen continues to set the global benchmark.
Meanwhile, China Agricultural University made a significant leap, climbing four places to rank fourth globally. It now holds the title of Asia’s top university in the agriculture and forestry category—a refelection of China’s growing investment in agricultural innovation and education.
The 2025 rankings evaluated nearly 500 institutions worldwide, including many specialist universities dedicated to agricultural sciences. The QS methodology considers a range of factors, including: Teaching quality, Research output, Facilities, Sustainability, and Graduate employability
For students, researchers, and employers in the agri-food sector, these rankings offer valuable insight into where the next generation of agricultural leaders is being trained.
As the global demand for sustainable food systems and climate-smart agriculture grows, the spotlight on top-performing universities is more important than ever.
Here is the QS The top ten list (with their ranking from last year in brackets):
- Wageningen University--the Netherlands (#1)
- University of California--Davis (#2)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (#4)
- China Agricultural University
- Cornell University (#3)
- Purdue University (#6)
- ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (not ranked)
- Ghent University, Belgium (#7)
- University of California-Berkeley (#13)
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (#11)
Of course, as noted, it was no surprise to see UC Davis, Cornell, and Purdue, in the top ten, and other US Universities included in the top ranking included:
- Michigan State University
- Iowa State University
- Texas A&M University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of Illinois
- North Carolina State University
- University of Minnesota
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Oregon State University
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Kansas State University
- University of Georgia
- Pennsylvania State University
- Colorado State University
- Washington State University