Background on UNAM and its Significance
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has fallen out of the top 100 world universities ranking, dropping from position 94 in the previous edition to 136 in the latest QS World University Rankings 2026. Despite this decline, UNAM remains a leading institution in Mexico and Latin America.
UNAM’s Performance in the Recent Evaluation
In the most recent assessment, UNAM secured first place among Mexican universities and fourth position in the regional context. The QS World University Rankings evaluate over 1,500 universities globally.
Top Latin American Universities
The top five universities in Latin America, according to the ranking, are:
- University of Buenos Aires (UB) – Argentina
- University of São Paulo – Brazil
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) – Chile
- National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) – Mexico
- University of Chile – Chile
- Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores Monterrey (ITESM) – Mexico
- Universidad de los Andes – Colombia
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) – Brazil
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Colombia
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
Global Overview
In the global ranking, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) maintained its top position with a perfect score of 100, followed closely by Imperial College London and Stanford University, which climbed three spots from the previous year.
The top ten universities include:
- University of Oxford
- Harvard University
- Escuela Politécnica Federal de Zurich (ETH)
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- University College London (UCL)
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
The United States and the United Kingdom dominate the top positions, while Asian universities, like the National University of Singapore (NUS), are gaining ground.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the QS World University Rankings? The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication that evaluates universities worldwide based on academic and employer reputation, citations per faculty, and the H-index.
- Why did UNAM drop in rankings? The reasons for the decline are not explicitly mentioned, but factors such as changes in evaluation criteria or performance in those areas could have contributed to the drop.
- What does UNAM’s position in Latin America mean? Despite the global setback, UNAM remains a leading institution in Mexico and Latin America, showcasing its strength and prestige within the region.
- Which countries dominate the global rankings? The United States and the United Kingdom continue to lead in the QS World University Rankings, with multiple universities from these countries occupying top positions.
- Are there any emerging trends in the rankings? Asian universities, particularly the National University of Singapore (NUS), are gaining prominence and climbing in the rankings.
