New List of Top Pakistani Universities in QS World University Rankings 2026

ISLAMABAD – QS World University Rankings 2026 is out now, with prestigious institutions of Engineering, Science and Management taking top positions. Several Pakistani Universities also make it to the list, with Quaid-i-Azam University taking top slot.

Pakistan’s growing presence in global higher education remains visible in latest ranking as Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) emerged as nation’s top-ranking institution, followed by NUST and Punjab University.

QS World Rankings 2026 features over 1,500 universities from more than 100 countries, reflect shifting trends in global academia, with notable advancements by institutions in Asia and Europe, even as the United States continues to dominate the top positions.

Pakistani Universities in QS World University Rankings 2026

Rank	University	Overall Score
354	Quaid-i-Azam University	41.3
=371	National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)	40.3
=542	University of the Punjab	30.3
555	Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)	29.7
=654	University of Agriculture, Faisalabad	26.6
=664	COMSATS University Islamabad	26.4
721–730	Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences	n/a
761–770	Government College University, Faisalabad	n/a
801–850	University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore	n/a
901–950	University of Peshawar	n/a
951–1000	The University of Lahore	n/a
1001–1200	Aga Khan University	n/a
1001–1200	University of Karachi	n/a
1201–1400	Bahauddin Zakariya University	n/a
1201–1400	International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIU)	n/a
1201–1400	Riphah International University	n/a
1201–1400	University of Management and Technology	n/a
1401+	The Islamia University of Bahawalpur	n/a

Six Pakistani universities secured places among top 700 universities globally. Quaid‑i‑Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad leads the national chart, ranked in the ~350s, maintaining its position as Pakistan’s highest-ranked university.

National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) holds a rank of approximately 371, reaffirming its status as the country’s premier institution for engineering and applied sciences. University of the Punjab, based in Lahore, ranks around 542, showing a consistent performance in research and regional academic influence. Meanwhile, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), ranked near 555, stands out for its academic and employer reputation, establishing itself as a top-tier institution in business and social sciences.

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, placed around 654, which is internationally recognized for its contributions to agricultural education and innovation. Rounding out the list is COMSATS University Islamabad, ranked near 664, which continues to shine in IT and engineering, having achieved the top national spot in Computer Sciences

With over 30 universities from Pakistan represented in this year’s QS rankings, education experts see this as a positive trajectory for the country. The consistent performance of institutions like QAU, NUST, and COMSATS indicates not only national leadership but also growing recognition on the world stage.