Just voted one of the top 10 universities in the world: NYC’s only Ivy League dates back to 1754 & is one of the country’s only schools to still award A+ grades

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Brianna Perry

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  July 9, 2026

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Whether you’re currently enduring the stress of college applications or are just a proud New Yorker who loves bragging rights, this one’s for you: one of New York City’s very own institutions has officially been named one of the absolute best universities on the planet.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report releases its highly anticipated Best Global Universities ranking. Evaluating a massive pool of 2,250 top institutions across 105 countries, the 2026–2027 edition just dropped–and Upper West Side royalty Columbia University locked down the No. 10 spot globally.

Breaking Down the Score

To determine who makes the cut, the ranking evaluates schools using 13 indicators, heavily weighing global research performance, academic publication metrics, and overall international reputation.

Columbia secured its top 10 finish with an impressive Global Score of 85 out of 100.

Notably, the university also ranked as the No. 1 institution in the world for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, alongside top-10 global placements for its Economics, Neuroscience, and Geosciences programs.

More Than Just a High Rank: Columbia’s Local Legacy

While a global top 10 spot is certainly cause for celebration, Columbia has been breaking records right here in Manhattan for centuries. Originally chartered way back in 1754 as King’s College, it holds its crown as the fifth-oldest university in the United States and stands proudly as NYC’s only Ivy League institution.

It’s also a campus of historic firsts and unique traditions:

• Medical Pioneers: Columbia was the very first institution in the United States to grant an official MD degree
• Trailblazing Community: The Columbia Queer Alliance, founded on campus, is recognized as the oldest gay student organization in the entire world
• The Rare A+: Academically, it remains one of the only universities in the country to still award an official A+ grade, which weighs higher than a standard 4.0 GPA
• Global Hub: Roughly 30% of Columbia’s total student body is made up of international students, bringing a massive global perspective right to the Upper West Side

2026-2027 Best Global Universities Ranking: Top 10

1. Harvard University – Massachusetts
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Massachusetts
3. Stanford University – California
4. University of Oxford – United Kingdom
5. University of Cambridge – United Kingdom
6. Tsinghua University – China
7. University of California-Berkeley – California
8. Yale University – Connecticut
9. University College London – United Kingdom
10. Columbia University – New York

To see the full report, here’s U.S. News & World’s 2026-2027 Best Global Universities Ranking.