UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State ranks in the top 50 in 19 subject area rankings and in the top 100 in the world in an additional 13 subjects, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), which released its 2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) on Nov. 11.
According to its website, ARWU evaluates the performance of world universities in relevant subjects, using a number of metrics, including research output, research influence, international collaboration, research quality and international academic awards.
The 2024 GRAS contains rankings of universities in 55 subjects across the broad categories of Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences and Social Sciences. Penn State was ranked in the top 100 in 32 of these categories.
More than 1,900 universities across 96 countries and regions are listed in this year’s rankings.
Penn State ranked in the top 50 of the following 19 subject areas:
- Communication (2)
- Political Sciences (10)
- Management (12)
- Sociology (12)
- Materials Science and Engineering (13)
- Business Administration (14)
- Education (16)
- Statistics (18)
- Atmospheric Science (19)
- Law (19)
- Hospitality & Tourism Management (24)
- Mining & Mineral Engineering (26)
- Psychology (27)
- Finance (39)
- Energy Science & Engineering (40)
- Earth Sciences (43)
- Physics (46)
- Metallurgical Engineering (47)
- Aerospace Engineering (49)
In addition, the University ranked in the top 100 in 13 additional subject areas, including:
- Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Economics
- Geography
- Library & Information Science
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
- Public Administration
- Water Resources
“The breadth and depth of Penn State’s academic programs are world-renowned due to the focus on excellence by our faculty, staff and students,” said Sabine Klahr, interim vice provost for Penn State Global. “These rankings reflect the University’s global focus and interdisciplinary efforts, and I am excited that this work around our campuses is reflected in these rankings.”
ARWU began to publish world university rankings by academic subjects in 2009, and also are known as the Shanghai Rankings, as the organization is based in Shanghai, China.
For a full view of Penn State’s profile on ARWU, visit the University's institution page.