The University of Namibia (UNAM) no longer ranks among the leading 100 universities globally, according to the QS World University Rankings in the 2026 edition.
UNAM Drops Out of Top 100 in QS World University Rankings, Sparks Debate on Renewed Investment
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has dropped out of the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings for 2026, falling to rank #136. This marks a significant decline compared to its previous rankings where it hovered around 94th–100th place in recent years [2].
The 2026 QS rankings noted that several prominent Latin American universities, including UNAM, the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, dropped out of the top 100, leaving the Universidad de Buenos Aires as the only Latin American university in the top 100 at 84th [1].
The drop likely reflects shifts in the competitive global environment and possibly changes in the key ranking indicators QS uses, which include academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio [4]. Although no explicit specific reasons for UNAM’s ranking decline were detailed in available sources, the ranking framework’s emphasis on research impact (citations) and internationalization suggests that potential lower scores in these areas could be factors.
Despite the drop, UNAM remains the highest-ranked university in Mexico and continues to be a cornerstone of higher education in Latin America. In the 2024 QS rankings, UNAM was listed among the top 100 best universities in the world [3]. The university maintained strong scores in academic reputation (99.2) and employability (97.9) but struggled in areas like international student presence (5.4) and learning experience (47.1).
The decline of UNAM has sparked debate within academic circles about the need for renewed investment in internationalization, innovation, and research infrastructure. The QS World University Rankings evaluate over 1,500 institutions worldwide based on indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, internationalization, research impact, and sustainability [4].
Meanwhile, the QS World University Rankings 2024 list the top 10 best universities in Mexico as follows:
- National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
- Tecnológico de Monterrey
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN)
- Universidad Iberoamericana
- Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLA)
- Universidad de Guadalajara
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL)
- Universidad de Monterrey
- Universidad de Sonora
- Universidad del Estado de México (UEM)
Elsewhere in Mexico, the city of Mazatlán is celebrating its 490th anniversary since its founding.
In other news, three Mexican banks have been identified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as key facilitators in money laundering. Incidents such as the assaults and sexual abuses on Caracol beach in Paraíso, Tabasco, have also been reported.
References: [1] QS World University Rankings 2026 [2] The Guardian, "Mexico's top university drops out of the world's top 100 for first time in 15 years" [3] QS World University Rankings 2024 [4] QS World University Rankings Methodology 2026
The decline in UNAM's ranking might lead to discussions about increased investment in areas like internationalization and research infrastructure to improve its international student presence and learning experience. Despite the decline in the QS World University Rankings, UNAM remains focused on education-and-self-development, aiming to maintain its position as a leader in GDP growth and innovation within Mexico and beyond.
%20no%20longer%20ranks%20among%20the%20leading%20100%20universities%20globally%2C%20according%20to%20the%20QS%20World%20University%20Rankings%20in%20the%202026%20edition.){kind=link}