The QS University Rankings 2025 and the Impact of Nobel Laureates on Economics

Imagine stepping into a classroom where the principles that shape global economies are not just taught but are taught by the very minds that developed them. This is the unparalleled advantage offered by universities that dominate the QS World University Rankings, a comprehensive evaluation of higher education institutions globally. These institutions are more than just academic powerhouses; they are the intellectual homes of Nobel Laureates in economics, offering students a unique opportunity to learn directly from those who have profoundly influenced the field. 

The QS World University Rankings are a testament to excellence in higher education, meticulously evaluating universities on diverse criteria such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty to student ratio, research citations, and international faculty and student ratios.

The QS World University Rankings 2025 have been released showcasing the top universities across several metrics. The top 10 universities are:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Imperial College London
3. University of Oxford
4. Harvard University
5. University of Cambridge
6. Stanford University
7. ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
8. National University of Singapore (NUS)
9. University College London (UCL)
10. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

For more detailed information on the rankings and methodology, visit the QS World University Rankings website.

This year, new metrics include sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research networks[i]. However, beyond these metrics lies an extraordinary value: the presence of Nobel awarded economists who are redefining our understanding of complex economic phenomena.

These scholars are not merely figureheads, but they are also often active educators and researchers whose groundbreaking work continues to shape policies and theories worldwide.

For instance, at MIT, students engage with Esther Duflo, whose innovative approaches to alleviating poverty earned her the prize in 2019. Her research in development economics does not just stay within the pages of academic journals but finds its way into the classroom, influencing the next generation of economists. Her co-Laureates Abhijit Banerjee is also at MIT, while Michael Kremer is at the University of Chicago.

Other MIT Laureates include Josh Angrist (2021), Bengt Holmström (2016), Peter Diamond (2010), Robert Merton (1997), Robert Solow (1987), and the late Paul Samuelson (1970). 

Having long retained a position as one of the world's best universities for studying economics, Harvard University boasts an impressive lineup of Nobel Laureates in economics on its faculty. The most recent recipient of the prize, Claudia Goldin was awarded the prize in 2023 for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes. Her win had many impacts: not only is still quite rare to see women awarded the prize in a male-dominated field – she was only the third woman to win to date – she was also the first woman to be a solo recipient. Students studying economics at Harvard, particularly female students, are uniquely positioned as they get a front row seat to an economist who has been exposing the invisible barriers women face in the labor force, while breaking through her own glass ceiling.

Other Harvard Laureates include Oliver Hart (2016), Eric Maskin (2007), and Wassily Leontief (1973). 

While at Harvard in 2012, Alvin Roth Nobel-winning contributions were for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design. Whether at Harvard or Stanford University, where he relocated later that year, his work on market design and matching theory directly benefits students who explore these concepts in real-world applications, such as organ donation systems and, fittingly, school choice algorithms.

Stanford professors Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, were co-awarded the prize in 2020 for their advancements in auction theory, offers students firsthand insights into complex market mechanisms that impact everything from telecommunications to financial markets.

At Stanford University, students also have the opportunity to learn from Guido Imbens, who was co-awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2021. His pioneering work on natural experiments has revolutionized empirical research, enabling economists to draw more accurate causal inferences about real-world issues. Imbens' methodologies are integral to modern economic analysis, providing powerful tools for students to understand complex economic phenomena, giving students a front-row seat to impactful research and its practical applications.

The QS World University Rankings serve as a crucial guide for prospective students, universities, and employers. For students, these rankings highlight institutions where they can receive a world-class education and engage with leading thinkers in economics. Universities leverage these rankings to benchmark their performance, attract global talent, and secure funding. Employers use the rankings to identify universities producing highly skilled graduates.

In essence, the QS World University Rankings are not just about numbers and scores, they are about connecting students with the brightest minds and supporting environments where groundbreaking economic ideas are born. These top-ranked universities are more than academic institutions, they are the crucibles of innovation, where future Nobel Laureates are nurtured, and the next generation of economic leaders is forged.

By choosing a university that excels in these rankings, students do more than secure a prestigious education-they position themselves at the heart of economic thought, learning from the very economists who are shaping the world.