The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025 were released today, June 18, 2025, showcasing the universities making the most significant contributions to sustainability and global development.
This year’s rankings evaluated 2,526 institutions from 130 countries and territories, measuring their performance against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Western Sydney University has retained the top position for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting its consistent leadership in sustainability.Asia's growing prominence is evident, with the region accounting for more than half of all ranked universities and leading 10 out of the 17 individual SDG categories.
Institutions from emerging economies also made a strong showing—Indonesia’s Universitas Airlangga entered the top 10 globally. Meanwhile, eight countries, including Botswana, the Maldives, and Estonia, appeared in the rankings for the first time, signaling a broader global commitment to sustainable development in higher education.
THE University Impact Rankings 2025: Check list of top universities here
Here are the leading universities featured in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025, recognised for their outstanding contributions to sustainability and progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. These institutions have demonstrated exceptional commitment to global challenges through impactful research, inclusive policies, and strong community engagement.
Ranks | University Name | Overall score | Region |
1 | Western Sydney University | 98.7 | Australia |
2 | University of Manchester | 98.4 | United Kingdom |
3 | Kyungpook National University (KNU) | 97.8 | South Korea |
4 | Griffith University | 97.7 | Australia |
4 | University of Tasmania | 97.7 | Australia |
6 | Arizona State University (Tempe) | 97.1 | United States |
6 | Queen’s University | 97.1 | Canada |
8 | University of Alberta | 97.0 | Canada |
9 | Aalborg University | 96.9 | Denmark |
9 | Universitas Airlangga | 96.9 | Indonesia |
11 | UNSW Sydney | 96.2 | Australia |