Quacquarelli Symonds Rankings
The British university assessment institution Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) began independently publishing university rankings in 2010. It is considered one of the three major rankings, and compared to other rankings focuses on academic reputation (evaluations by academics of the best quality of research being produced at universities in their specific subjects) and employer reputation (evaluations by employers of the best quality of graduates produced). In addition, in order to receive high evaluation scores from international researchers and to rank in the top, universities must be globally recognized and must conduct world-class research. QS Rankings include World University Rankings and Asia University Rankings, as well as QS World University Rankings by Subject and QS Graduate Employability Rankings.
QS World University Rankings®
Ritsumeikan University has been ranked 641-650th in the QS World University Rankings® published in June 2024. Among Japanese private universities in the Ranking, Ritsumeikan University has been placed third. In terms of the ranking by evaluation indicator, the "Employer Reputation" is the most highly rated evaluation indicator for the University, ranked 148th in the world (12th in Japan), followed by “Sustainability" at 371st in the world (14th in Japan) and “Proportion of International Faculty" at 505th in the world (fourth in Japan). The University has been evaluated higher in these three indicators than in the other indicators.
QS World University Rankings®（announced in June 2024）
（Up to 1000）
| Rank (Japan) | University (*Private University) | Rank (World) |
|---|---|---|
| 1位 | The University of Tokyo | 32位 |
| 2位 | Kyoto University | 50位 |
| 3位 | Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) | 84位 |
| 4位 | Osaka University | 86位 |
| 5位 | Tohoku University | 107位 |
| 6位 | Nagoya University | 152位 |
| 7位 | Kyushu University | 167位 |
| 8位 | Hokkaido University | 173位 |
| 9位 | Waseda University | 181位 |
| 10位 | Keio University | 188位 |
| 11位 | University of Tsukuba | 377位 |
| 12位 | Kobe University | 465位 |
| 13位 | Hiroshima University | 474位 |
| 14位 | Hitotsubashi University | 539位 |
| 15位 | Ritsumeikan University | 641-650位 |
| 16位 | Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) | 661-670位 |
| 17位 | Tokyo University of Science | 751-760位 |
| 18位 | Chiba University | 771-780位 |
| 19位 | Nagasaki University | 851-900位 |
| Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology | ||
| Okayama University | ||
| 22位 | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University | 901-950位 |
| Kanazawa University | ||
| Osaka Metropolitan University | ||
| Yokohama City University | ||
| 26位 | Kumamoto University | 951-1000位 |
| Niigata University | ||
| Sophia University |
QS Asia University Rankings
Ritsumeikan University ranked 144th in the QS Asia University Rankings published in November 2024.
The University is evaluated quite highly, placed at the top among private universities in western Japan and 3rd in those in Japan nationwide.
The QS World University Rankings and the QS Asia University Rankings have different criteria and weightings. In the Asia University Rankings, Ritsumeikan University obtains higher evaluation than in the World University Ranking due to the increased weighting of "Employer Reputation", in which the University demonstrates its strengths, as well as the additional indicator "Proportion of Outbound Exchange Students" .
QS Asia University Rankings（announced in November 2024）
（Up to 200）
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private Universities) | Rank (Asia) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 21 |
| 2 | Kyoto University | 23 |
| 3 | Tohoku University | 25 |
| 4 | Tokyo Institute of Technology | 30 |
| 5 | Nagoya University | 32 |
| Osaka University | ||
| 7 | Kyushu University | 34 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 35 |
| 9 | Keio University | 48 |
| 10 | Waseda University | 51 |
| 11 | University of Tsukuba | 63 |
| 12 | Kobe University | 76 |
| 13 | Hiroshima University | 96 |
| 14 | Hitotsubashi University | 143 |
| 15 | Ritsumeikan University | 144 |
| 16 | Chiba University | 175 |
| Tokyo University of Science | ||
| 18 | Tokyo Medical and Dental University | 177 |
| 19 | Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology | 192 |
QS World University Rankings by Subject
Ritsumeikan University has been ranked for two broad subject areas and ten narrow subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject published in March 2025. 1,747 universities worldwide have been scrutinized across 55 narrow subjects in five broad subject areas for the ranking. Universities must demonstrate outstanding research outcomes and reputation in each subject to be placed in the ranking; therefore, earning a position in the ranking even for one subject is not easy. The number of narrow subjects for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked is ten, which is the third highest among Japanese private universities.
In addition, four narrow subjects have been ranked in the top 200 globally, including "Classics & Ancient History," which has been ranked in the top 50.
Narrow Subjects in the Ranking
Methodology
*A variable approach to the weightings of five key assessment components for the different subjects has been adopted.
Broad subject areas for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked
| Broad subject areas | National Rank | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Humanities | 8 | 291 |
| Social Sciences & Management | 13 | 501-550 |
Narrow subjects for which Ritsumeikan University has been ranked
| Narrow subjects | National Rank | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Classics & Ancient History | 3 | 45 |
| Philosophy | 4 | 151-200 |
| Archaeology | 6 | 151-200 |
| Politics & International Studies | 5 | 151-200 |
| Geography | 6 | 201-250 |
| Modern Languages | 13 | 251-300 |
| Economics & Econometrics | 12 | 401-450 |
| Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering | 13 | 451-500 |
| Computer Science & Information Systems | 13 | 501-550 |
| Business & Management Studies | 11 | 551-600 |
Internal Reports
QS Graduate Employability Rankings
Ritsumeikan University ranked 201-250th in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings announced in September 2021. This ranking is designed to evaluate the employment support programs at universities and the employability of graduates. Only the top 550 universities are ranked.
Only six private Japanese universities were eligible for ranking, with Ritsumeikan University being the only one in western Japan (Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu). In terms of rank by category, "Employer - Student Connections" was ranked the highest, coming in 44th in the world followed by "Graduate Employment Rate", which ranked 96th, demonstrating the university's world-class career support.
QS Graduate Employability Rankings (announced in September 2021)
| Rank (Japan) | University (* Private Universities) | Rank (Overall) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tokyo | 25 |
| 2 | Waseda University | 37 |
| 3 | Kyoto University | 52 |
| 4 | Keio University | 56 |
| 5 | Tokyo Institute of Technology | 67 |
| 6 | Osaka University | 76 |
| 7 | Nagoya University | 92 |
| 8 | Hokkaido University | 131 - 140 |
| Kyushu University | ||
| 10 | Hitotsubashi University | 151 - 160 |
| Tokyo University of Science | ||
| 12 | University of Tsukuba | 191 - 200 |
| 13 | Hiroshima University | 201 - 250 |
| Ritsumeikan University | ||
| 15 | Kanazawa University | 251 - 300 |
| 16 | Chiba University | 301 - 500 |
| Kobe University | ||
| Osaka Prefecture University | ||
| Tokai University | ||
| Tokai University | ||
| Yokohama National University | ||
| 22 | Sophia University | 501＋ |
Internal Reports
QS Stars Rating System
The QS Stars Rating System is an international auditing service that evaluates universities, giving them from one to five stars in categories such as "Teaching", "Employability", "Research", "Internationalization", "Facilities", "Innovation", and "Inclusiveness", based on independent QS criteria.
The ratings provide a more accurate assessment and broader understanding of universities that cannot be measured by university rankings.
Ritsumeikan University was the first university in Japan to be evaluated using QS Stars in November 2018.
Teaching
Employability
Facilities
Innovation
Internationalization
Internal Reports