The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has made significant strides in recent years, steadily climbing global university rankings and establishing itself as a respected institution both in Australia and internationally. Here’s an in-depth look at USQ’s ranking performance in 2025, highlighting its strengths, subject-specific achievements, and overall reputation.
Global Rankings Overview
- QS World University Rankings 2025: USQ has risen impressively to 396th worldwide, up from 410th in 2024 and a much lower position in previous years. This places USQ comfortably within the top 2% of universities globally. The jump reflects strong research output, particularly in citations, and a growing international profile.
- Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025: USQ maintains a consistent position within the 351-400 band, marking two consecutive years of stability in this prestigious ranking. THE highlights USQ’s commitment to teaching quality, research environment, and international outlook.
- EduRank 2025: USQ ranks 32nd in Australia and 1041st globally, scoring well across 146 research topics including engineering, computer science, biology, and business.
Subject-Specific Strengths
USQ’s rankings in particular academic fields demonstrate both growth and solid performance:
- Engineering: Mechanical Engineering moved up from the 451-500 band in QS 2024 to 401-450 in 2025, while THE ranks USQ’s engineering programs in the 251-300 range.
- Materials Science: Newly ranked in the 351-400 band by QS, reflecting emerging research strength.
- Computer Science and Information Systems: Ranked within the 751-850 band, showing steady progress.
- Agriculture and Environmental Science: Longstanding strengths, ranked in the 301-350 and 351-400 bands respectively.
- Medicine: Entered rankings for the first time in the 701-850 band.
- Business and Management Studies: Experienced a slight decline from 451-500 to 601-650 in QS rankings.
Research Impact and Reputation
USQ’s rise in rankings is largely driven by its research achievements. The university’s citation impact jumped over 60 places, placing it among the top 150 universities globally for research citations. Its research excellence spans areas such as health, agriculture, regional development, space, and defence.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie highlighted that the rankings reflect USQ’s dedication to world-changing research and meaningful community engagement.
Graduate Outcomes and Employability
USQ graduates boast the highest undergraduate full-time median annual salary in Australia, according to the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey. This strong employability record complements the university’s academic reputation and contributes positively to its rankings.
Summary Table of USQ Rankings
| Ranking Body | 2025 Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #396 | Up from #410 in 2024; top 2% globally |
| Times Higher Education (THE) | #351–400 band | Consistent for 2 years |
| EduRank (Global) | #1041 globally; #32 in Australia | Strong research output and citations |
| QS Mechanical Engineering | #401–450 band | Improved from #451–500 |
| QS Materials Science | #351–400 band | Newly ranked |
| QS Business & Management | #601–650 band | Slight decline |
The University of Southern Queensland has demonstrated remarkable progress in global and national rankings, reflecting its commitment to research excellence, quality teaching, and graduate success. With steady improvements across key subjects and a strong international presence, USQ continues to solidify its reputation as a leading Australian university offering impactful education and research.