World's 100 best colleges 2014; IIT-B slips to Number 24

With Harvard and Stanford maintaining their ranks at Number One and Two positions respectively, the only four Indian universities that feature in the list appear at lower positions as compared to last year's rankings. Read on for details...

Of the few sectors that remain unaffected by global economic upheavals, education is the most bankable one.

No matter the cost, education is a top priority for parents, especially higher education.

Only those with the best qualifications from the best universities have an edge over others.

The world has become smaller -- no country is too far for a student who wants to study at a top university.

Continuing with its tradition of providing such students with a ready-reckoner of the best global institutes, Youth Incorporated, in partnership with Education Times and Rediff.com, releases the Global University Rankings 2014.

In its third year running, the ranking compares the best universities in the world and lists the Top 100.

The ranking was compiled over a period of months after contacting over 1,300 institutes and 8,000 recruiters known to hire university graduates.

Inputs from current students were considered as well, and their feedback on the quality of education and life in their campuses proved invaluable.

The recruiters were asked for their opinion on the quality of graduates emerging from the institutes.

The ranking not only compares the top universities with their counterparts around the world, but also compares the position of the institute with its previous ranks in similar surveys conducted in 2013 and in 2011-2012.

Compared to last year, there has not been any significant change in the Top 10 universities; Harvard University and Stanford University still retain their rank in the first and second positions respectively.

Once again, the Top 10 is dominated by American institutes, proving yet again the country's formidable stature in the field of world-class education.

Closer home, China retains its lead in Asia with the presence of five institutes in the Top 100, in spite of their ranks slipping.

The four Indian institutes that made it to the list last year have made a comeback this year too, albeit at lower positions.

Though the ranking seems to indicate that Indian institutes are nowhere close to the best in the US and UK, an analysis shows that they are considered the best value for money by students.

But the lack of institutes in the Top 100, apart from the IITs, once again raises the question of why other institutes in the country still haven't managed to fare any better from last year.

Please click NEXT to find out the Top 100 global universities for the year 2014.

Before that let's take a look at India's top four...

Courtesy:YouthIncMag.com
 

Inching up two places from its last year's ranking, India's Delhi University finds a place at Number 97 this year.

Founded in 1922, the public university today has 16 faculties managing 86 academic departments and is spread across 77 colleges and five other recognised institutes in the city.

After making its debut last year ranking at Number 79, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur slips to 86 in the global rankings of 2014.

Located in Uttar Pradesh, it was established in 1959 and prides itself for being one of the country's first IITs.

Although it started with 100 students and a limited faculty, today the residential campus caters to about 2,000 undergraduate and about 1,500 postgraduate students.

They have nine engineering departments, which include industrial and management engineering, environmental engineering and management and nuclear engineering and technology, among others.

Staying put at Number 27 is the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

The premier technical institute has 13 departments and 11 multi-disciplinary centres of research activity, offering over 700 courses every semester, including undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has slipped down five places from last year's rankings and features at Number 24 this year.

It was founded in the year 1958 with funds from the UNESCO.

Currently, the institute has 14 academic departments that offer doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

It enrolls over 6,000 students in its various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes every year.

Click NEXT to find out which global institutes feature in the Top 10...

The prestigious Ivy League university is ranked Number 10.

Established in 1746, the institute was ranked Number 9 last year.

Princeton offers programmes in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering and caters to over 8,000 students annually.

The institute has so far produced 35 Nobel laureates and 17 National Medal of Science winners.

Up next, on Number 9 is another private Ivy league research institute from New York City.

Founded in 1754, Columbia University successfully operates seven international centres namely in Amman, Beijing, Istanbul, Paris, Santiago, Nairobi and Mumbai.

It has an annual enrollment of over 29,000 students across its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Cornell University positioned at Number 8 in 2014 rankings, has moved up two places from last year.

The private Ivy League research institute was founded in 1865 and has a league of achievements to its credit.

Besides being the world's first institute to have awarded a degree in journalism, it also prides itself in awarding the country's first university degree in veterinary medicine, and the first doctorates in electrical and industrial engineering among other achievements.

Cornell, much like its peers has so far produced 41 Nobel laureates, 31 Marshall and 28 Rhodes Scholars.

One of the oldest Ivy League research institutes, Yale maintains seventh place in this year's rankings as well.

Established in 1701, it caters to approximately 12,000 students across its programmes.

Till date, five US Presidents, 19 US Supreme Court Justices, and several foreign heads of state have graduated from here.

Staying put at Number Six is the University of Chicago.

Founded in 1890, it enrols over 15,000 undergraduates and postgraduates every year across a multitude of disciplines and programmes including economics, sociology, physical sciences, law and political sciences.

So far, the university has produced 87 Nobel laureates, 49 Rhodes Scholars and nine Fields Medallists among others.

Rounding off the Top Five is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It was ranked Number Four last year.

Popularly also known as MIT, the private research university was established in the year 1861.

The 168-acre campus is home to five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.

It reports an annual enrolment of over 10,500 students across its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

One of the oldest known institutes of higher learning, UK's University of Oxford features on Number Four, a spot above last year's ranking.

With 38 colleges and six permanent private halls, it has an annual enrolment of over 21,000 students across its colleges.

It is best known for programmes in humanities, social sciences, mathematical, physical, and life sciences.

The University of Pennsylvania climbed four spots from Number Seven in the 2012 rankings to Number Three in 2013, and has maintained its position this year as well.

One of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the country, the University of Pennsylvania was established in the year 1740.

As of 2013, it enrols over 21,000 students annually across its programmes in communication, arts and sciences, medicine, dental medicine, design, engineering and applied sciences, nursing, social policy and practice, veterinary medicine and business management.

The Stanford scored a whooping 99.9 out of 100 and features on Number Two in the latest world university rankings.

The private research institute began in the year 1891.

Spread across a sprawling 8,100 acre, the campus has seven schools imparting courses in humanities, sciences, business, education, engineering, law, and medicine.

It has an annual enrolment of over 15,000 students.

No prizes for guessing. The Harvard University with a perfect 100 has once again clinched the top spot in the world university rankings 2014.

One of the oldest educational institution in the United States, it was established in the year 1636.

Its 210-acre campus offers 46 undergraduate concentrations (majors), 134 graduate programmes and 32 professional degrees and caters to over 21,000 students annually.

While eight US presidents have graduated from this institute, about 75 Nobel Laureates have been part of this institute as students, faculty and staff members.

Click NEXT to check the rest of the rankings...