Southern Cross University is celebrating an 80-place jump in the 2025 QS World University Rankings to achieve its best-ever result.
QS has also honoured the University with its ‘Most Improved – Oceania’ Award which recognises institutions showing improvement in their ranking over a five-year period.
Oceania comprises Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.
The achievement, which coincides with the University’s 30th anniversary, comes just weeks after Southern Cross moved into the top 100 “young universities” in the world after a 70-place jump in a single year.
The University, with campuses in Mid North and Northern NSW and South East Queensland, is now ranked at 576 in the QS World University Rankings, a 200-place jump since 2020.
Southern Cross Vice-Chancellor and President Tyrone Carlin said the University’s new ranking of 576 out of 1503 participating global institutions was testament to the combined efforts of its academics, researchers and staff.
“The highly respected QS rankings consider all aspects of a university’s performance – teaching, research, course profile, student, community and employer considerations,” Professor Carlin said.
“As well as Southern Cross University’s continued excellence in research innovation, we’re meeting global challenges head-on and driving meaningful social and economic impact for the regions we call home and beyond.
“This is delivering on the University’s purpose and values, which are at the heart of all we do and strive to do. Our core strengths in sustainability allow us, as a small regional university, to move among global leaders in research and learning.”
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Spongberg is in Washington DC to receive the ‘Most Improved – Oceania’ Award from QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter during the QS EduData Summit 2024.
Since placing in the QS rankings for the first time in 2018 (801-1000 band), Southern Cross has been on a steady upward trajectory. Five years ago, the University was ranked in the 751-800 band (QS WUR 2020). Last year it reached the 651-660 band (QS WUR 2024).
Last month Southern Cross also moved into the top 100 “young universities” in the world in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings.
These rankings are for universities that are 50 years old or younger. The assessment includes core functions, impact and reputation.
This jump to number 100 was the University’s biggest-ever leap in this ranking and the second-largest single-year jump ever recorded by an Australian university in the young ranking’s history.
Professor Carlin said the results were a strong affirmation of the University’s focus on delivering its vision.
“We have a profound belief that we can deliver world-class education and research right here in our region,” he said.
Other universities of note with a similar placing to Southern Cross include Auckland University of Technology (98), Bond University (101) and Middlesex University (105).
Your can find out more about the QS World University Rankings 2025.
You can also read more about Southern Cross’s placing 100th in the world in the Times Higher Education Young University Ranking 2024.
