Australian Catholic University sits at #851-900 in QS World University Rankings 2027 and #324 in the Collegedunia Study Abroad Global Ranking 2026, with nursing as its single strongest discipline at #31 globally in ARWU 2025.

  • QS World University Rankings 2027: #851-900 globally
  • Collegedunia Study Abroad Ranking 2026: #324 globally, #25 in Australia
  • THE World University Rankings 2026: #401-500 globally
  • U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027: #320 globally

Note for Indian applicants: ACU’s rank reads differently on every body, with QS placing it at #851-900 while U.S. News slots it at #320 and Collegedunia Study Abroad at #324. The gap between QS and Collegedunia Study Abroad reflects strong research output in nursing, education and theology against a smaller employer-reputation pool than Group of Eight peers. For an Indian applicant, the decision-relevant signal is the subject rank rather than the headline number, with five disciplines sitting inside the global top 175.

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Australian Catholic University Overall Rankings 2026

Three of five major bodies place Australian Catholic University inside the global top 500, while QS keeps it outside the top 800, the widest single-body gap in its overall data set. Collegedunia Study Abroad and U.S. News align closely, both naming ACU inside the top 360 worldwide.

Ranking Body and Edition Rank
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 #324
U.S. News Best Global Universities 2026-2027 #320
THE World University Rankings 2026 #401-500
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking) 2025 #601-700
QS World University Rankings 2027 #851-900

Australian Catholic University QS World University Rankings 2027

Australian Catholic University ranks #851-900 in QS World University Rankings 2027 and #32 of 35 Australian universities ranked by QS, holding the same band it occupied in the 2026 edition. QS judges universities mainly on academic reputation, employer surveys and research citations.

ACU’s 5-year QS path is volatile rather than directional, with one dip and one recovery inside the band. The university climbed from #801-1000 in 2023 to #801-850 in 2024, slipped to #901-950 in 2025, then recovered to its current #851-900 band across the 2026 and 2027 editions.

Year Australian Catholic University QS World Rank
2027 #851-900
2026 #851
2025 #901-950
2024 #801-850
2023 #801-1000

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Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of Australian Catholic University

On Collegedunia Study Abroad’s research-weighted methodology, ACU jumps roughly 527 places ahead of its QS position, landing at #324 of 824 universities globally and #25 of 46 in Australia for 2026. The methodology weights research output, subject specialism and Indian student fit, three areas where ACU outperforms its QS overall band.

Category Collegedunia Rank
Global Ranking 2026 #324 of 824
Australia 2026 #25 of 46

Australian Catholic University Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2026

At THE, ACU’s research output earns it a #401-500 placement in THE World University Rankings 2026, the latest edition released in October 2025. THE ranks universities mainly on teaching quality, research citations, research output and international outlook.

THE Ranking Edition Rank
THE World University Rankings 2026 #401-500

Australian Catholic University ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings

ACU spent three editions inside the #501-600 band before slipping to #601-700 in 2024, where it has stayed for two consecutive editions through ARWU 2025. ARWU weights research papers in top journals, citations and faculty awards.

Year Australian Catholic University ARWU Rank
2025 #601-700
2024 #601-700
2023 #501-600
2022 #501-600
2021 #501-600

Australian Catholic University U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026

Australian Catholic University comes in at #320 globally in U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026. U.S. News uses 13 indicators weighted toward research reputation, citation impact and publications.

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Australian Catholic University Subject Rankings

The Australian Catholic University subject rankings are where the institution breaks into the global top 100. Theology and nursing each carry top-50 placements across QS and ARWU, with education and psychology close behind, while general business and social sciences sit in the mid-tier 401-500 band.

Key insight

  • Theology #18 globally (QS 2026): ACU’s highest-ever placement on any QS list.
  • Nursing #31 globally (ARWU 2025): Top-50 worldwide and top-10 in Australia, the strongest professional discipline by research weight.
  • Education #151-175 (THE Subject 2026): Strong subject placement for Master of Education aspirants from India.
  • Psychology #101-125 (THE Subject 2026): Sits inside the global top 125, well ahead of ACU’s #851-900 QS overall rank.

Australian Catholic University QS Subject Rankings 2026

Two QS subjects break into the global top 100, both rooted in ACU’s faith-based academic identity.

Subject Global Rank
Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies #18
Philosophy #51-100

Australian Catholic University THE Subject Rankings 2026

Five of ACU’s seven THE-ranked subjects place inside the global top 300, well ahead of its #401-500 overall THE band.

Subject Global Rank
Psychology #101-125
Education Studies #151-175
Life Sciences #201-250
Arts and Humanities #251-300
Medical and Health #251-300
Business and Economics #401-500
Social Sciences #401-500

Australian Catholic University ARWU Subject Rankings (GRAS 2025)

Three ARWU subjects land inside the global top 75, with nursing carrying the single highest subject placement on any global body ACU appears on.

Subject Global Rank
Nursing #31
Education #51-75
Psychology #51-75
Public Health #201-300
Clinical Medicine #301-400

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The Australian Catholic University rankings pattern is a textbook case of overall position understating subject strength: five disciplines sit inside the global top 175 even though the QS World rank holds at #851-900, and the 527-position spread between Collegedunia Study Abroad #324 and QS is the widest in its Australian peer set. For Indian applicants in nursing, education, theology, psychology and physiotherapy, the subject ranks are the deciding signal rather than the headline number. Use those subject placements as the lens for choosing between ACU and a higher-ranked Group of Eight university where the chosen discipline may rank lower.

Australian Catholic University Ranking FAQs

Ques. What is the QS ranking of Australian Catholic University in 2027?

Ans. Australian Catholic University is ranked #851-900 in QS World University Rankings 2027 and #32 of 35 Australian universities ranked by QS, holding the same band it occupied in 2026.

Ques. What is the Australian Catholic University ranking globally in 2026?

Ans. ACU is placed at #324 in the Collegedunia Study Abroad Global Ranking 2026, #320 in U.S. News Best Global Universities 2025-2026, #401-500 in THE World University Rankings 2026 and #601-700 in ARWU 2025.

Ques. Which subject is Australian Catholic University ranked highest in?

Ans. ACU is ranked #18 globally for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies in QS Subject Rankings 2026, its highest-ever placement on any QS list.

Ques. Is the Australian Catholic University ranking improving for Indian students?

Ans. ACU’s QS overall recovered from #901-950 in 2025 to #851-900 in 2027, while subject ranks have strengthened: theology reached its highest-ever #18 in 2026 and philosophy made its first QS appearance at #51-100.

Ques. How does Australian Catholic University rank in THE Impact Rankings 2025?

Ans. ACU is ranked #6 globally for SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing and #20 globally for SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth in THE Impact Rankings 2025, with overall Impact rank inside the #101-200 band.