Carleton University shows a mixed but mostly stable performance across major global ranking systems in recent years. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, the university is placed in the #781-790 range, down from the #601-650 range in 2023. The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings have been stable, with Carleton University placed in the #501-600 range from 2024 to 2026, after improving from the #601-800 range in 2023. In the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities 2025-26, the university is ranked #616, showing small year-to-year changes. The ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) position has remained steady in the #501-600 range over the past several years, indicating consistent research performance.
At the subject level, Carleton University performs strongest in engineering and applied science fields. Electrical and Electronic Engineering stands out with a top-100 global ranking. Subjects such as Civil Engineering, Ecology, Computer Science, and Law show good global positions. Several social science and humanities subjects have entered global rankings in recent years, reflecting growing recognition. Overall, Carleton’s rankings highlight clear strengths in engineering and applied sciences, with moderate performance across most other subject areas.
Also read: Canada Study Guide for Indian Students
Carleton University World Ranking Trends
Here are the current and previous year’s ranking trends of Carleton University, provided by the leading ranking agencies:-
| Ranking Body | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | #781-790 | #741-750 | #671-680 | #601-650 |
| Times Higher Education | #501-600 | #501-600 | #501-600 | #601-800 |
| US News and World Report Best Global Universities | #616 (2025-26) |
#617 (2024-25) |
#526 (2023-24) |
#526 (2022-23) |
| ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) | - | #501-600 | #501-600 | #501-600 |
| QS MBA Rankings | #301+ | #251+ | - | |
Carleton University’s rankings show different trends across agencies. QS rankings indicate a decline from #601-650 (2023) to #781-790 (2026), while Times Higher Education has remained stable at #501-600 in recent years. U.S. News shows slight year-to-year movement, and ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) has been consistently steady at #501-600, reflecting stable research performance.
Also check: Carleton University MBA 2026
Carleton University QS Subject Rankings 2025
The QS subject rankings of 2026 have not been released yet. However, the Subject Rankings of 2025 show mixed results, with some subjects entering the rankings for the first time in 2025 while others move up or down compared to 2024.
- Computer Science and Language Systems remains unchanged at #251-300.
- Several subjects, including Sociology, English Language and Literature, Linguistics, Law and Legal Studies, and Economics and Econometrics, appear in the rankings in 2025 after being unranked in 2024, indicating improved global visibility.
- In engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering remains stable at #301-350, while Mechanical Engineering declines slightly from #351-400 to #401-450.
- Business and Management Studies, and Social Sciences and Management, fall into lower bands in 2025.
| Subject Name | Ranks 2025 | Ranks 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Politics | #151-200 | #101-150 |
| Communication and Media Studies | #201-250 | #201-250 |
| Sociology | #251-300 | Unranked |
| English Language and Literature | #251-300 | Unranked |
| Linguistics | #251-300 | Unranked |
| Computer Science and Language Systems | #251-300 | #251-300 |
| Law and legal Studies | #301-350 | Unranked |
| Psychology | Unranked | #301-350 |
| Engineering- Electrical and Electronic | #301-350 | #301-350 |
| Engineering- Mechanical | #401-450 | #351-400 |
| Mathematics | #401-450 | #351-400 |
| Engineering and Technology | #401-450 | #401-450 |
| Arts and Humanities | #451-500 | #401-450 |
| Business and Management Studies | #501-550 | #451-500 |
| Social Sciences and Management | #501-550 | #401-450 |
| Physics and Astronomy | #551-600 | #501-550 |
| Economics and Econometrics | #551-700 | Unranked |
To know about the popular courses and fees of Carleton University 2026, click here.
Carleton University THE Subject Rankings 2025-26
Carleton University’s THE Subject Rankings 2025-26 show a largely stable performance across most disciplines, with several subjects maintaining their previous positions and a few showing notable changes.
- Arts and Humanities and Engineering remain steady in the #301-400 band in both 2025 and 2026, while Life Sciences and Social Sciences also show no year-on-year movement.
- Law continues to hold a relatively stronger position at #251-300, unchanged across both years.
- Computer Science shows improvement, moving up from #301-400 to #251-300, indicating stronger comparative performance.
- Business and Economics also rank lower in 2026 within the #501-600 band.
| Subject Name | Ranks 2026 | Ranks 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Engineering | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Physical Sciences | #501-600 | #401-500 |
| Business and Economics | #501-600 | #501-500 |
| Law | #251-300 | #251-300 |
| Psychology | #201-250 | #501-300 |
| Computer Science | #251-300 | #301-400 |
| Life Sciences | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Social Sciences | #401-500 | #401-500 |
Also check: Admission process at Carleton University
Carleton University U.S. News Subject Rankings 2025-26
In the 2025-26 U.S. News global rankings, Carleton University shows its strongest global presence in engineering and applied science fields. Check out each subject's rankings below:
| Subject | Rank (2025-26) |
|---|---|
| Biology and Biochemistry | #698 |
| Civil Engineering | #188 |
| Computer Science | #317 |
| Ecology | #151 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | #99 |
| Engineering | #361 |
| Environment/Ecology | #240 |
| Geosciences | #475 |
| Physics | #314 |
| Plant and Animal Science | #426 |
| Psychiatry/Psychology | #293 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | #474 |
Also check: Carleton University Students' Reviews
Carleton University Miscellaneous Rankings 2026
In addition to global and subject rankings, Carleton University is also recognized in the QS Sustainability Rankings and other ranking systems, as shown below:
| Ranking Bodies | Ranks 2026 |
|---|---|
| QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 | #609 |
| U.S News (Best Global Universities in Canada) | #20 (2025-26) |
| ARWU (Shanghai National Rankings 2025) | #18-19 |
Carleton University’s rankings show a stable global position with clear strengths in engineering and applied science. While its overall QS ranking has declined over the years, rankings from THE, U.S. News, and ARWU remain largely consistent, reflecting steady academic and research performance. At the subject level, areas such as Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, and Ecology stand out globally, while social sciences and humanities are gaining visibility. In summary, Carleton University maintains a good international presence, with strong performance in technical fields and gradual improvement across a wider range of disciplines.







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