“In a year that saw significant decline in Latin America in terms of university sustainability, Argentina showed modest but significant progress.” This is reflected in New edition of the QS Sustainability Ranking 2026which has just been published by international higher education consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The University of Buenos Aires (UBA) rose seven places, to 370th, and remains the only Argentine institution in the world’s top 500 universities.
The QS Sustainability Ranking is a global assessment that measures the performance and contribution of universities in terms of impact. It aims to recognize and highlight organizations that are making significant contributions in three key areas:
This year’s ranking includes about 2,000 universities from 106 countries, compared to about 1,750 universities in the previous edition of the QS Sustainability Ranking.
the Lund University in Sweden took first place For the first time. The University of Toronto, which was best in the world in 2024 and 2025, has now dropped to second place, followed by University College London, which has risen two places to third place.
The report stated that Argentina advanced in the classification, while the region declined. In total, 36% of the Argentine universities that participated in the evaluation rose in the rankings, and 29% fell down the positions and entered three universities for the first time, “This gives a net balance of +7%, one of the best rates among Latin American countries with five or more institutions rated“, highlights the QS document.
In this context, UBA continues to lead the national university ecosystem. “Argentine universities are turning decades of commitment to environmental education into tangible progress within global sustainability indicators. What they need is not ambition, but stability: with more consistent funding and governance frameworks, institutions like UBA and its peers can transform that educational leadership into much deeper research capacity and broader societal impact.” noted Ben Sutter, Senior Vice President of QS.
The report points out strengths and challenges. Argentine system Distinguished in “Environmental Education” (There, UBA ranked 62nd in the world) and in “Governance”, with strong results by regional standards. Challenges remain in “environmental research” and “equality, health and well-being”The average score is lower than the regional leaders.
The income of the National University of Rosario (UNR), National Technological University (UTN), and National University of North-East (UNNE) “It expands the country’s geographic presence,” the report says.
Although in the previous edition of the rankings, four institutions from three Latin American countries were among the top 200, this year greater competition has brought about a change. The University of São Paulo in Brazil is now the only institution in the region among the top 200, at 90th place. However, more than 50 of the 128 universities in Latin America and the Caribbean that appeared in last year’s ranking have improved their position in this edition. The document highlights that “Argentina is also recording significant progress, with 36% of its universities rising in the rankings and 29% falling. Its flagship university, the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), rose seven places to 370th place.”
“Across Latin America, higher education institutions are gradually integrating sustainability into governance, curricula and campus operations; however, this progress is uneven. Countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Argentina are gaining momentum. In Brazil and Mexico, universities often lead national sustainability initiatives and coalitions. In Chile and Colombia, innovation clusters and comprehensive community initiatives are emerging. Argentina, for its part, is strengthening its tradition in environmental education,” said Sutter.
Although the QS report leaves a caveat: “However, the contributions of Latin American higher education to the global discussion on sustainability remain marginal. The governance frameworks and institutional capacities needed for deep systemic transformation remain weak or fragmented, and regional disparities remain. As the region’s universities intensify their efforts, the challenge now is to translate institutional promise into measurable impact; especially in contexts with limited resources and socially inclusive agendas, these initiatives must be prioritized for the green transition to be just.” And effective.”
He continues: “In a year in which most of Latin America fell in the sustainability rankings, Argentina is moving up conservatively. Although still average, by global standards, it has improved slightly compared to the previous year. Argentina now has 14 universities in the sustainability rankings. Of these, five move up, four move down, two remain unchanged and three enter the table for the first time, representing a net increase of 7% in the number of universities moving up. This makes the country one of the only three systems in Latin America with public systems.” The progress, along with Peru and Ecuador, puts it ahead of regional powers such as Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia, which record net declines.
The three universities that improved their position in the rankings are UBA, which rose seven places and ranked 370; National University of the Coast (UNL)which rose eleven places and remained at 910; and Kuyo National University (Onkuyo)Who rose one step to 921st place in the ranking. Meanwhile, UNR entered the rankings for the first time, the same as UNNE, above position 1500; UTN first appeared between 1301 and 1400.
They also improved their sites Argentine Catholic University (UCA)with two job upgrades, and staying within the top 1500, and Austral UniversityWhich improved two places and was between 1451 and 1500 the best rated.
Among those who descended appear National University of La Plata (UNLP), National University of Córdoba (UNC), National University of Comahue, and National University of the SouthWhile they maintained their performance National University of Mar del Plata and National University of San Martin (UNSAM).
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