Harvard University is at the top of the United Arab Emirates-based Center for World University Rankings’ new Global 2000 list. The center unveiled the 2026 edition of its rankings on Monday. The center used factors like employability and research output to judge schools, according to the organisation.

Harvard took first place for 15th year in a row. Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked second, as the U.S. claimed eight of top 10 spots and had 313 schools on the list of Global 2000.

In Nigeria, four universities that made the top 2000 are University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) at number 1533; University of Lagos (UNILAG) at 1683; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria at 1779 and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife at number 1884.

These Nigerian equivalent of elite universities have re-asserted themselves and taken the lead from private universities in terms of the first five.