By Sushant Agarwal
Published on | Jul 16, 2025
QS Best Student Cities 2026 is out — and four Indian cities made the list, marking major progress in global higher education.
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai were featured among the world’s top 130 student cities by QS Rankings.
Delhi ranked 104th globally, rising 7 spots. It received the highest affordability score worldwide.
Mumbai climbed 15 places to rank 98th. It also features in the top 50 globally for employer activity.
Bengaluru jumped 22 spots to 108th. It rose 41 places in employer activity, now ranked 59th in the world.
Chennai moved up 12 positions to 128th and gained 29 spots in employer activity, reflecting rising job prospects.
QS Rankings assess 150 cities based on affordability, desirability, employer activity, and student opinions.
Seoul claimed the No.1 spot, dislodging London, which dropped to third. Tokyo secured second place in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities list.
QS CEO Jessica Turner credits India’s NEP 2020 reforms for boosting global engagement and student-focused education.