Purdue University’s College of Agriculture has once again secured a place among the world’s top academic programs, ranking third in the United States and sixth globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, underscoring its continued prominence in agricultural research and education.
The rankings place Purdue behind only University of California, Davis and Cornell University nationally, with evaluators citing the college’s strengths in research output, innovation and graduate employability. The QS rankings assess universities worldwide across a range of metrics, including academic reputation and research impact.
University officials say the recognition reflects both the breadth of Purdue’s academic offerings and the global reach of its research. Faculty within the college’s programs lead initiatives spanning agricultural, food, life and natural resource sciences, as well as agricultural economics, with students gaining hands-on experience in environments that extend far beyond the classroom.
“Purdue Agriculture continues to be recognized nationally and globally because our faculty lead groundbreaking research and innovations that will shape the future of health, food security and sustainability,” said Dr. Bernie Engel, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, in a statement.
The college’s performance is also bolstered by its agricultural and biological engineering program, a joint effort with Purdue’s College of Engineering. The program has been ranked No. 1 for five consecutive years in graduate school rankings by U.S. News & World Report, highlighting its influence in a field increasingly central to modern agriculture.
In the QS framework, Purdue’s agriculture program falls within the broader Life Sciences and Medicine category, which encompasses disciplines ranging from biological sciences and pharmacology to veterinary science and agriculture and forestry.
The college also plays a key role in Purdue’s “One Health” initiative, a university-led effort aimed at addressing interconnected challenges in human, animal and environmental health — an approach that has gained traction as global concerns over food security, climate change and public health intensify.
For more information about Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, visit ag.purdue.edu.
