India’s rising academic reputation, affordability, and graduate employability shine in the latest QS Best Student Cities Rankings.
In a significant recognition of India’s growing stature as an education hub, four Indian cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai—have registered impressive gains in the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026. Delhi emerged as the most affordable student city in the world, while Mumbai re-entered the global top 100, landing at the 98th spot.
The annual rankings, released by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, assess cities based on a blend of factors including university quality, student diversity, affordability, and employment prospects for graduates. All four Indian cities in the 2026 edition have climbed the ladder from their 2025 positions—an upward trend signalling enhanced global visibility and improving standards in India’s urban academic ecosystems.
INDIA’S STANDOUTS: WHO RANKED WHERE?
Mumbai was the top-performing Indian city overall, jumping 15 spots to secure the 98th rank globally. Delhi moved up by seven positions to 104th, and stood out by clinching the #1 global spot in affordability, a key category for students considering overseas education. Bengaluru, renowned for its thriving tech and research sectors, recorded one of the sharpest rises globally—advancing 22 places to the 108th position. Chennai also made a respectable climb, moving 12 spots up to rank 128.
These improvements come as Indian cities continue to leverage their strong academic institutions. Mumbai boasts premier centres like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and the University of Mumbai, while Delhi is home to powerhouses such as IIT Delhi and the University of Delhi. Bengaluru’s reputation is anchored by institutions like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and IIM Bangalore, whereas Chennai features leading universities, including IIT Madras and Anna University.
WHY INDIAN CITIES ARE STANDING OUT
A major draw for students is the cost advantage. In the QS affordability index, Delhi scored 96.5, claiming the top global rank. Bengaluru followed with 84.3, and Chennai posted a commendable 80.1. The affordability metric considers average tuition fees and living costs, which are markedly lower in Indian cities compared to traditional education destinations like the UK, USA, and Australia.
But affordability isn’t the only factor driving India’s rise. The ‘Employer Activity’ score—a metric that evaluates how favourably employers view graduates from a particular city—has seen notable improvements for Indian metros. Delhi and Mumbai both broke into the global top 50, while Bengaluru soared by 41 places to reach 59th position, and Chennai climbed 29 spots, reflecting growing industry faith in India’s talent pool.
HOW INDIAN CITIES IMPROVED FROM 2025 RANKINGS
India’s upward trajectory from the previous year is striking:
- Mumbai: climbed from 131 to 98
- Delhi: moved from 117 to 104
- Bengaluru: jumped from 130 to 108
- Chennai: improved from 140 to 128
These gains align with broader trends seen in the QS World University Rankings 2025, where nearly half of India’s institutions improved their global standing. IIT Delhi led the pack as India’s top university, while MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) retained its global #1 position for the 14th straight year.
TOP 5 CITIES FOR STUDENTS IN 2026
While Indian cities gained ground, Seoul topped the global list, pushing London—the previous #1—down to third, mainly due to worsening affordability. The top five cities globally in the QS Best Student Cities 2026 are:
- Seoul, South Korea
- Tokyo, Japan
- London, United Kingdom
- Munich, Germany
- Melbourne, Australia
India’s improving international education footprint coincides with the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Amongst its key goals, the NEP seeks to internationalise Indian higher education, bolster quality, and foster research collaboration.
The latest QS city rankings suggest that these policy shifts are beginning to yield measurable results—not just at the institutional level, but also across cities as attractive destinations for both domestic and international students.
As India looks to cement its place on the global education map, the latest QS rankings provide a strong signal: Indian cities are no longer just affordable—they are increasingly aspirational.
