The over-a-century-old University of Mysore has secured 247th position among universities in South Asian countries in QS Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings Asia 2027, and has been ranked first among state-run universities in Karnataka.
Vice-Chancellor Prof N K Lokanath said performance was particularly noteworthy given challenges including shortage of permanent teaching faculty. University of Mysore established 1916 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV and Sir M Visvesvaraya, first university in Karnataka, sixth in India.
Recognition attributed to academic standards, student-faculty ratio, international MoUs with foreign universities, employer reputation, research publications, quality of teaching and research and employment generation. QS evaluates on eleven parameters including academic reputation, employer reputation, citations, international research network.
In Asia overall, UoM placed in 801-850 band. Mangalore University placed in 901-950 band, ranked 287th in South Asia and 153rd in India, second among Karnataka state public universities. Bangalore University also in 901-950 band. Total 325 universities from India participated this year.
Context: In QS World University Rankings 2026 for Southern Asia, Mysore was 206, down from 148 in 2025, reflecting fluctuating trend. NIRF 2024 ranked UoM 54th among Indian universities. EduRank 2026 puts it 60th in India, 6th in Karnataka.
VC said despite staff shortage and limitations, rank is matter of pride and shows rising prominence of Karnataka in South Asia.
Analysis:
247th in South Asia sounds modest but topping Karnataka's public varsities is significant when IITs, IISc and private deemed universities dominate rankings. Mysore's strength is legacy humanities and science base plus better employer reputation than younger state universities. QS Asia favours international collaboration and citations where state universities struggle due to funding and guest faculty reliance. Maintaining 801-850 Asia band while short on permanent staff points to research output holding up. For students, it reaffirms Mysore as best among Karnataka government universities ahead of Mangalore and Bangalore.
Tags: #UniversityOfMysore #QSAsia #247Rank #Karnataka #NKLokanath #QS2027 #MangaloreUniversity #BangaloreUniversity #NIRF #HigherEducation