Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai have been ranked among the world’s top 130 cities for students in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities rankings, announced on Tuesday. Delhi emerged as the most affordable city globally for students. All four Indian cities improved their positions, highlighting India’s growing appeal in higher education.
According to the latest rankings released by London-based QS, Mumbai has re-entered the global top 100, climbing 15 spots to secure the 98th position. Delhi moved up seven places to rank 104th, while Bengaluru recorded the most significant jump among Indian cities, rising 22 places to 108th.
Chennai has also shown notable progress, climbing 12 places to secure the 128th position. Mumbai and Bengaluru performed strongly in the affordability category, both ranking within the global top 15.
In the Employer Activity category, Delhi and Mumbai broke into the global top 50, reflecting strong employment prospects for graduates. Bengaluru made the biggest leap in this category, jumping 41 spots to rank 59th, while Chennai rose 29 positions, signaling growing recognition of its graduates in the job market.
“India’s rising presence in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities Rankings is more than a statisti-cal bump it reflects a structural shift in the country’s higher education landscape. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, its focus on global engagement, quality enhancement, and student-centric learning is starting to bear fruit on the international stage,” said Jessica Turner, CEO of QS.
The ranking, compiled by global higher education consultancy QS Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluates 150 cities around the world.