Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has made its debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, securing a joint eighth position nationally and emerging as Nigeria's highest-ranked state-owned university. According to a statement by the university's Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, the 2027 ranking placed UNIOSUN in the 1,201–1,400 global band. This achievement was announced on September 30, 2026.
The 2027 THE ranking assessed 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, with 29 Nigerian universities making the list. Nigeria was the most represented country in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2027 edition. UNIOSUN recorded a score of 25.6 in Research Environment, which the university said was the second-highest score among the 29 ranked Nigerian universities.
In the ranking, UNIOSUN scored 23.6 in Teaching, placing fifth nationally, while it recorded 43.8 in Research Quality, 17.6 in Industry, and 40.3 in International Outlook. The report described UNIOSUN as a new entrant and highlighted its performance in Research Environment and Teaching as notable strengths.
The Times Higher Education ranking is based on five broad pillars: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry. The 2027 methodology comprises 18 performance indicators covering areas including teaching reputation, research productivity and quality, citations, international collaboration, industry income, and patents.
The university said the report also described its debut in the 1,201–1,400 global band as noteworthy, adding that UNIOSUN ranked ahead of 19 older and larger Nigerian universities. Only seven state-owned universities were among the 29 Nigerian universities ranked in the 2027 edition, compared with 19 federal and three private universities.
Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Odunayo Clement Adebooye, commended the Osun State Government and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the institution's growth. Adebooye said the university would continue to build on the achievement and pursue initiatives aimed at strengthening its academic and research profile.
The latest ranking comes amid the university's emphasis on research, innovation, postgraduate development, international collaboration, and quality assurance as key components of its institutional development agenda. The statement described the 2027 THE ranking as "a significant milestone in UNIOSUN's development" and said it provided "an external benchmark of its performance in teaching, research, international outlook, and industry engagement."
Key points
- UNIOSUN emerges as Nigeria's top state university in THE 2027 global rankings.
- The university scores high in Research Environment and Teaching.
- UNIOSUN ranks ahead of 19 older and larger Nigerian universities.
