Virginia Tech earns high marks in Times Higher Education 2026 Sustainability Impact rankings
The university was ranked in the top 25 percent globally in six Sustainable Development Goals.
Virginia Tech ranked in the 201-300 range out of more than 2,000 universities from more than 100 countries in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact rankings.
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess participating universities against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The rankings use calibrated indicators to compare universities across four areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.
Virginia Tech’s increase in research expenditures aided in the university’s scoring. The university reported nearly $500 million in extramural research expenditures in 2025, growing by nearly 10 percent in federal expenditures from 2024.
“The Times Higher Education Impact rankings reflect Virginia Tech’s commitment to advancing research that serves communities and addresses global challenges,” said Dan Sui, senior vice president and chief research and innovation officer. “As our research enterprise continues to grow, our faculty, students, and partners are turning discovery into meaningful impact in sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable communities, and water resources – work that improves lives and helps build a more sustainable future worldwide.”
Of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Virginia Tech registered in the top 25 percent globally in six of those.
The university’s top score came in the SDG of Zero Hunger, a measure that aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030. Virginia Tech ranked No. 67 globally out of 731 institutions who submitted entries for this SDG, staying in the top 100 in this SDG for the fifth consecutive year.
Research projects aiding the university’s score in this SDG include Venkat Sridhar’s work in global water resource management, Courtney Leisner’s research on heat-resistant crops, Elena Serrano’s work as an extension specialist in nutrition security, and Thomas Kuhar’s focus on integrated pest management practices that can enhance the profitability and sustainability of crop production in Virginia.
Other top scores for Virginia Tech included:
- No. 78 out of 758 institutions in Responsible Consumption and Production, which aims to ensure economic growth and development are achieved in a way that minimizes environmental and social harm
- No. 89 out of 658 institutions in Life on Land, which focuses on protecting and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
- No. 101-200 in Clean Water and Sanitation, which addresses water management, water scarcity, and the health of water-related ecosystems
- No. 101-200 in Sustainable Cities and Communities, which mandates that cities and human settlements become exclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
- No. 101-200 in Climate Action, which calls for urgent, collective action to combat climate change and its impacts
Virginia Tech’s ongoing research in compostable packaging, circular systems approaches to enhance environmental and economic advantages, and making environmentally friendly and affordable batteries all helped the university’s score in the Responsible Consumption and Production SDG.
In the Life on Land SDG, the university’s efforts in studying boxwood blight, water runoff quality from utility-scale solar sites, and sustainability related to forests and wood products contributed to the university’s high score.
