For the second consecutive year, the prestigious Forbes magazine has included the Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM) in its exclusive ranking of the "Top 20 Universities in Spain". In this latest edition, the publication highlighted the university’s "heavy investment in research, its high level of internationalization, and the excellent employability rates of both its undergraduate and postgraduate students."

To compile this ranking, Forbes evaluates numerous key indicators, including preparation for the workforce, student experience, international perspective, the quality of faculty and research, and affordability and accessibility. Furthermore, the international committee of experts responsible for the report praised UCAM's excellence-driven educational model, which is structured around five core pillars: workforce preparation and job placement, student experience, faculty quality and research, international perspective, and economic accessibility.

A Leader in Research and Innovation

In the field of research, UCAM has consolidated its position this academic year as the first private university in Spain to have its International Doctoral School accredited by ANECA (the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation)—an ecosystem of excellence that already boasts 83 international thesis mentions.

This leadership is backed by a global research budget exceeding €39 million, supporting 268 active projects and an average annual output of 1,179 scientific articles. Moreover, this effort translates into a tangible social impact through active patents and the development of cutting-edge infrastructure. This includes advanced laboratories, specialized dental, podiatry, and nutrition clinics, a veterinary hospital, and the UCAM HiTech innovation hub.

International Recognition

This achievement aligns with the university's excellent performance in other prestigious international rankings. In the QS World University Rankings: Europe, UCAM ranks in the 511–520 bracket on the continent out of nearly 5,000 institutions, notably placing in the top 301+ for academic and employer reputation, while also gaining global recognition in the fields of Sports and Medicine. Additionally, the recent U-Ranking 2026 and the CYD Foundation report both concur in ranking UCAM graduates with exceptionally high employability rates.