2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities by Altitude (ARWUA) — Complete World Edition
Comprehensive global ranking of universities by campus elevation. Altitudes via SRTM 30 m DEM (NASA/USGS), cross-validated with OpenTopography and Google Earth Engine. Institutions below sea level are ranked last — the ARWUA Scientific Committee has received formal written complaints from several Dutch rectors.
Ranking Methodology — Composite Altimetric Score (CAS)
ARWUA evaluates institutions using six terrain-derived indicators. ALT is altitude-normalized (100 = world leader). O₂ follows the barometric formula exp(−h/8435). Institutions at negative elevation receive negative CAS scores — a world first in academic ranking methodology.
ALTAltitude Score (normalized)
O₂Oxygen Availability (%)
NBCNosebleed Capacity Score
HEADHeadache Potential Index
CLOUDCloud Proximity Coefficient
TOTALComposite Elevation Score
| Rank | University | Country | Altitude (m a.s.l.) |
Scores | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALT | O₂ | NBC | HEAD | TOTAL | ||||