Vilnius University, Vilnius College top Lithuania higher education rankings

VILNIUS - Vilnius University and Vilnius College ranked first among Lithuania’s higher education institutions, according to data published by Reitingai magazine on Wednesday.

In this year's rankings, Vilnius University led the field with 63.69 points. It was followed by the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences with 57.64 points, Kaunas University of Technology with 56.36 points, Vytautas Magnus University with 55.66 points and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Vilnius Tech) with 49.72 points.

Vilnius College was named the best vocational college with 64.12 points. Kaunas College followed in second place with 56.82 points, ahead of the Lithuanian Engineering College with 55.04 points, Klaipeda State College with 53.98 points and Panevezys College with 48.72 points.

"We have seen several college mergers in recent years. While this was successful for the Lithuanian Engineering College, the Lithuanian Maritime Academy saw its ranking slip after becoming a unit of Vilnius Tech," said Jone Kucinskaite, a journalist for Reitingai.

The magazine evaluated universities based on 43 criteria across five areas: scientific and artistic activity, alumni and employer assessments, quality of studies, internationalisation and academic staff. Colleges were assessed using 33 similar criteria.

This year, Reitingai evaluated all Lithuanian universities and colleges in a single comprehensive list for the first time, discarding some previous indicators while introducing new criteria relevant to prospective students.

The study shows a decline in the number of Lithuanian high school graduates choosing to study abroad, falling to 4.2 percent in 2025 from about 7 percent previously.

"When you ask young people why this is, the basic answers are prices and more prices. The UK's overall stance and position regarding foreign students has also changed," said Gintaras Sarafinas, editor-in-chief of Reitingai.

Sarafinas noted that the range of study programmes in Lithuania is expanding and quality assessments are improving.

However, only 41.9 percent of applicants gain admission to their first choice. The share of state-funded places is also decreasing, from nearly 75 percent in 2020 to 60 percent in 2025, while tuition fees have doubled over the decade.

"For example, a year of studies in engineering, life sciences or technology cost 2,595 euros in 2019. That was seven years ago. Now, those same studies cost between 4,200 and 4,800 euros per year," Sarafinas said. "Medical studies cost 3,200 euros per year in 2019. Now, they range from 6,500 to 8,100 euros per year."