Countdown to the 2026 QuantNet Rankings

In anticipating of the upcoming 2026 ranking, you can use this to speculate discuss. Once the ranking is released, we will convert this to the official discussion for the ranking.​

This follows our past tradition.
We expect to release around second or third week of November.
The same programs plus or minus a couple will be on our 2026 ranking.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Placeholder.

 

[rajivp]

2026 QuantNet ranking drop is what we're all waiting for, perfectly timed for Round 2 and 3. But i was just thinking, brand names still rule. If a big-name school say, fell some spots, we'd probably still choose it over non brand name program, i know i will.

Also, is there a way to differentiate between placement in true front office quant roles and middle or back office quant roles like credit risk - i mean 100% placement but where and a way to rate program curriculum closer to front office roles?
Many universities i think count 'credit risk' roles as a quant win. I've sat through so many placement sessions organised by universities just to hear my own job description repackaged as a success story for front office quants.
I'm already in credit risk, at the very companies you're bragging about! If I wanted to stay, I'd just ask for an internal transfer and save a fortune.
Maybe I just need to log off these weekly university webinars... this might be my sign

 

[Andy Nguyen]

2026 QuantNet ranking drop is what we're all waiting for, perfectly timed for Round 2 and 3. But i was just thinking, brand names still rule. If a big-name school say, fell some spots, we'd probably still choose it over non brand name program, i know i will.

You can do that. Many people will always pick a brandname over others. This is the same thing in consumer products too. You pay a premium in the total cost.
But you should investigate why there is a drop, if it's temporary or a worrying trend, etc. At the end of the day, these degrees are very expensive and you don't want to be a bag holder with nothing but with a piece of paper carrying that fancy name.

Also, is there a way to differentiate between placement in true front office quant roles and middle or back office quant roles like credit risk - i mean 100% placement but where and a way to rate program curriculum closer to front office roles?
Many universities i think count 'credit risk' roles as a quant win. I've sat through so many placement sessions organised by universities just to hear my own job description repackaged as a success story for front office quants.

This is a good point. Many applicants can't distinguish between job title, function so everything sounds like a quant job to them which is good enough.
As far as getting more granular information from programs on the breakdown of placement, there is more work to be done.
Some programs did a great job of knowing exactly where each of their graduates end up (Baruch, CMU and few others). A lot of other programs don't have full picture on this. Programs have different level of resources on career services or run differently.
This just means there is opportunity for QuantNet to provide more insights and helpful information on this aspect.

I'm already in credit risk, at the very companies you're bragging about! If I wanted to stay, I'd just ask for an internal transfer and save a fortune.
Maybe I just need to log off these weekly university webinars... this might be my sign

Then you will be able to look at the placement listing of many programs and tell whether a program places most of their graduates in front office, buy-side, sell-side. This will inform you decision much better than most applicants.