International Reputation
Positive graduate outcomes are our number one priority. We are proud that our graduate employability rates and starting salaries are consistently ranked above the Australian average. Our graduates are in demand, our students are satisfied.
Read on to discover our reputation as a top 500 university according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings, and why thousands of international students made us their first choice.
CQUniversity is the first university in Australia to offer a Graduate Guarantee. If you cannot find a job in your field within six months of graduating, you can upskill for free with a graduate certificate. This is our peace of mind warranty.
Once again CQUniversity has outperformed the Australian university average in international students' overall satisfaction, and other key areas in student experience and satisfaction.
Read more on our latest International Student Barometer results.
CQUniversity is ranked #495 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, a significant improvement from previous years' rankings, and placed us among some of the world's strongest research and teaching institutions.
This result complements our QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 achievement, where we ranked in the top 2% of over 28 000 universities globally.
QS calculates its rankings based on a combination of metrics including research outputs, student to staff ratios, graduate employment rates, employer-student connections, university-employer partnerships, alumni outcomes and the university’s reputation among employers. The QS World University Rankings are facilitated by Quacquarelli Symonds, one of the world's leading providers of analytics and insights to the global higher education sector.
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) is run by the Federal Government and provides transparent information about all of Australia's higher education institutions, from the perspective of recent students and graduates.
QILT Employer Satisfaction Survey 2022
The Employer Satisfaction Survey results prove employers like our graduates. Here's how we're ranked among Australian universities.
- #4 for Overall employer satisfaction (#1 of Queensland-based universities)
- #5 for Employer satisfaction with graduates' foundation skills (#1 of Queensland-based universities)
- #6 for Employer satisfaction with graduates' technical skills (#1 of Queensland-based universities)
- #3 for Employer satisfaction with graduates' collaborative skills
QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021
The Graduate Outcomes Survey results show our graduates found employment fast (within four months after completing their course) and earning more than other Australian university graduates:
- Undergraduate full-time employment – 83.4% (second highest result of Australian universities)
- Undergraduate full-time salary – A$70 000 (third highest result of Australian universities)
QILT ComparED 2021
ComparED uses QILT data to compare the quality of higher education institutions. The latest results show we outperformed other Australian universities in many categories, from employment and starting salary through to support, overall student experience and quality of teaching and learning.
Employment and salary | CQUniversity | Australian average |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate full-time employment | 79% | 70% |
| Postgraduate coursework full-time employment | 89.5% | 85.8% |
| Undergraduate employment (any kind including part-time or casual) | 89.2% | 85.6% |
| Postgraduate coursework employment (any kind including part-time or casual) | 93.6% | 91.7% |
| Undergraduate median salary | $69 000 | $64 000 |
| Postgraduate coursework median salary | $97 800 | $87 700 |
| Support and experience | CQUniversity | Australian average |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate student support | 77.9% | 73.9% |
| Postgraduate coursework student support | 75% | 74.3% |
| Undergraduate overall student experience | 76.5% | 73.5% |
| Postgraduate coursework overall student experience | 73.7% | 72% |
| Teaching, learning and facilities | CQUniversity | Australian average |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate teaching quality | 81.8% | 79.5% |
| Postgraduate coursework teaching quality | 79.8% | 79.2% |
| Undergraduate facilities and resources | 82% | 80.3% |
| Postgraduate coursework skills development | 83.2% | 79.5% |
The Good Universities Guide 2024 ratings show CQUniversity has achieved five stars, the highest possible rating, in a number of important categories outlined below. These ratings have placed us in the top 20 per cent of universities in Australia.
- #1 in Australia for social equity.
- #3 in Australia for undergraduate full-time employment and starting salary
- #5 in Australia for undergraduate overall student experience and teaching quality
- #7 in Australia for postgraduate full-time employment and starting salary
- #5 in Australia for postgraduate skills development
The table highlights various educational experience measures by study areas where CQUniversity is rated in the top 10 nationally.
Study areas | Educational experience measures |
|---|---|
| Agriculture and Environmental Studies | Undergraduate #5 for full-time employment rates |
Business and Management | Undergraduate Postgraduate |
| Built environment | Undergraduate #1 for full-time employment rates and starting salary #2 for overall educational experience #4 for teaching quality |
| Communication | Undergraduate #4 for student support and teaching quality #7 overall educational experience, student support and teaching quality |
Computing and Information Systems | Undergraduate Postgraduate |
| Creative Arts | Undergraduate |
Education and Training | Undergraduate Postgraduate |
Engineering and Technology | Undergraduate Postgraduate |
| Health Services and Support | Postgraduate |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | Undergraduate #7 in Australia for student support |
| Psychology | Undergraduate #3 for student support #4 for skills development #5 for teaching quality #6 for overall educational experience #7 for full-time employment rates Postgraduate #3 for learning resources, overall educational experience, teaching quality and student support |
CQU topped the 2022 Canstar Blue’s list of most satisfied students in Queensland. The University also received five stars for the following criteria:
- quality of education
- opportunities and prospects after graduation
- learning resources
- teaching staff.
For more information, visit the Canstar Blue website.
CQUniversity’s strengths in a number of subject areas have been recognised in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject 2023.
Significant achievements include:
- 126–150 in Psychology
- 251–300 in Education
- 401–500 in Business and Economics
- 401–500 in Clinical and Health
- 601–800 in Engineering and Technology.
Ranking in the top 500 universities globally in the subject area of Business and Economics reaffirms the popularity and value of the University’s accounting, business, economics, finance and management-related courses. Some of these courses come with unique internship opportunities developed to provide international students with relevant work experience during their studies and maximise their workforce readiness.
CQUniversity is recognised globally as a five-star institution in the highly-regarded QS Stars Rating system in 2024. The University received five stars in a number of categories including Overall, Teaching, Employability, Global Engagement and Facilities.
Teaching
This indicator determines teaching quality from student feedback in national student surveys as well as through further study rate and student faculty ratio. Our small class sizes and excellent student feedback have contributed to our five-star rating. Our positive student satisfaction levels are a testament to the commitment and high calibre of staff. Many teachers are also practitioners and active researchers – they innovate and incorporate their practice and research into classroom teaching and across the wider university and beyond.
Employability
This indicator encompasses more than academic strength, focusing on 'work-readiness'. CQUniversity’s courses are designed alongside industry and embed practical work integrated learning such as internships. Our career services are some of the best in a university setting, with careers focused services including CQUni Career Connection, CQUni Careers and CareerHub to help prospective and current students and graduates of the University in their job searching and career development.
Global Engagement
This indicator looks at the proportion of international students and staff, the numbers of exchange students arriving and departing, the number of nationalities represented in the student body, the number and strength of international partnerships with other universities, and support services for international students including the presence of religious facilities. CQUniversity's global outlook and diversity grow from strength to strength. We commit to world-class global mobility programs, overseas placements and international partnerships.
Facilities
This indicator looks at university infrastructure such as sporting, IT, library, medical facilities and student societies. CQUniversity continues to invest millions in capital works to create the best possible teaching and learning experience for students and staff. Our campuses feature fully equipped libraries and computer labs, allied health clinic and other clinical learning labs, aviation and engineering precincts, multi-faith centre, student accommodation and social spaces for recreational activity.
Other categories
The University also received five stars for Research, Good Governance, Social Impact and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
QS Stars is a rating system that assesses how universities perform against key indicators to help students select the right university. For more information on how CQUniversity performed in this system, visit the QS Stars website.
The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2018–19 results show CQUniversity is conducting research rated as at, above, and well above world standard across 22 various research categories.
The ERA initiative is developed and managed by the Australian Research Council (ARC) as a major funder of public sector research. It assesses research quality within Australia's higher education institutions using a combination of indicators and expert review by committees comprising experienced and internationally recognised experts.
The ongoing success demonstrates CQUniversity as a leader in translational and impactful research that has direct benefits for industry, community and stakeholders, creating a rewarding research experience.
CQUniversity is rated 'well above world standard' in:
- Mathematical Sciences
- Applied Mathematics
- Horticultural Production
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
- Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
CQUniversity is rated 'above world standard' in:
- Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
- Agricultural, Land and Farm Management
- Engineering
- Nursing
- Public Health and Health Services
- Psychology
CQUniversity is rated 'at world standard' in:
- Environmental Sciences
- Environmental Science and Management
- Biological Sciences
- Zoology
- Information and Computing Sciences
- Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Human Movement and Sport Science
- Specialist Studies in Education
For more information and to read the full report, visit the Australian Research Council website.
Our commitment to delivering research that has real impacts on our communities and local industries means research is done differently at CQUniversity. We answer challenges, develop constructive solutions and identify new opportunities in a wide range of disciplines and fields.
Our success in several categories of the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2021 acknowledges the quality of CQUni research in areas aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
CQUniversity's commitment to engagement and social outreach has led to CQUniversity being recognised as Australia's first and only Changemaker Campus with Ashoka U, an exclusive global social innovation group, made up of around 40 other high profile education institutions.
All member institutions collaborate with each other to break down barriers to institutional change and foster a campus-wide culture of social innovation.
The Times Higher Education (THE) 2024 Impact Rankings were released recently, assessing universities across the world against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
CQUniversity performed incredibly well, ranking 52nd in the world, up from 74th position in 2023. More than 2,100 institutions participated this year.
As part of the 2024 rankings, CQUniversity was assessed against 12 of the 17 SDGs and was ranked in the top 15 universities worldwide against three SDGs:
- Ninth for SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities,
- 13th for SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals, and
- 14th for SDG 3 Good Health and Wellbeing.
CQUniversity also placed in the top 100 against a further five SDGs including SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production and SDG 14 Life below Water.
For more information, visit the official Times Higher Education website.
CEO Magazine’s Global MBA Rankings 2023
CQUniversity's School of Business has been ranked among the top world's best business schools with its MBA program named in the top tier in the CEO Magazine's annual Global MBA Rankings. The data was drawn from 121 business schools across the US, Europe, Asia, Latin America, New Zealand and Australia.
These rankings were determined by quality of faculty, international diversity, accreditation, faculty-to-student ratio, price, work experience, professional development and delivery methods.
Find out more about CQUniversity's MBA.
CQUniversity’s CQUEnglish took part in the 2022 English Language Barometer among 42 English language centre locations throughout Australia, online and overseas.
CQUEnglish achieved great results, highlights include:
- 97.1% of CQUEnglish students were either satisfied or very satisfied overall, outperforming the sector result of 95.2%.
- 91.9% would recommend CQUEnglish, outperforming the sector average by 3.3%.
- The results for teaching in the Learning section range from 93.2% – 100%, including a perfect score of 100% for our excellent teachers and 98.3% for learning support, performance feedback and assessment.
- In six out of eight teaching categories, CQUEnglish scored higher than the combined satisfaction ranking for all participating University Language Centres. These six categories are: good teachers, course organisation, learning support, performance feedback, marking criteria and assessment.
- In the top five elements that correlate strongly to student happiness, CQUEnglish scored between 93.2% – 98.3%. These elements are: course organisation, performance feedback, course content, learning spaces and learning support.
The English Language Barometer is facilitated by i-graduate and is the global benchmark instrument used to track the English language centres student experience.
