University and college rankings: where the best studies and professional training

90 fields of undergraduate study at the university

A total of 90 university bachelor’s and integrated study programs were evaluated according to the preparation of bachelor’s and integrated studies specialists.

From them:

1. Vilnius University leads in about half, that is even in the 41st field of study;
2. Vytautas the Great University is the leader in 12 fields of study;
3. VILNIUS TECH University leads in 11 fields of study;
4. Kaunas University of Technology leads in 8 fields of study;
5. The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences leads in 6 fields of study;
6. Vilnius Academy of Arts is a leader in 5 fields of study;
7. The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater is leading in 3 fields of study;
8. The Lithuanian Sports University is leading in 2 fields of study.
9. Gen. J. Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy and Klaipėda University are the first in one field of study.

“The most important parameter of this evaluation is the extent to which employers are satisfied with the quality of preparation of graduates of each university in a specific direction entering the labor market. The questionnaire opinion of the employers was 30 points out of one hundred. On behalf of the “Reingai” magazine, the sociological research company “Prime consulting” surveyed 2,280 employers. Employers of all branches of the economy and the public sector were asked which universities and which areas their alumni work for them, and they were also asked to evaluate the training and quality of work of the alumni of these areas.

If a specific field of study is conducted in only one university, the respondents evaluated the graduates on a scale of ten points.

Based on the data of the Study Quality Assessment Center (SKVC), we assessed the 2022 employment of graduates 12 months after graduation. This assessment also includes those graduates who have created their own jobs and are self-employed. The employment of graduates is given a weight of 15 points.

It is true that if in the case of colleges we assumed that the absolute majority of graduates should get a job after graduation, then when evaluating universities we assumed that half of all alumni should get a job after the university’s bachelor’s studies”, the organizers of the rating said about the evaluation principles.

Žygimantos Gedvilos/BNS photo/Jonė Kučinskaitė, Gintaras Sarafinas

Also, the evaluation of university study fields included how many of the best graduates (that is, those who passed the exams with 86 to 100 points) chose a specific field of study in 2023. This criterion is given a weight of 10 points.

In addition, the average score and the lowest score of those admitted to state-financed and non-state-financed study places for each direction are presented separately.

“Two criteria: what was the performance of all 2023 the lowest score of freshmen accepted to study in the summer at state-funded (10 points) and non-state-funded (10 points) study places.

Two more criteria: what was the performance of all 2023 the average score of first-year students accepted to study in the summer at state-financed (5 points) and non-state-financed (5 points) study places.

We also assessed 2022. student dropout (15 points).

Entrants will also find data on the total number of students admitted to each field of study at each university and the number of study programs in that field. We did not evaluate these parameters. They are provided for readers’ information only. SKVC evaluations are also presented: how this state institution evaluates the study programs of each direction”, the organizers of the ratings explain.

Lukas Balandis/BNS photo/Students’ march in Vilnius

When evaluating the fields of study in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and veterinary medicine, both a part of the parameters that were used in the evaluation of bachelor’s study fields and a part of the parameters that were included in the evaluation of master’s study fields were based on.

The level of education varies greatly

In terms of master’s training, Vilnius University leads the ranking of universities, leaving behind Vytautas the Great University, as well as Vilnius and Kaunas higher schools of technical fields.

“When evaluating university master’s training, we evaluated 84 fields of study.

From them:

1. Vilnius University leads in about half of all evaluated – 40 study areas;
2. Vytautas the Great University leads in 11 fields of study;
3. Vilnius TECH University and Kaunas University of Technology are leaders in 9 fields of study;
4. The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and the Vilnius Academy of Arts are leaders in 3 fields of study;
5. Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater and Klaipėda University lead in 2 fields of study;
6. ISM University of Management and Economics, Mykolas Romeris University, Gen. J. Žemaitis Military Academy and Lithuanian Sports University are the best in the 1st field of study.

When evaluating the training of the second cycle (master’s students), 30 percent. the total weight of the rating of master’s training by subject was also made up of the opinion of employers (who were interviewed by the sociological research company “Prime consulting”).

The rest is 30 percent. – consisted of the level of scientific indicators in the direction. It was based on the latest evaluation of the research activities of the universities by the Lithuanian Science Council (LMT). The LMT evaluated the level of education of the universities in the field in a five-point system”, according to the authors of the ratings.

According to them, it is important to note that the academic level of the best university varies greatly in different areas: “No university is the best in all areas. Here, Vilnius University is one of the few whose academic level is rated 5-etu. And even in the 4 directions: biochemistry, philology, philosophy and ethnology, but, for example, in the directions of pharmacy and nursing, it was rated only one unit. By the way, no other direction in any university was evaluated by one unit.

Žygimantos Gedvilos/BNS photo/The central building of Vilnius University is being renovated

Vytautas Didijos University also received the 5th grade in the field of art studies. No other university has received a 5th grade in any field.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that those fields of study at universities, which are evaluated with less than 4 points, will no longer be able to train doctoral students, and if they did not receive a three for the level of education in the field, they will no longer be able to train masters.

And here are those who did not get a double, they will not be able to prepare even bachelor’s degrees. It is true that there is a reservation: it will be possible to train students in weak fields according to levels, if the university finds a strong partner foreign university in a particular field or if three higher education institutions form a consortium.”

Those university fields of study that are evaluated with less than 4 points will no longer be able to train doctoral students, and if they did not receive a three for the level of education in the field, they will no longer be able to train masters.

Vilnius College is leading

Colleges are also rated. Vilnius College is leading here.

The magazine “Reitingai” presented the evaluation of the preparation of specialists in a total of 51 collegiate study fields.

From them:

1. Vilnius College leads in the 21st field of professional bachelor’s studies;
2. Kaunas College (as last year) leads in 14 of all evaluated areas of professional bachelor’s studies;
3. Vilnius College of Technology and Design is the leader in the 5 assessed fields of study;
4. Kaunas Technical College is the leader in the 3 assessed fields of study;
5. The Vilnius College of Design and the Lithuanian Higher Maritime School are leading in the 2 assessed fields of study;
6. Klaipėda State College, Šiauliai State College and Kaunas College of Forestry and Environmental Engineering lead the way in the 1st evaluated field of professional bachelor’s studies.

The quality of college bachelor’s training is evaluated according to the same parameters as university bachelor’s training.

You can find the ranking of gymnasiums here.

The number of people paying for studies is increasing

According to G. Sarafin, editor-in-chief of the “Reitingai” magazine, the research revealed that the number of students paying for their studies is consistently increasing in Lithuania.

“Thousands of families in Lithuania have to pay only because of the government’s distraction or the flawed state matriculation exam system,” he said.

G. Sarafinas reminded that the rulers of the previous term had decided to pursue a free bachelor’s degree, when all young people who passed the entrance score bar could get a free study place. Then about 75 percent all freshmen enrolled in state-funded places.

Today, the idea of ​​that free bachelor is buried, leveled, a monument is erected, flowers are buried, no one thinks or considers, that idea is gone.

“Today, the idea of ​​a free bachelor’s degree is buried, leveled, a monument is erected, flowers are buried, no one thinks or considers it, that idea no longer exists. The rulers have changed, no one talks about it anymore,” said G. Sarafinas.

According to G.Sarafino, university indicators show that the number of young people who receive state funding for admission to higher education varies from 57 to 67 percent.

According to him, the mathematics matriculation exams alone increase or decrease the number of students paying for their studies by about 3,000, as many young people become or do not become representatives of state-funded places. After failing to pass the mathematics exam, a graduate cannot apply for state-funded studies.

“In many state colleges, two-thirds of young people used to get state-financed places, and one-third paid, whereas in recent years the proportions have changed – more than one-third get state-financed places, and almost two-thirds of young people pay for their studies. This is sad news for families”, said G. Sarafinas.