The latest university and college rankings and the highest graduate salaries are published

Top 5 of the best public universities:

2. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

3. Kaunas University of Technology,

5. VILNIUS TECH University.

Positions of private universities:

1. ISM University of Management and Economics;

2. Kazimier Simonavičius University;

3. LCC International University.

Jonė Kučinskaitė, a representative of the “Reitingai” magazine, mentioned that after the scandals regarding the eleventh grade intermediate knowledge tests, there are ideas among the universities to return to the examination at the universities themselves.

“There is already a feeling among universities that because of all the scandals during the eleventh-grade intermediate knowledge tests, which showed that they are not ready for this, (…) universities are starting to think about possibly returning to examinations at the universities themselves. Such a position was expressed by the representatives of Vytautas Magnus University”, said J. Kučinskaitė.

All Lithuanian universities were evaluated according to 35 different parameters, several more indicators were added for readers to familiarize themselves with. These 35 parameters are grouped into five large groups of criteria:

I. the added value created by alumni and the opinion of employers (35 points),

II. scientific, artistic and/or sports activities (25 points),

III. study level and students (25 points),

IV. internationality of the university (10 points),

V. current and future academic staff (5 points).

Thus, in total, the universities could score a maximum of 100 points each.

Analysts of the magazine “Reitingai” remind that it is not possible to compare the points collected by state and non-state universities, as they were evaluated separately.

The magazine “Ratings” notes that there is a fierce battle between the state universities that took the second to fifth places.

There is a fierce battle between the state universities that took the second to fifth places.

These universities are putting in a lot of effort in various evaluated planes. And this is beneficial for applicants and students, say analysts.

According to the added value created by alumni and employers’ assessments, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences ranks first among state universities.

“Reitingai” journalists pointed out that the employability of many high school graduates improved significantly nine months after graduation. Most universities in 2023 the share of program graduates who did not find a job after 9 months of graduation does not reach one percent.

This criterion has the greatest weight and, in principle, it largely determined the university’s place both according to this criterion and in the final ranking in 2024. In the university ranking table, each university’s 2022 graduates of the program receive a salary 18 months after graduation.

LSMU alumni receive the highest salary – 3,520 euros, and among private universities – ISM – 3,464 euros.

When assessing the scientific quality of universities, the compilers of the ratings relied on the scientific activity of Lithuanian universities in 2022 conducted by the Lithuanian Science Council (LMT). with the results of the formal assessment.

They also traditionally assessed how many of each university’s academic staff, currently teaching at the university, had received national art or arts awards in the past year. Vilnius University stands out the most in terms of scientific excellence.

According to the third criterion – students and studies – two specialized higher schools are leading: VDA and LMTA.

In terms of internationality, Vilnius Tech is in the lead, LSU is second.

According to the criterion of academic staff, VU and VDU stand out the most.

The magazine “Reitingai” also published the ranking of colleges.

In the top five of the ranking of state colleges:

4. Vilnius College of Technology and Design,

5. Lithuanian Higher Maritime School.

And here are the leaders in the ranking of non-state colleges:

1. Vilnius College of Design,

2. St. I. Loyola College,

Colleges are ranked similarly to universities. The biggest innovation in the college ranking is the return of graduate salaries after a gap of several years. It is given one-fifth (20%) of the total weight of the college ranking. And this tangible indicator, which shows how much and how the alumnus of each college is valued in the market, had a significant impact on the final placement of the colleges in the ranking table.

The colleges could score a maximum of 100 points.

Colleges could score a maximum of 45 points for the first criterion: Added value created by alumni and employers’ evaluations.

Even 20 points out of 45 were awarded in 2022. for the salaries of graduates of each college received 18 months after graduation.

The biggest paradox, according to the analysts of the magazine “Reitingai”, is that graduates of the three reorganized colleges earn the best: Alytus colleges – 2,371 euros, Vilnius technology and design colleges – 2,279 euros, Lithuanian maritime high schools – 2,100 euros, further: Vilnius colleges – 2,065 euros and Kaunas technical schools of the college, which will become the Lithuanian College of Engineering, – 2022 euros.

Among the private colleges, graduates of the Vilnius Business College earn the best – 1,980 euros, Lithuanian business colleges – 1,946 euros, SMK Higher Schools – 1,737 euros.

According to the data of the Employment Service, in 2023 program of college graduates who have not found a job within 9 months. (until February 1, 2024) there were only units after graduation and only in nine colleges.

Traditionally, the sociological research company “Prime Consulting” conducted a survey of the country’s employers from all ten counties on behalf of the “Reingai” magazine. A total of 1011 respondents were interviewed. They rated the best graduates of Vilnius College, KTK and LAJM, and from private colleges: graduates of Vilnius Business (VVK), Lithuanian Business and Vilnius College of Design.

The second criterion for which colleges could score 30 points is Students and studies. It evaluated the number of the most gifted graduates, that is, those who passed the state matriculation exams with scores between 86 and 100 and chose a specific college.

At most, even 28.9 percent. the best graduates among all admitted students became freshmen of the reformed VTDK, 22.3 percent. – Vilnius colleges, and in private colleges – 34 percent. chose Vilnius College of Design among the best.

15 points could be collected for the third parameter – the College’s academic staff and the well-being of the study base. Leaders of this parameter: LAJM, Kaunas College and Vilnius College. And among the private ones: SMK Aukštoji mokykla and St. I. Loyola College.

The fourth criterion is internationality. According to it, LAJM is in the lead, Klaipėda State College is second, Alytus College is third, and among private colleges: Lithuanian College of Business and Vilnius College of Design.