U.S. institutions dominate the list of world 's best universities leaving other countries trailing far behind in terms of numbers . Harvard takes the top spot for the fifth year running . Oxford and Cambridge are the only non-American universities in top 20 . The top ten is rounded out by universities from Japan , Switzerland and Canada joining those from the U.S. and U.K .
U.S. institutions dominate the list of world 's best universities leaving other countries trailing far behind in terms of numbers . Harvard takes the top spot for the fifth year running . Oxford and Cambridge are the only non-American universities in top ten . The top 20 is rounded out by universities from Japan , Switzerland and Canada joining those from the U.S. and U.K .