The western-most university to crack the top 10, Stanford University, located in Stanford, Calif., has been a steady climber in the QS rankings — rising 12 spots since 2007. The university’s growing prestige is tied to its strong academic programs in math and science, including the top statistics department in the world. It comes as little surprise, then, that Stanford is the alma mater of at least 30 living billionaires, as well as 17 astronauts.

Beck Diefenbach/Reuters/File
A cyclist exits the entryway to the Main Quad at Stanford University in California.