London-based rater evaluates higher education globally Cited University for research breakthroughs Boston University is “creating breakthroughs in everything from African Studies to zebrafish genetics” on “three city campuses [that] are always humming,” global education evaluator QS says. Those strengths and others led the London-based rater to grade the University as the 20th best “doctoral university” in the United States in its 2021 rankings. BU stepped up one notch from last year’s number 21 ranking. QS also deems BU the 17th best private university in the nation, also one step up from last year, and 3rd among the 16 Massachusetts universities that were graded, the same spot as in 2020.