LUT and the National Defence University Are the Most Reputable Universities in 2025

In the Reputation&Trust " survey of universities conducted by T-Media, LUT and the National Defense University share the top spot as the most reputable universities. The University of Oulu saw the biggest rise in reputation. The survey examined the reputation of all Finnish universities among the general public.

T-Media conducted a survey on university reputation in February–March 2025, and a total of 2,146 Finns responded to the survey. Of the top three, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) and the National Defence University received a reputation score of 3.77. The University of Jyväskylä received a score of 3.69 and the University of Eastern Finland 3.68. The biggest climber is the University of Oulu.

Reputation&Trust, a reputation score on a scale of 1 to 5 is calculated for each organization.

The Reputation&Trust " Survey of Universities. The survey examines the reputation of all Finnish universities among the general public. The chart shows the top-ranked universities and changes in reputation scores compared to the previous year.

“The National Defence University’s high standing among Finns reflects its central role today as a military academy which trains professional personnel for both the Finnish Defense Forces and the Border Guard and produces strategically important research data in a rapidly changing world,” says Nina Laakso, Senior Advisor at T-Media.

The biggest climber in the rankings is the University of Oulu, which came just behind the top four with a reputation score of 3.65.

“Overall, the rankings once again demonstrate just how diverse the most prestigious universities in Finland are. The Universities of Jyväskylä and Eastern Finland continue to maintain their strong reputations. At the same time, the reputations of other universities are also growing, as evidenced by the significant rise of the University of Oulu. Universities are sharpening their profiles and also responding to regional needs,” Laakso continues.

“The University of Oulu managed to improve its reputation scores in several key areas more than any other university. These areas include employment, interaction, responsibility, and innovation. As has been evident in previous years’ surveys, new leadership often has the opportunity to influence the direction of reputation development, and this may now also be reflected in the University of Oulu’s results.”

“One of the strengths of Finnish society is that citizens trust science and universities as institutions. We can build the university’s reputation by fulfilling the important mission entrusted to us. We offer students high-quality education, the skills gained from which are valued by future employers; we conduct high-level research and put it to use for the benefit of society in collaboration with various stakeholders,” says Arto Maaninen, Rector of the University of Oulu.

The overall reputation of universities continued to improve

Reputation&Trust also examines the public’s general perception of universities. The university sector enjoys a strong reputation among the public—it clearly scores highly, with a rating of 3.78.

The overall reputation of Finnish universities in 2025 and 2024, according to Reputation&Trust. The survey examined the overall reputation of universities among Finns. The figure in the graph represents the overall reputation of the university sector, which is the average of the ratings across the eight sub-areas of reputation.

In this year’s survey, a positive trend can be seen in universities’ overall reputation across several different areas. The area of products and services, which can be seen as reflecting the core mission of universities—education and research—rose to a rating close to “excellent” (starting at 4.00).

“The overall improvement in the reputation of universities is an important outcome in terms of higher education and the status and value of research-based knowledge. Of the eight components of reputation, it is products and services that have the strongest influence on how Finns view and interact with universities. This reflects the fact that citizens believe universities use tax funds correctly and efficiently. The high level of trust is good news, as our society aims to increase the number of people with higher education,” says Laakso.

“It is now particularly important to examine the public’s perceptions and level of trust in universities and their role in general. Around the world, there are increasingly serious examples of how trust and respect for the status of universities and scientific knowledge are being deliberately eroded. Deliberate misinformation is gaining ground and is being used as a tool to polarize society. In Finland, too, we must ensure that universities and their activities continue to receive strong support from the public in the future.”

This is how we conducted the study

The aim of the " Reputation&Trust " survey of universities was to assess the reputation of Finnish universities among the general public. All 14 universities in Finland participated in the survey.

The universities were evaluated using T-Media’s Reputation&Trust, in which a university’s reputation score is calculated as the average of eight different sub-areas. The sub-areas are organizational administration, finances, leadership, innovation, interaction, products and services, workplace, and responsibility. The study used a five-point rating scale (1–5).

Data for the study was collected via an online survey between February 19 and March 7, 2025. A total of 2,146 Finns participated in the survey. The target group for the survey consisted of Finns aged 15–65 nationwide (excluding the Åland Islands). The sample was weighted to be representative of the population by gender, age, and region of residence.