Academic Journal Rankings: Which One Should I Use?

Navigating the landscape of academic journal rankings presents a significant challenge for researchers at all career stages. With eight major journal ranking systems in active use across different regions and disciplines, selecting the appropriate target journals for publication requires careful strategic consideration.

The fundamental challenge is straightforward: a publication in a highly regarded journal according to one ranking system may carry substantially less weight in another. Understanding which academic journal rankings your institution prioritizes is therefore essential for effective career planning.

The central question—"which journal ranking should I use?"—has a context-dependent answer: it depends on your institutional and geographic context. This guide provides a systematic overview of all major science journal rankings to help you make informed decisions.

Quick Reference Guide to Academic Journal Rankings

For researchers seeking immediate guidance based on geographic location:

Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: The VHB-JOURQUAL ranking serves as the primary evaluation criterion. German-speaking institutions rely heavily on VHB classifications for promotion and funding decisions.

United Kingdom and Ireland: The Chartered ABS Academic Journal Guide is the dominant framework. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) incorporates ABS rankings into institutional assessments, and position advertisements frequently specify minimum ABS ratings as eligibility requirements.

Australia and New Zealand: The ABDC Journal Quality List is the standard reference. ABDC ranking journals form the basis of Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) evaluations. Publications not appearing in the ABDC ranking may receive limited recognition in formal assessments.

France: HCERES (Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur) rankings guide institutional assessments and funding allocations, with particular recognition of French-language publications.

Finland and Nordic Countries: JUFO (Publication Forum Finland) provides a comprehensive journal ranking system covering over 40,000 publication channels. Finnish universities and research institutions use JUFO levels (0-3) for research evaluation and funding allocation.

United States: Elite business schools emphasize UTD24 and FT 50 journals, often with financial incentives for publications in these prestigious outlets. The FT 50 journals list carries particular weight for business school rankings. Institutions with broader missions typically reference ABS or SJR ranking systems.

International or Interdisciplinary Research: SJR ranking (SCImago Journal Rank) offers the most comprehensive coverage for science journal rankings, encompassing over 25,000 journals across all academic disciplines.

The Evolution of Multiple Journal Ranking Systems

The existence of eight parallel academic journal rankings reflects the decentralized nature of academic evaluation worldwide. Different national contexts developed distinct criteria for assessing journal quality, which subsequently became institutionalized in funding formulas and promotion criteria.

The VHB in Germany applies different evaluative criteria than the ABDC ranking journals in Australia. The British ABS committee maintains its own methodological approach. American business schools adopted highly selective lists—UTD24 includes only 24 journals, while the FT 50 journals list encompasses 50 titles considered essential for business research. France established HCERES to reflect its academic traditions and linguistic considerations. Finland developed JUFO to provide a comprehensive national framework that covers all academic disciplines, not just business and management.

SJR ranking, developed by SCImago, took a different approach entirely, creating comprehensive science journal rankings that encompass journals across all fields of study based on citation metrics.

Geographic and Institutional Considerations for Journal Rankings

Understanding how academic journal rankings function within specific institutional contexts is essential:

German-speaking institutions incorporate VHB classifications directly into promotion criteria. Guidelines typically specify precise publication requirements, such as a defined number of VHB A+ or A publications within a specified timeframe.

UK institutions operate within the REF framework, which substantially influences institutional funding. Position descriptions frequently include specific ABS rating requirements as selection criteria.

Australian institutions structure research evaluation around ABDC ranking journals through the ERA framework. Publications in journals not included in the ABDC ranking list may receive limited recognition in formal assessments.

French institutions utilize HCERES for funding determinations and maintain recognition of French-language scholarly journals that may not appear in Anglo-American journal ranking systems.

Finnish institutions rely on JUFO for research assessment, with Level 3 representing the highest tier of international excellence, Level 2 indicating leading scholarly channels, Level 1 denoting basic scientific publication channels, and Level 0 covering other identified publication venues.

US business schools at research-intensive institutions may offer substantial financial incentives for UTD24 and FT 50 journals publications. However, the restricted scope of these elite lists means that teaching-focused institutions typically reference broader academic journal rankings.

Disciplinary Considerations in Science Journal Rankings

While geographic context often takes precedence, disciplinary alignment also merits consideration when evaluating journal rankings.

VHB, ABS, and UTD24 were developed specifically for business and management research. ABDC ranking journals provide particularly strong coverage in finance and accounting. JUFO offers comprehensive science journal rankings across all academic disciplines, making it valuable for researchers in any field working within or collaborating with Finnish institutions. SJR ranking remains the only system with genuinely comprehensive coverage across STEM fields and interdisciplinary research areas.

Researchers engaged in interdisciplinary work may find SJR ranking or JUFO most useful, as these systems do not impose the disciplinary boundaries inherent in business-focused journal ranking systems.

Strategic Recommendations for Using Academic Journal Rankings

First, obtain and review your institution's promotion and tenure guidelines. These documents specify which journal ranking systems inform evaluation decisions at your institution.

Second, researchers anticipating international mobility or collaboration should consider targeting journals that rank favorably across multiple academic journal rankings systems. This approach provides flexibility regardless of future institutional affiliations.

Third, utilize Journal Rankings to compare how journals rank across all eight systems simultaneously—including VHB, ABDC ranking journals, ABS, HCERES, SJR ranking, FT 50 journals, UTD24, and JUFO. This approach is more efficient than consulting individual databases separately and helps ensure alignment between your publication strategy and institutional expectations.

Concluding Observations on Journal Rankings

No single journal ranking system holds universal authority. The relevant academic journal rankings are those that your specific institution prioritizes in its evaluation processes.

The most robust publication strategy involves targeting journals that appear favorably in multiple science journal rankings. Conversely, assuming that recognition in one journal ranking system automatically transfers to others can lead to misaligned expectations.

When uncertainty exists regarding which ranking to prioritize, consulting your institution's evaluation guidelines provides the most reliable guidance. Ultimately, the journal ranking that matters most is the one that informs the decisions of those evaluating your scholarly contributions.

Search across all eight academic journal rankings: Journal Rankings allows you to look up any journal and instantly compare its ratings across VHB, ABDC ranking journals, ABS, HCERES, SJR ranking, FT 50 journals, UTD24, and JUFO—helping you make informed publication decisions.

Last updated: January 2026