RSU tops university reputation rankings for the tenth consecutive year
Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) has retained its position as the reputation leader in Latvia’s higher education sector for the tenth consecutive year, according to the latest university reputation survey conducted by the research company Fifty5blue (formerly Kantar). The findings confirm that RSU is the highest-rated university not only among the general Latvian population but also among young people.
Overall, RSU firmly holds first place in the reputation ranking among the general population with 81 index points, reflecting an increase of seven index points over the past year. Meanwhile, among youth, RSU’s reputation rating stands at 77 index points this year, with a three-point increase in this target group compared to last year. Both among the general public and the youth audience, RSU’s reputation this year is significantly higher than the overall average for universities (62 index points among the public and 60 index points among youth).
RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons: ‘Maintaining the position of reputation leader for ten years means consistently demonstrating quality, reliability and the ability to evolve.
Achieving a leading position is challenging but sustaining it over such a long period is even more demanding, as it requires consistently high performance, public trust and the ability to continually demonstrate its value. This result is a shared achievement of the entire RSU community – students, alumni, academic staff, researchers and employees.’
The survey results show that RSU’s reputation is built on consistently high ratings in the dimensions of attractiveness and institutional competence. Compared with other Latvian universities, RSU’s performance once again significantly exceeds the sector average. Particularly notable are the public’s long-term trust in the university, confidence in the quality of its education, and the highly positive assessment of RSU’s overall reputation.
According to respondents, RSU’s key strengths include the high quality of education it provides, the practical knowledge and skills students acquire, and the strong reputation of its degree in the labour market. In addition, an RSU degree is regarded as highly valuable in the labour market. These factors rank among the most important drivers of reputation and form the foundation of the university’s long-term competitiveness.
Growing public trust and willingness to recommend RSU
A particularly significant indicator of reputational capital is people’s willingness to recommend an institution to others. The survey reveals that RSU enjoys a particularly high proportion of so-called ‘advocates’ – individuals who speak positively about the university to friends, relatives and colleagues. The share of such respondents is considerably higher for RSU than for any other university included in the survey, and it has increased further over the past year.
The positive perception of RSU is also reflected in respondents’ spontaneous comments: 93% of those surveyed provided favourable feedback when describing the university’s reputation. Respondents most frequently highlighted the university’s reputation, the quality of its services, the organisation of studies, and its academic staff.
Survey methodology
The survey was conducted in spring 2026 among Latvian residents aged 15–60 and young people aged 15–26. The Latvian university reputation survey covers the country’s nine largest institutions of higher education. The study was carried out using the internationally recognised and widely applied TRIM Corporate Reputation methodology, in accordance with the ESOMAR Code and standards for market and social research.
