The University of Wisconsin has gained a top ranking in an annual international survey of higher education institutions.

According to a statement from UW, the university ranked 27th in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. The ranking takes into account academics from institutions in 137 different countries.

UW Provost Paul DeLuca said what is striking about the survey is that although UW placed 27th overall, it placed third in terms of public institutions, behind the University of Michigan and the University of California-Berkeley.

“It is very rewarding that we’re a great public institution that draws 75 percent of our undergraduate student body from the state of Wisconsin,” DeLuca said. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment with respect to students in the state.”

DeLuca said the Times ranking system takes into account many factors, including student quality, graduation rate, curriculum quality and research when determining how institutions rank.

He said there is also an element of opinion, in that academic experts from all over the world are asked their thoughts on top institutions. According to the statement, scholars from 149 countries have responded over the past two years.

UW professor of education Clif Conrad said it is important to recognize that these rankings do not give the full picture of a university.

“We have to be mindful of what happens between [students’] entry and exit,” Conrad said. “It is hard to measure student learning.”

DeLuca said most of the benefits for UW for this distinction come in the form of students from other states who see the ranking and want to study at UW for their undergraduate degree.

Additionally, he said international students looking to do graduate work, as well as faculty, are attracted to UW by the ranking given to the university.

“The highest impact is for the students who want to come here, undergraduate and graduate, from outside the state, who are looking to get a top-notch education at a top-ranked university,” DeLuca said.

Conrad said the ranking is only one piece of what UW has to offer to its students and faculty.

He said it is important to acknowledge that rankings are based not only on UW’s “extraordinary” work, but also the international resources it attracts from students.

“It’s not the rankings for me, it’s the quality of what happens every day here,” Conrad said.