The University of Eastern Finland ranked fourth in T-Media’s Reputation&Trust 2025 survey for universities. It examined the reputation of all 14 Finnish universities among citizens. The survey was conducted between February and March in 2025, and a total of 2,146 Finns responded to it.
In the research model, a reputation score is calculated for each organisation on a scale of 1–5. The University of Eastern Finland received the score of 3.68; in 2024, the corresponding score was 3.65.
LUT and the National Defence University share the first place as the most reputable university with the reputation score of 3.77. The University of Jyväskylä is the third with the score of 3.69, and the University of Oulu, in the fifth place after UEF, is the greatest riser in the ranking with the score of 3.65.
– It is important for our university that we have established our position at the top of the Reputation&Trust survey for universities. Our good reputation is visible not only among the general public but also in the appeal of our education and the fact that we are considered an interesting workplace. We must continue to maintain this good reputation by investing in well-being at work and the pedagogical development of teaching, says Rector Tapio Määttä.
– On the whole, the results show, once again, how different the most reputable universities are in Finland. The universities of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland maintain their strong reputation. At the same time, the reputation of other universities is also growing. Universities are clarifying their profiling and are also responding to regional needs, says Senior Advisor Nina Laakso from T-Media.
The general reputation of universities continued to improve
The Reputation&Trust survey also examines the image citizens have of universities in general. The reputation of the university sector is strong among citizens – it is clearly at a good level with a grade of 3.78.
The products and services section, which can be seen to reflect the core mission of universities, i.e., education and research, came close to an excellent score (from 4.00 upwards).
– Of the eight elements of reputation, it is products and services that have the strongest impact on how Finns view and behave towards universities. This means that in the citizens’ view, universities are using tax revenue correctly and efficiently. The high level of trust is good news, because our society aims to increase the number of persons with a higher education degree, says Laakso.
The universities were assessed by using T-Media’s Reputation&Trust model, which scores the reputation of each university based on the average of eight areas. These areas are governance, financial performance, leadership, innovation, dialogue, products&services, workplace, and responsibility.
Bulletin on T-Media’s website (in Finnish): https://t-media.fi/lut-ja-maanpuolustuskorkeakoulu-ovat-maineikkaimmat-yliopistot-2025/