Survey: CalTech Named World's Best Research University

A British survey of 200 universities worldwide has ranked the California Institute of Technology as the world's top university, knocking Harvard University out of the number one spot for the first time in eight years.

The 2011-2012 Times Higher Education World University Rankings found that Caltech, the former number two university, edged out Harvard primarily due to an increase in research funding. Harvard is tied with Stanford University for second place.

Caltech reported a 16 percent increase in research funding and an increase in total institutional income.

Universities are ranked on 13 performance indicators, including research, teaching, and a reputation survey.

Several California universities made the top 100 with USC in the 55th spot.