What does Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 mean for academic journals?

Quartiles divide journals in a subject category into four equal groups based on their citation rate or SJR score. Q1 contains the top 25% (highest impact), Q2 the next 25%, Q3 the third quartile, and Q4 the bottom 25%.

Is a Q1 journal always better than a Q2 journal?

Q1 journals have higher citation rates within their subject category, but 'better' depends on your research scope, audience, and field norms. Some specialized Q2 journals are more appropriate venues than broad Q1 journals.

How are these rankings calculated?

Rankings are derived from the latest citation rate data for each journal in our database. When official quartile data is available we use it directly; otherwise quartiles are computed by ranking journals within the selected subject category.

Journal Rankings 2026 — Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Browse 107 ranked journals grouped into quartiles by citation rate. Use the subject filter below to narrow down by research field.

Data last refreshed: Sep 21, 2026

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All Subjects Diverse Scientific and Economic Studies Human auditory perception and evaluation Plant and animal studies Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques Geology and Paleoclimatology Research Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies Climate variability and models RNA modifications and cancer earthquake and tectonic studies Geological and Geochemical Analysis Immune Cell Function and Interaction Medicine Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Conducting polymers and applications Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms Advancements in Battery Materials Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment MicroRNA in disease regulation Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet Catalytic Processes in Materials Science Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth Meat and Animal Product Quality Neural dynamics and brain function Species Distribution and Climate Change

Q1 — Top 25%

27 journals

Journal	IF
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Resear… Elsevier	64.50
American Political Science Review Cambridge University Press	56.90
Chemical Society Reviews The Royal Society of Chemistry	31.04
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Elsevier BV	12.22
Pharmacology & Therapeutics Elsevier BV	10.38
Business Horizons Elsevier BV	8.87
Journal of Controlled Release Elsevier BV	8.72
Cancer Letters Elsevier BV	8.60
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences Elsevier BV	8.53
Computers in Industry Elsevier BV	8.46
Trends in Biochemical Sciences Elsevier BV	6.58
Trends in Microbiology Elsevier BV	6.50
Trends in biotechnology Elsevier BV	6.03
International Journal of Nursing Studies Elsevier BV	5.56
British Medical Bulletin Oxford University Press	5.20
Toxicology Elsevier BV	4.93
International Journal of Coal Geology Elsevier BV	4.65
Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology Elsevier BV	4.62
Long Range Planning Elsevier BV	4.55
BioScience Oxford University Press	4.14
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Di… Elsevier BV	4.00
Pathology - Research and Practice Elsevier BV	3.90
Futures Elsevier BV	3.62
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography Elsevier BV	3.61
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Elsevier BV	3.54

Showing top 25 of 27

Q2 — 50th-75th Percentile

27 journals

Journal	IF
International Organization University of Cambridge	3.08
Artificial Intelligence Elsevier BV	3.06
Solid State Sciences Elsevier BV	3.01
The Electricity Journal Elsevier BV	2.94
ELT Journal Oxford University Press	2.93
Mathematics and Computers in Simulation Elsevier BV	2.93
Journal of Endodontics Elsevier BV	2.90
Experimental and Molecular Pathology Elsevier BV	2.85
The Journal of Academic Librarianship Elsevier BV	2.71
Public Health Elsevier BV	2.66
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Elsevier BV	2.66
Physical Therapy Oxford University Press	2.55
Journal of Proteomics Elsevier BV	2.37
World Patent Information Elsevier BV	2.36
Epidemiology and Infection Cambridge University Press	2.36
Biophysical Chemistry Elsevier BV	2.28
Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Muta… Elsevier BV	2.26
The Sociological Review SAGE Publishing	2.23
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Elsevier	2.20
Biosystems Elsevier BV	2.10
The Journal of Economic History Cambridge University Press	2.10
Journal of Pediatric Nursing Elsevier BV	2.09
European Journal of Wood and Wood Products Springer Science+Business Media	2.04
Clinical Therapeutics Elsevier BV	2.03
Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids Elsevier BV	1.92

Showing top 25 of 27

Q3 — 25th-50th Percentile

27 journals

Journal	IF
Geriatric Nursing Elsevier BV	1.79
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Elsevier BV	1.76
Brain and Language Elsevier BV	1.69
Heart & Lung Elsevier BV	1.69
Microvascular Research Elsevier BV	1.62
Women s Studies International Forum Elsevier BV	1.61
Journal of Social Policy Cambridge University Press	1.56
Clinical Biochemistry Elsevier BV	1.50
Sociology SAGE Publishing	1.49
Apmis Wiley	1.44
Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy Karger Publishers	1.43
Environmental Conservation Cambridge University Press	1.38
Foreign Language Annals Wiley	1.29
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift Springer Science+Business Media	1.24
Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik Gustav Fischer Verlag	1.23
Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy Elsevier BV	1.20
The American Statistician Taylor & Francis	1.16
Journal of Forestry Oxford University Press	1.13
Annals of Epidemiology Elsevier BV	1.11
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Elsevier BV	1.10
Brain and Development Elsevier BV	1.07
Internal Medicine Journal Wiley	1.06
Journal of Pediatric Health Care Elsevier BV	1.05
American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Elsevier BV	1.01
Journal of School Health Wiley	1.00

Showing top 25 of 27

Q4 — Bottom 25%

26 journals

Journal	IF
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine Springer Nature	0.96
Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift Pensoft Publishers	0.89
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing Elsevier BV	0.81
Information and Computation Elsevier BV	0.81
Survival Taylor & Francis	0.78
Journal of Emergency Medicine Elsevier BV	0.76
American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education Elsevier BV	0.74
Oryx Cambridge University Press	0.70
The China Quarterly Cambridge University Press	0.68
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association Elsevier BV	0.67
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science Elsevier BV	0.60
Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Elsevier BV	0.53
The Journal for Nurse Practitioners Elsevier BV	0.52
AORN Journal Wiley	0.41
Feddes Repertorium Wiley	0.23
The Business History Review Cambridge University Press	0.19
Trusts & Trustees Oxford University Press	0.09
Al-Adab Journal	0.02
Geophysical Supplements to the Monthly Notices of the Royal… Oxford University Press	—
BMJ	—
BMJ	—
Recherches économiques de Louvain	—
Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Gardens Kew)	—
American Physical Education Review Informa	—
Archives of Environmental Health An International Journal Informa	—

Showing top 25 of 26

Understanding Journal Quartile Rankings

Quartile rankings (Q1-Q4) are a standard way to categorize academic journals within a subject. They're calculated by ordering all journals in a category by their citation rate (or SJR score) and dividing them into four equal groups.

Q1 — Top 25%, highest impact in the field
Q2 — 50th to 75th percentile
Q3 — 25th to 50th percentile
Q4 — Bottom 25%

Note: When official Scopus/JCR quartile data is available we use it. Otherwise quartiles are approximated by ranking journals within the selected subject by their latest citation rate.

Journal Rankings 2026 — Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Filter by Subject

Q1 — Top 25%

Q2 — 50th-75th Percentile

Q3 — 25th-50th Percentile

Q4 — Bottom 25%

Understanding Journal Quartile Rankings

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