How to Find and Use Academic Journal Rankings When Choosing Where to Submit

Choosing the right journal for your research is one of the most consequential decisions in the publication process, and journal rankings are one of the most useful tools available for making that decision. But knowing how to find academic journal rankings is only part of the picture. Understanding what those rankings measure, where they come from, and how to use them alongside other factors is what separates researchers who submit strategically from those who simply aim for the highest impact factor they can find. This guide covers the major ranking systems, where to access them, and how to use them effectively.


Why Journal Rankings Matter

Journal rankings matter for several interconnected reasons. In many academic systems, publications in highly ranked journals carry more weight in hiring, promotion, and grant decisions than publications in lower ranked journals. Funding bodies often ask applicants to list publications by journal tier. Research assessment exercises in countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand explicitly evaluate the prestige of publication venues alongside the quality of the research itself.


Rankings also provide a proxy for audience reach and peer review quality. A journal with a high impact factor is typically read widely within its field, which increases the visibility and citation potential of published work. A journal listed on recognized quality lists has usually been assessed for its editorial standards and peer review processes.


That said, rankings are a tool, not a verdict. A paper published in a well regarded specialist journal in the right field will typically have more impact than the same paper published in a higher ranked generalist journal where it doesn't fit the audience. Using rankings intelligently means balancing prestige with fit.


The Major Academic Journal Ranking Systems

Several distinct ranking systems are used across different disciplines and regions. Each measures something slightly different, and none is universally accepted across all fields. Here's what you need to know about each one.


Journal Impact Factor (JIF)

The Journal Impact Factor is published annually by Clarivate in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). It measures the average number of citations received by articles published in a journal over the previous two years. Impact factor is the most widely recognized journal ranking metric globally and is used across the natural sciences, social sciences, and many humanities fields.


Impact factor has well documented limitations. It favors review articles over primary research, it varies enormously between disciplines making cross field comparisons unreliable, and it can be gamed through editorial practices. Despite these limitations, it remains the most commonly cited metric in promotion and grant applications and the most useful single number for comparing journals within the same field.


How to access it: The Journal Citation Reports database is available through most university library subscriptions. Search by journal name or ISSN to find current and historical impact factor data.


Scimago Journal Rank (SJR)

Scimago Journal Rank is a free, publicly accessible ranking system based on Scopus citation data. It assigns journals a prestige score based not just on the number of citations received but on the prestige of the journals doing the citing, similar in concept to Google's PageRank algorithm. SJR also categorizes journals into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) within their subject categories, which gives researchers a quick way to assess relative standing.


SJR is particularly useful because it's freely available at scimago.com without a library subscription, covers a broader range of journals than the JCR, and provides quartile rankings that are easier to interpret than raw impact factor numbers. Many research funding bodies and institutions now accept SJR quartile rankings as evidence of publication quality.


How to access it: Visit scimago.com and search by journal name, ISSN, or subject area. The rankings are updated annually.


CiteScore

CiteScore is Elsevier's journal ranking metric, also based on Scopus data. Unlike impact factor, which uses a two year citation window, CiteScore uses a four year window, which gives it more stability and makes it more useful for fields where research takes longer to accumulate citations. CiteScore is freely accessible through Scopus and is increasingly used alongside impact factor as a complementary measure.


How to access it: CiteScore data is available through Scopus and through the Sources page on the Scopus website. Search by journal name or subject category.


SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper)

SNIP, also produced using Scopus data, adjusts citation counts based on the average number of citations in a field. This makes it more suitable than impact factor for comparing journals across different disciplines, because it corrects for the fact that citation practices vary enormously between fields. A SNIP score above 1.0 indicates above average citation impact relative to the field.


ABS Academic Journal Guide

The Association of Business Schools Academic Journal Guide is the standard ranking list for business and management research in the United Kingdom and is widely used internationally. It ranks journals on a scale of 1 to 4 star (with 4 star being the highest), based on assessments by expert panels. The ABS list covers accounting, finance, economics, management, marketing, operations, and related fields. It's updated periodically and is available free of charge on the ABS website.


ERA and ABDC Journal Lists

The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) journal list and the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) journal quality list are widely used in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Both rank journals into tiers (A star, A, B, C for ABDC; A star, A, B, C for ERA) and are used in research assessment and promotion decisions. Both lists are freely available online.


FNEGE and HCERES Lists

French research institutions use the FNEGE ranking for management research and the HCERES lists for social sciences and humanities. These are relevant primarily for researchers based in France or affiliated with French institutions, but are also recognized internationally in some business and social science fields.


How to Find Academic Journal Rankings: Step by Step

Here's a practical workflow for finding ranking information for any journal you're considering:


  • Start with Scimago. Go to scimago.com and search for the journal by name or ISSN. This gives you free access to SJR score, quartile ranking, subject category, and trend data going back several years. It's the fastest free starting point for any field.
  • Check the Journal Citation Reports. If your institution has access to Clarivate's JCR, search for the journal there to find its impact factor, impact factor percentile, and ranking within its subject categories. This is the most authoritative source for impact factor data.
  • Check Scopus for CiteScore and SNIP. Search the journal on Scopus or through the Scopus Sources page to find CiteScore and SNIP values. These complement impact factor and are particularly useful for cross field comparisons.
  • Check field specific lists. For business and management, check the ABS Academic Journal Guide. For Australian institutions, check the ERA and ABDC lists. For French institutions, check FNEGE and HCERES. For humanities fields, check the European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH PLUS).
  • Check whether the journal is indexed. Being listed in Scopus or Web of Science is itself a quality indicator. Many journals have strong reputations but aren't yet indexed in these databases, which affects whether your paper will be discoverable through major academic search tools.
  • Look at the journal's h5 index in Google Scholar Metrics. Google Scholar publishes h5 index rankings by subject area at scholar.google.com/citations. This is free, covers a wide range of fields, and is updated annually. It's a useful supplementary data point, particularly for fields that are underrepresented in Scopus and Web of Science.

How to Use Journal Rankings When Choosing Where to Submit

Finding a ranking is straightforward. Using it wisely requires more judgment. Here's how to apply ranking information effectively in your submission strategy:


  • Match ranking to the significance of your contribution. Not every paper is right for a Q1 or 4 star journal. Be honest about where your paper sits relative to the field's current frontier. A solid, well executed study that makes a clear but incremental contribution will typically fare better at a respected Q2 journal where it fits the scope than at a top tier journal where it's unlikely to compete.
  • Prioritize scope over ranking. A paper published in the right journal for its audience will be read and cited by the right people, regardless of whether that journal has the highest impact factor in the field. Scope fit is the single most important factor in successful submission, and rankings should inform rather than override your assessment of fit.
  • Use rankings to create a submission shortlist. Identify the journals in your field ranked Q1 or Q2 and filter them by scope. This gives you a realistic shortlist of target journals rather than either aiming too high or underselling your work.
  • Consider the practical implications of ranking. Higher ranked journals typically have higher rejection rates and longer review times. If you're on a timeline, such as a grant renewal or a promotion review, factor turnaround time into your decision alongside ranking.
  • Don't ignore lower ranked journals for the right paper. Specialist journals ranked Q3 or B tier that reach exactly the right audience can generate more citations and more impact for the right paper than a prestigious generalist journal where the paper is slightly out of scope.

Common Mistakes Researchers Make With Journal Rankings

  • Comparing impact factors across different fields. A journal with an impact factor of 3 in mathematics is not comparable to a journal with an impact factor of 3 in molecular biology. Always compare rankings within the same subject category.
  • Treating rankings as the only factor. Rankings measure historical citation impact, not current editorial quality, turnaround time, or fit with your specific paper. Use them as one input among several.
  • Ignoring predatory journals. Some journals claim rankings or metrics they don't actually hold. Always verify ranking data through the official sources described above, and check whether the journal is listed on reputable databases like Scopus or Web of Science before submitting.
  • Submitting above your paper's level repeatedly. Submitting to journals significantly above your paper's realistic tier generates desk rejections and delays publication. Be strategic about where you start and have a clear cascade plan ready.

FAQs

How do I find the ranking of an academic journal?

The fastest free method is to search for the journal at scimago.com, which provides SJR scores and quartile rankings for thousands of journals across all fields. For impact factor data, use the Journal Citation Reports through your institution's library access. For field specific rankings, check the ABS Academic Journal Guide for business and management, or the ERA and ABDC lists for Australian institutions.


What is the difference between impact factor and SJR quartile?

Impact factor measures the average number of citations received by a journal's articles over a two year period. SJR quartile places a journal in the top 25% (Q1), second 25% (Q2), third 25% (Q3), or bottom 25% (Q4) of journals in its subject category based on a prestige weighted citation score. Quartile rankings are often easier to interpret and compare because they're relative to the field rather than expressed as a raw number.


Is a higher impact factor always better?

Not necessarily. A higher impact factor journal in the wrong field or with the wrong audience for your paper is a less effective publication venue than a lower impact factor journal where your paper is a strong fit. Scope fit, audience reach within your specific subfield, and the practical factors of rejection rate and turnaround time all matter alongside impact factor when choosing where to submit.


Are journal rankings the same in every country?

No. Different countries and research assessment systems use different ranking lists. The ABS Academic Journal Guide is standard in UK business schools. The ABDC and ERA lists are used in Australia. French institutions use FNEGE and HCERES. Impact factor and SJR are used internationally across most fields. Researchers should check which ranking systems are recognized by their institution and funding body.


How often are journal rankings updated?

Impact factor is updated annually in June when Clarivate releases the new Journal Citation Reports. SJR and CiteScore are also updated annually. The ABS Academic Journal Guide is updated periodically, typically every three to four years. The ABDC list is updated less frequently. Always check that you're using the most current version of any ranking list before making submission decisions.


Get Expert Help Before You Submit

Once you've identified your target journal, make sure your manuscript is as strong as possible before you submit. Editor World's journal article editing services are used by researchers across more than 65 countries preparing manuscripts for submission to peer reviewed journals. Our native English editors are available 24/7, prices are transparent, and turnaround times start at 2 hours. For more on journal rankings and submission strategy, read our articles on how to find academic journal rankings and examples of academic journals.