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. For definitions of each metric and side-by-side comparisons of impact factor, eigenfactor, h-index, SJR, CiteScore, and SNIP, see the article on academic journal ranking metrics.


Quick Answer: The 6-Step Workflow

1. Start with Scimago.
Free, fast, and provides Q1 to Q4 quartile rankings. Best starting point for any field.

2. Check the Journal Citation Reports.
For impact factor data, if your institution has Clarivate access.

3. Check Scopus for CiteScore and SNIP.
Useful for cross-field comparisons and longer citation windows.

4. Check field-specific lists.
ABS for business and management. ERA and ABDC for Australia. FNEGE and HCERES for France. ERIH PLUS for humanities.

5. Verify indexing.
Make sure the journal is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, PubMed, or another reputable database.

6. Match ranking to scope, not just prestige.
Scope fit is the single most important factor in successful submission. Use rankings to shortlist, then evaluate fit.


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 an overview of each one, organized by what you're most likely to encounter as a researcher. For full definitions of how each metric is calculated and what each measures, see the article on academic journal ranking metrics.


Journal Impact Factor (JIF)

The Journal Impact Factor is published annually by Clarivate in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and remains the most widely recognized journal ranking metric globally. It is used across the natural sciences, social sciences, and many humanities fields, and is the most commonly cited metric in promotion and grant applications. Impact factor has well documented limitations, including bias toward review articles and unreliable cross-field comparison.


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 is particularly useful because it covers a broader range of journals than the JCR and provides quartile rankings (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) within subject categories 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. It uses a four-year citation window where impact factor uses two years, which gives it more stability and makes it more useful for fields where research takes longer to accumulate citations. CiteScore is freely accessible 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 is most useful when comparing journals across different disciplines, because it adjusts 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. SNIP is calculated from Scopus data and accessible through Scopus.


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. Before you can rank a journal, you need to find it; for a guide to the major databases and search tools where graduate researchers locate scholarly content, see the article on where to find academic journals.


  • 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 isn't 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) for thousands of journals across all fields. SJR is freely available without a library subscription, covers a broader range of journals than the Journal Citation Reports, and provides quartile rankings that are easier to interpret than raw impact factor numbers. For impact factor data, use the Journal Citation Reports from Clarivate through your institution's library access. For CiteScore and SNIP values, search the journal on Scopus or through the Scopus Sources page. For field-specific rankings, check the ABS Academic Journal Guide for business and management research, the ERA and ABDC lists for Australian institutions, and FNEGE and HCERES for French institutions. Most graduate researchers use a combination of these sources to triangulate ranking information for any journal they're considering.


What is the difference between impact factor and SJR quartile?

Impact factor and SJR quartile measure related but distinct aspects of journal performance. Impact factor, published annually by Clarivate in the Journal Citation Reports, measures the average number of citations received by a journal's articles over the previous two-year period. It's expressed as a raw number (such as 3.5 or 12.7) and is used widely across the natural sciences, social sciences, and many humanities fields. 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 derived from Scopus data. SJR is similar in concept to Google's PageRank algorithm, weighting citations from prestigious journals more heavily than citations from less prestigious ones. Quartile rankings are often easier to interpret and compare across fields than raw impact factor numbers because they're relative to the journal's subject category rather than expressed as a raw number that varies enormously by discipline.


Is a higher impact factor always better when choosing where to submit?

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 is the single most important factor in successful submission. A paper published in the right specialist 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. Audience reach within your specific subfield, the practical factors of rejection rate and turnaround time, and the alignment of your paper with the journal's stated aims and scope all matter alongside impact factor when choosing where to submit. Researchers who optimize purely for impact factor often face desk rejections at journals where their paper doesn't fit the scope, wasting months without useful feedback.


Are journal rankings the same in every country?

No. Different countries and research assessment systems use different ranking lists, and researchers should know which lists are recognized by their institution and funding body. The ABS Academic Journal Guide, produced by the Chartered Association of Business Schools, is the standard ranking list for business and management research in the United Kingdom and is widely used internationally. The Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) journal list and the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) journal quality list are used in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. French institutions use the FNEGE ranking for management research and the HCERES lists for the social sciences and humanities. The European Reference Index for the Humanities (ERIH PLUS) is used in many humanities fields. Impact factor (Clarivate) and SJR (Scimago) are used internationally across most fields and are typically the most useful starting points for researchers without a strong institutional preference. Researchers based in countries with national ranking systems should treat the national list as primary and international rankings as supplementary.


How often are journal rankings updated?

Major journal rankings are typically updated annually, but the timing and frequency vary by ranking system. Impact factor is updated annually in June when Clarivate releases the new Journal Citation Reports, with the data covering citation activity from the two previous calendar years. SJR (Scimago) and CiteScore (Elsevier) are also updated annually, typically in the spring, using Scopus citation data. The ABS Academic Journal Guide is updated periodically, typically every three to four years, with assessment by expert panels rather than purely citation-based metrics. The ABDC Journal Quality List is updated less frequently. The ERA list is updated approximately every six years in connection with the Australian research assessment exercise. Researchers should always check that they're using the most current version of any ranking list before making submission decisions, and should be aware that a journal's ranking can change between updates as citation patterns and editorial quality evolve.


How can researchers avoid predatory journals when using rankings?

Predatory journals sometimes claim rankings, impact factors, or metrics they don't actually hold, and verifying ranking data through official sources is essential before submitting. Always verify impact factor through the Journal Citation Reports or the Clarivate website rather than accepting numbers displayed on the journal's own website. Verify SJR scores through scimago.com directly. Verify CiteScore through Scopus. Check whether the journal is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), PubMed, or another reputable database; legitimate journals are typically indexed in at least one major database. Check whether the journal is associated with a recognized publisher (such as Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Sage, Taylor and Francis, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, or a recognized scholarly society). Think Check Submit (thinkchecksubmit.org) provides a free checklist for evaluating journals before submission. A journal that displays a metric on its website but can't be verified through the metric's official source is a serious warning sign and should be avoided regardless of other claims.


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 service and academic editing service are used by researchers across more than 65 countries preparing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Native English editors from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada are available 24/7, prices are transparent, and turnaround times start at 2 hours. Editor World has been BBB A+ accredited since 2010, with more than 100 million words edited for over 8,000 clients in 65+ countries. A certificate of editing confirming human-only native English editing is available as an optional add-on, useful for journal submissions where editing certification is required.


For more on journal selection and submission strategy, see the companion articles on academic journal ranking metrics (definitions of impact factor, eigenfactor, h-index, SJR, CiteScore, SNIP, and more), where to find academic journals (databases and search tools for graduate research), and examples of academic journals (recognized journals across the major disciplines).


Content reviewed by Editor World editorial staff. Editor World provides professional English editing, proofreading, copy editing, line editing, substantive editing, and developmental editing services for academic researchers, doctoral candidates, faculty, business professionals, students, and authors worldwide. BBB A+ accredited since 2010. Native English editors from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada with subject-matter expertise across the social sciences, the natural and physical sciences, medicine, engineering, computer science, and the humanities. No AI tools are used at any stage.