Q1 Journals - Business, Management And Accounting
The Quartile ranking is a way of classifying journals based on their SJR Score within a subject category. Journals in the top 25% are Q1, the next 25% are Q2, and so on through Q4.
Use the table below to browse journals by quartile and explore other metrics such as the Impact Factor and H-Index.
| # | Journals List | Quartile | SJR Score | H-Index | Impact Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lancet | Q1 | 14.607 | 855 | 168.9 |
| 2 | JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association | Q1 | 6.695 | 739 | 120.7 |
| 3 | Nature Reviews Disease Primers | Q1 | 11.388 | 155 | 94.8 |
| 4 | Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology | Q1 | 14.809 | 198 | 82.7 |
| 5 | Nature Reviews Microbiology | Q1 | 10.396 | 349 | 79.1 |
| 6 | Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology | Q1 | 10.178 | 173 | 67.5 |
| 7 | The Lancet Psychiatry | Q1 | 8.167 | 127 | 64.3 |
| 8 | The Lancet Respiratory Medicine | Q1 | 11.204 | 159 | 52.5 |
| 9 | The Lancet Oncology | Q1 | 12.270 | 382 | 51.1 |
| 10 | Annals of Oncology | Q1 | 11.945 | 277 | 50.5 |
| 11 | Nature Reviews Endocrinology | Q1 | 8.124 | 187 | 50.2 |
| 12 | The Lancet Neurology | Q1 | 9.819 | 336 | 48.0 |
| 13 | Nature Methods | Q1 | 14.358 | 363 | 47.99 |
| 14 | Nature Materials | Q1 | 13.874 | 533 | 47.656 |
| 15 | Chemical Society Reviews | Q1 | 15.109 | 595 | 46.2 |
| 16 | Nature Reviews Cardiology | Q1 | 6.932 | 164 | 45.7 |
| 17 | Journal of Clinical Oncology | Q1 | 10.163 | 600 | 45.3 |
| 18 | The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology | Q1 | 8.217 | 151 | 44.5 |
| 19 | Nature Reviews Neurology | Q1 | 6.536 | 188 | 44.3 |
| 20 | Nature Reviews Neuroscience | Q1 | 6.970 | 455 | 44.1 |
| 21 | Nature Reviews Chemistry | Q1 | 10.967 | 90 | 42.1 |
| 22 | Joule | Q1 | 12.282 | 153 | 41.248 |
| 23 | Nature Reviews Physics | Q1 | 9.340 | 52 | 40.5 |
| 24 | Circulation | Q1 | 7.800 | 654 | 39.918 |
| 25 | Nature Nanotechnology | Q1 | 13.141 | 395 | 39.9 |
| 26 | Cell Research | Q1 | 8.060 | 200 | 39.3 |
| 27 | European Heart Journal | Q1 | 3.450 | 329 | 39.3 |
| 28 | Annals of Internal Medicine | Q1 | 3.845 | 419 | 39.2 |
| 29 | JAMA Internal Medicine | Q1 | 4.922 | 375 | 39 |
| 30 | Nature Electronics | Q1 | 10.927 | 84 | 38.6 |
| 31 | Nature Photonics | Q1 | 11.774 | 362 | 38.2 |
| 32 | The Lancet Microbe | Q1 | 9.419 | 33 | 38.2 |
| 33 | The Lancet Public Health | Q1 | 10.591 | 75 | 37.8 |
| 34 | Progress in Materials Science | Q1 | 8.515 | 210 | 37.4 |
| 35 | Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy | Q1 | 6.630 | 83 | 37.2 |
| 36 | Clinical Microbiology Reviews | Q1 | 7.584 | 314 | 36.8 |
| 37 | Annual Review of Pathology Mechanisms of Disease | Q1 | 8.628 | 143 | 36.2 |
| 38 | The Lancet Global Health | Q1 | 7.370 | 123 | 34.3 |
| 39 | Gastroenterology | Q1 | 7.645 | 442 | 33.883 |
| 40 | Molecular Cancer | Q1 | 8.703 | 171 | 33.1 |
| 41 | Energy and Environmental Science | Q1 | 12.306 | 408 | 32.5 |
| 42 | Immunity | Q1 | 14.795 | 436 | 32.4 |
| 43 | The Innovation | Q1 | 5.057 | 30 | 32.1 |
| 44 | Nature Climate Change | Q1 | 6.849 | 239 | 31.4 |
| 45 | Cell Metabolism | Q1 | 10.037 | 318 | 31.3 |
| 46 | The Lancet Digital Health | Q1 | 6.433 | 48 | 30.8 |
| 47 | Science immunology | Q1 | 11.191 | 90 | 30.63 |
| 48 | Cell Host and Microbe | Q1 | 10.227 | 219 | 30.1 |
| 49 | Annual Review of Immunology | Q1 | 15.262 | 317 | 29.7 |
| 50 | Nature Immunology | Q1 | 10.921 | 424 | 29.6 |
What is the Journal Quartile?
A journal quartile classifies journals into four tiers (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) within a specific subject category, based on their SJR Score (or sometimes Impact Factor). Quartiles help researchers quickly assess where a journal stands compared to peers in the same field — not against unrelated disciplines.
Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 Explained
| Quartile | Position | Quality Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Top 25% | Highest-impact, most prestigious in the field |
| Q2 | 25%–50% | Strong reputation, frequently cited |
| Q3 | 50%–75% | Solid mid-tier journals |
| Q4 | Bottom 25% | Emerging or niche journals |
How are Quartiles Determined?
SCImago ranks all journals in a subject category by their SJR score, then divides them into four equal-sized groups:
- The top 25% = Q1 (e.g., if there are 200 journals in “Medicine”, the top 50 by SJR are Q1).
- The next 25% = Q2 (positions 51–100).
- The next 25% = Q3.
- The bottom 25% = Q4.
A journal can have different quartiles in different subject categories — e.g., Q1 in “Cardiology” but Q2 in “Internal Medicine” if it’s indexed in both.
Why Quartiles Matter for Authors
- Tenure & promotion: Many universities require Q1 or Q2 publications.
- Funding: Grant agencies often weigh Q1 papers more heavily.
- Visibility: Q1 journals reach larger, more engaged audiences.
- Career growth: Early-career researchers benefit from Q1/Q2 papers on their CV.
Quartile FAQ
What does Q1 mean?
Q1 means the journal is in the top 25% of its subject category by SJR score. It’s the highest tier and typically the most competitive to publish in.
Is a Q1 journal always better than a Q2?
Generally yes — but a niche Q2 journal closely aligned with your scope may have higher acceptance rates and a more targeted audience than a broad Q1 journal where your work would be one of many.
How do I find Q1 journals in my subject?
Use our Q1 Medicine page (replace “medicine” with your subject) or the Quartile Journal Finder.
Can a journal change quartiles?
Yes — quartiles are recalculated annually. Journals can move up or down based on changes in citations and SJR scores.
Tips for Targeting the Right Quartile
- Be honest about your work: If your paper is incremental, Q3/Q4 may give a faster acceptance and still build your record.
- Match scope first, quartile second: A perfect-fit Q2 journal beats a poor-fit Q1.
- Use multiple metrics: Combine quartile with H-Index and acceptance rate.
- Avoid predatory journals claiming “Q1 status” outside SCImago’s actual ranking.
