Academic excellence means establishing healthy teaching and learning environment and maintaining it on sustained basis for the betterment of students and fundamental contributions to the society. In today’s competitive and continuously changing world, it is highly challenging to excel in academic excellence and fulfill the needs of students.This research paper reviews literature on the successful universities across the globe and based on key factors responsible for academic excellence. This paper examines the various factors that contribute to an exceptional academic outcomes and quality of teaching learning environment at world’s top ten universities. Quality of faculty, research output, achievements of students, innovations, teaching learning environment, international recognition. Through this review comparative analysis of key factors responsible for success and sustenance of top universities in academic excellence have been highlighted. The insights of this study are helpful to come up with the knowledge about key factors practiced by world class educational institutions for an excellence in an academic outcome.