Frontiers in Immunology Impact Factor
Frontiers in Immunology impact factor is 5.9. See the current rank, quartile, and what the number actually means before you submit.
Associate Professor, Immunology & Infectious Disease
Author context
Specializes in manuscript preparation and peer review strategy for immunology and infectious disease research, with 10+ years evaluating submissions to top-tier journals.
Journal evaluation
Want the full picture on Frontiers in Immunology?
See scope, selectivity, submission context, and what editors actually want before you decide whether Frontiers in Immunology is realistic.
A fuller snapshot for authors
Use Frontiers in Immunology's impact factor as one signal, then stack it against selectivity, editorial speed, and the journal guide before you decide where to submit.
What this metric helps you decide
- Whether Frontiers in Immunology has the citation profile you want for this paper.
- How the journal compares to nearby options when prestige or visibility matters.
- Whether the citation upside is worth the likely selectivity and process tradeoffs.
What you still need besides JIF
- Scope fit and article-type fit, which matter more than a high number.
- Desk-rejection risk, which impact factor does not predict.
- Timeline and cost context.
How authors actually use Frontiers in Immunology's impact factor
Use the number to place the journal in the right tier, then check the harder filters: scope fit, selectivity, and editorial speed.
Use this page to answer
- Is Frontiers in Immunology actually above your next-best alternatives, or just more famous?
- Does the prestige upside justify the likely cost, delay, and selectivity?
- Should this journal stay on the shortlist before you invest in submission prep?
Check next
- Acceptance rate: ~40%. High JIF does not tell you how hard triage will be.
- First decision: ~80 days. Timeline matters if you are under a grant, job, or revision clock.
- Publishing cost and article type, since those constraints can override prestige.
Quick answer:
Frontiers in Immunology impact factor is 5.9 in 2024. It remains a Q1 immunology journal and ranks 32/183 in the category. The practical question is not just whether 5.9 is good. It is whether that number is strong enough for the publishing outcome you actually want.
If you are searching Frontiers in Immunology impact factor, the metric answer is straightforward. The more useful answer is strategic: the journal still has real citation visibility and real discoverability, but it should be judged as a broad open-access immunology venue, not as a substitute for the most selective immunology brands.
What a 5.9 Impact Factor Means
Frontiers in Immunology has a 2024 JIF of 5.9, meaning articles published in 2022-2023 averaged 5.9 citations by the end of 2024. The ranking of 32nd out of 183 immunology journals places Frontiers in Immunology in Q1 (top 25%), making it competitive within the broad immunology field.
In practical terms: a 5.9 JIF reflects solid citation behavior among immunology researchers and confirms the journal reaches a real, active readership across multiple immunology subfields.
Frontiers in Immunology: The Numbers
2024 Impact Factor: 5.9
5-Year Impact Factor: 6.8 (declining slightly from long-term trend)
Category Rank: 32 out of 183 in Immunology
Percentile: 83rd
Quartile: Q1 (top 25%)
CiteScore (Scopus): 10.8
SJR: 1.941
SNIP: 1.259
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Type: Open-access peer-reviewed journal
Among Immunology journals, Frontiers in Immunology ranks in the top 17% by impact factor (JCR 2024).
The 5-year JIF of 6.8 shows the journal has historically maintained slightly higher citation impact. The recent dip to 5.9 may reflect increasing competition from other open-access immunology venues or selective journals, though the journal remains well-positioned.
Frontiers in Immunology Impact Factor Trend
Year | Impact Factor |
|---|---|
2017 | ~5.5 |
2018 | ~4.7 |
2019 | ~5.1 |
2020 | 7.6 |
2021 | 8.8 |
2022 | 7.3 |
2023 | 6.4 |
2024 | 5.9 |
Data sourced from our analysis of 20,449 journals in the Clarivate JCR 2024 database.
Frontiers in Immunology CiteScore, SJR, and Scopus Metrics
Scopus metrics complement the JCR impact factor by using different citation windows and weighting methods. They're useful when you want a fuller picture of a journal's standing, especially in systems that rely on Scopus rather than Web of Science.
Metric | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
CiteScore | 10.8 | Citations per document over a 4-year window |
SJR | 1.941 | Prestige-weighted citation influence |
SNIP | 1.259 | Field-normalized impact |
The CiteScore of 10.8 is notably higher than the two-year JIF of 5.9, which reflects the longer citation window capturing more of Frontiers in Immunology's citation accumulation. The SJR of 1.941 confirms Q1 standing in Scopus alongside its JCR Q1 rank. Both indexing systems tell the same story: a credible, visible broad immunology journal.
The trend matters because it tells a more honest story than the headline number alone. Frontiers in Immunology benefited from the same citation-rich period that lifted many life-science journals in 2020 and 2021, then moved lower as citation behavior normalized. The current 5.9 should be treated as the operative number for a 2026 shortlist, not as a temporary dip that authors should hand-wave away.
How Does 5.9 Compare?
For immunology specifically:
Higher: Nature Immunology (15.6), Immunity (25.8), Trends in Immunology (15.0), Journal of Experimental Medicine (~7), eLife (varies, typically 6-8)
Lower: Journal of Immunology (4.8), Cellular & Molecular Immunology (~4-5), Immunological Reviews (varies widely)
Comparable: Cytokine (~3-4 is lower), Immunology & Cell Biology (~4-5 is lower)
The 5.9 IF positions Frontiers in Immunology as a strong general-purpose venue. It is below the most selective journals such as Nature Immunology or Immunity, but still above many smaller specialty journals and credible enough to matter for visibility, indexing, and citation potential.
Journal Scope
Frontiers in Immunology publishes across all immunology subfields:
- Adaptive immunity: T cell biology, B cell activation, antibody responses, immune memory
- Innate immunity: Innate lymphoid cells, pattern recognition, inflammatory pathways
- Immunotherapy: CAR-T cells, checkpoint inhibitors, immunological approaches to cancer
- Vaccines: Vaccine design, immunogenicity, protective immunity
- Autoimmunity: Regulatory T cells, loss of tolerance, self-reactive responses
- Transplantation: Graft rejection, tolerance induction, immune monitoring
- Infection: Pathogen-immune interactions, protective vs. pathogenic immunity
- Translational: Clinical translation of immunological research
The extremely broad scope is intentional. Frontiers in Immunology doesn't filter by subfield or application; it accepts any technically sound immunological research.
Acceptance Rate and Timeline
Frontiers in Immunology maintains moderate selectivity appropriate for Q1 status. Estimated acceptance rate: 45-55%.
Time to first decision: 60-90 days (standard for quality journals)
Time to publication: 2-4 weeks after acceptance (faster than traditional journals)
Open access: Required; APC ~$2,300
The relatively fast publication timeline after acceptance is one of the journal's real advantages. If you need indexed open-access publication with broad immunology reach and you are not optimizing purely for prestige signaling, that matters.
What This Number Does Not Tell You
The impact factor does not tell you:
- whether your manuscript is a strong section fit
- whether the paper is complete enough for external review
- how the journal will be perceived inside your exact subfield
- whether a narrower or more selective title would better serve the paper
Those questions still matter because Frontiers in Immunology is often chosen for practicality, reach, and scope fit, not only for brand.
What Pre-Submission Reviews Reveal About Frontiers in Immunology Submissions
In our pre-submission review work with immunology manuscripts, Frontiers in Immunology has a distinctive editorial profile that authors frequently misread:
The scope breadth is real, but section fit still matters. Frontiers in Immunology is divided into specialty sections (Inflammation, Cancer Immunity, T Cell Biology, etc.), and manuscripts are assigned to section associate editors who are domain specialists. A paper that fits the journal broadly but lands in the wrong section (or sits between sections) can bounce between editorial hands before finding a home. This causes delays that authors misinterpret as slow peer review. Identifying the correct Specialty Section and naming it in your cover letter is not optional.
The peer review model is different from traditional journals. Frontiers uses an "interactive review" process where reviews are conducted as a dialogue between authors and reviewers, with editors managing the conversation. Reviewers don't give a binary accept/reject recommendation; they give comments and authors respond in rounds. Authors who expect a traditional "major revision" letter are sometimes caught off guard by the interactive format. The practical implication: revisions need to be responsive and detailed, not just editorially polished.
Acceptance rate doesn't mean low bar. At 45-55% acceptance, Frontiers in Immunology is far more accessible than Nature Immunology or Immunity, but that's compared to a 5-8% bar, not to a 90% bar. We see manuscripts rejected here for underpowered sample sizes, missing statistical controls, or inadequate characterization of immune cell populations. Reviewers are genuine immunology experts and they apply field standards. The higher acceptance rate reflects the journal's broader scope and non-novelty filter, not a lower methodological threshold.
Submit if / Think twice if
Submit if:
- Your immunology research is technically sound and ready for publication
- You value fast post-acceptance publication and open-access visibility
- You're comfortable with the APC and open-access model
- You want indexed publication that reaches a broad immunology audience
- Your work is solid but perhaps not novel enough for Nature Immunology or Immunity
Think twice if:
- Your results are exceptionally novel or of high immediate impact (try Nature Immunology or Immunity)
- You want to avoid publication fees (consider non-open-access venues)
- You prefer traditional journal prestige (some hiring committees still weight selective journals more heavily, though this is changing)
- Your work is highly translational or clinical (PNAS or Clinical & Translational Immunology may be more appropriate)
The Impact Factor Interpretation
A 5.9 JIF doesn't mean your Frontiers paper will get ~6 citations. Some papers stay below 5 citations; others (especially reviews) accumulate 50+ citations. The JIF is strictly an average.
The Q1 rank 32/183 is more meaningful: it confirms Frontiers in Immunology is among the top 25% of immunology journals by citation impact, with:
- Rigorous peer review
- Broad, active readership in diverse immunology subfields
- Indexed publication in major databases
- Strong citation momentum across immunological disciplines
How To Use This Number
Use the JIF together with section fit, scope, editorial bar, and your publishing goal. For Frontiers in Immunology, the best use of the metric is to answer a narrow question:
Is the journal still strong enough, visible enough, and credible enough to justify submission if the paper is a real fit?
For many immunology papers, the answer is yes.
Why Frontiers Attracts Citations
Frontiers in Immunology accumulates citations because:
- Scope breadth: Covers all immunology subfields, creating multiple citation pathways
- Active field: Immunology research is high-volume and well-funded globally
- Open access: Free access increases discoverability and citation potential
- Growth trajectory: The journal has been consistently adding visibility and reach
Reputation Notes
Frontiers journals have built strong reputations in recent years, though some traditional researchers remain skeptical of open-access models. For career and funding purposes, Frontiers in Immunology is recognized as a legitimate, indexed venue. Q1 status carries weight in most evaluation systems.
That is why the metric should be read as a placement signal, not as a prestige verdict. It confirms the journal has real citation and visibility value. It does not mean every paper that could fit there should automatically go there.
Bottom Line
Frontiers in Immunology has an impact factor of 5.9, a 5-year JIF of 6.8, and a Q1 rank in Immunology. That keeps it in a credible upper-tier position for a broad open-access immunology journal. Treat the number as confirmation that the journal still carries real citation value, then make the actual submission decision on section fit, readership, and publishing objective.
Supplementary Links
- Impact factor explained for immunologists
- How to choose a journal for your research
- Nature Immunology impact factor and acceptance rate
Source: Journal Citation Reports (JCR) 2024, Clarivate. Data reflects citations through December 2024 for articles published in 2022-2023.
Last updated: March 2026
How Frontiers in Immunology Compares
Journal | JIF 2024 | 5-Year JIF | Acceptance Rate | APC | Time to Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frontiers in Immunology | 5.9 | 5.9 | 45-55% | $2,950 | 60-90 days |
Nature Immunology | 27.6 | 28.1 | ~5% | $11,690 (OA) | 2-4 weeks desk |
Immunity | 26.3 | 26.3 | ~8% | $6,500 (OA) | 2-3 weeks desk |
Journal of Experimental Medicine | 10.6 | 10.6 | ~20% | Free (subscription) | 4-8 weeks |
Journal of Immunology | 3.6 | 3.4 | ~50% | $1,350 | 4-8 weeks |
PLOS ONE | 2.6 | 2.6 | 30-35% | $2,477 | 6-10 weeks |
Frontiers in Immunology sits in a practical sweet spot: higher IF than generalist journals (PLOS ONE, Journal of Immunology) but far more accessible than the elite tier (Nature Immunology, Immunity). The APC of $2,950 is moderate for this range.
If you've decided Frontiers in Immunology is the right tier but aren't sure the section fit, sample sizes, and immune cell characterization are strong enough, a Frontiers in Immunology readiness check identifies the gaps before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
Frontiers in Immunology has a 2024 JIF of 5.9 according to Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The journal ranks 32nd out of 183 journals in the Immunology category. This Q1 ranking (top 25%) makes it competitive for immunology research.
An IF of 5.9 is solid for general immunology. For context: Nature Immunology (~15), Journal of Immunology (~4.8), Immunity (~25), PNAS (~3-4 in immunology), eLife (~6). Frontiers in Immunology ranks in the mid-to-upper tier of general immunology journals, above many specialty venues.
Yes. Frontiers is published by Frontiers Media, an established open-access publisher with journals across many disciplines. The journal is indexed in PubMed Central, Web of Science, and Scopus. Peer review is legitimate and rigorous. It's not predatory, though its open-access model and growth strategy have made some traditional researchers skeptical.
Frontiers in Immunology has a reported acceptance rate of around 45-55%, higher than selective journals like Nature Immunology (~5%) but lower than broad open-access venues like PLOS Biology (~20%). The relative breadth in acceptance reflects the journal's comprehensive scope and commitment to publishing quality immunology across all subfields.
Submit if your immunology research is technically sound and fits the journal's broad scope. Frontiers in Immunology is good for researchers at all career stages who want indexed publication in a reputable journal with reasonable acceptance rates. Consider more selective journals (Nature Immunology, Immunity) if your results are exceptionally novel, or broader venues (PNAS, eLife) if you prefer those platforms.
Yes. Frontiers in Immunology holds Q1 status in both JCR (Clarivate) and Scopus. In JCR 2024 it ranks 32/183 in Immunology. In Scopus it maintains Q1 standing with an SJR of 1.941, confirming upper-tier placement across both major indexing systems.
Frontiers in Immunology has a 2024 CiteScore of 10.8, which measures citations per document over a four-year window. The journal also has an SJR of 1.941 (prestige-weighted influence) and a SNIP of 1.259 (field-normalized impact). These Scopus metrics confirm strong citation performance beyond the two-year JCR window.
Sources
Reference library
Use the core publishing datasets alongside this guide
This article answers one part of the publishing decision. The reference library covers the recurring questions that usually come next: whether the package is ready, what drives desk rejection, how journals compare, and what the submission requirements look like across journals.
Checklist system / operational asset
Elite Submission Checklist
A flagship pre-submission checklist that turns journal-fit, desk-reject, and package-quality lessons into one operational final-pass audit.
Flagship report / decision support
Desk Rejection Report
A canonical desk-rejection report that organizes the most common editorial failure modes, what they look like, and how to prevent them.
Dataset / reference hub
Journal Intelligence Dataset
A canonical journal dataset that combines selectivity posture, review timing, submission requirements, and Manusights fit signals in one citeable reference asset.
Dataset / reference guide
Peer Review Timelines by Journal
Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.
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