Frontiers in Immunology Impact Factor 2026: Ranking, Quartile & What It Means

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 IF reflects solid citation behavior among immunology researchers, indicating the journal reaches an active, engaged readership interested in diverse immunological research.

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

Quartile: Q1 (top 25%)

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Type: Open-access peer-reviewed journal

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.

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's below the most selective journals (Nature Immunology, Immunity) but above many specialty immunology journals and comparable to PNAS in its immunology-specific impact.

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 & 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 (post-acceptance) is an advantage. If you need timely publication while maintaining quality peer review, Frontiers is competitive.

Should You Submit?

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

Consider alternatives 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

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.

Related Reading

• Frontiers in Immunology acceptance rate and submission guide
• 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