• 地位ちい — social status / position
• 順位じゅんい — ranking / order
• 上位じょうい — upper rank / higher position
• 学位がくい — academic degree
• 位置いち — location / position
• 位くらい — rank / order (general)

The radical 亻 (person) paired with a component indicating placement conveys a person’s “set place” or standing. Hence its use in status, order, and positional terms from society to academics.