University rankings are a key tool to help prospective students (undergraduate and graduate) compare institutions and find one that best suits their personal or professional goals. They are also used by academics and researchers to identify high-performing universities that they can collaborate with.
But while they can be valuable tools, university rankings are not without controversy. Some critics argue that they prioritize attributes for which internationally comparable data is available, such as research and reputation, to the exclusion of other vital factors, such as student and faculty engagement and employability. Others believe that ranking algorithms are biased toward certain institutions, such as those publishing in English or those with large endowments.
Regardless of their validity, rankings do provide a useful snapshot of how your institution compares to its peers. In addition to being a source of global visibility, rankings can also serve as a powerful tool for communicating your institution’s strengths and vision to your key audiences: prospective students, potential faculty and staff, and policymakers.
Despite a decline in the overall rankings, QS has stayed true to its core values and continues to be a leader in university rankings. As a result, we see the value in delivering a wide range of specialized university rankings that are more relevant to the needs of specific audiences. This includes the recently launched QS Sustainability Rankings, THE’s Interdisciplinary Science pilot, and the U.S. News and World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings, among many others.