How University Rankings Actually Work

QS weighs academic reputation surveys at 30 percent and citations per faculty. Times Higher Education splits teaching, research, citations, industry income, and international outlook.

Shanghai ranks almost purely on awards and top journal papers, which favors old science powerhouses. Knowing the recipe explains the results: a university can jump 20 places by hiring cited researchers or enrolling more international students.

Use rankings as one signal among many, never as a verdict. Two or three ranking systems read together beat any single table..