Each year, a number of ranking organizations release lists of universities. These lists are compiled based on various criteria. Universities are evaluated, compared, assigned a score and then ranked from highest to lowest. University rankings are a global industry. Organizations like QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education (THE) publish the most well-known ranking lists. They are used by prospective students, alumni, staff, government agencies and other institutions to assess the academic quality of a university.

But despite their popularity, there are many reasons to be skeptical about the use of university rankings. Many of the metrics that are used to determine a university’s rank have serious flaws. The use of biased citation metrics, for example, misrepresents the true value of scholarly work. Rankings are also often influenced by financial considerations and fail to take into account the needs of diverse, mission-driven institutions.

Fortunately, there are alternatives to the university ranking frenzy. For instance, internal non-competitive assessments based on feedback from faculty, staff and students can help evaluate success. These types of assessments should emphasize community engagement, ethics, equity and diversity. Without pressure to compete for rankings, universities can better focus on educating proficient students, advancing dependable knowledge and addressing societal needs.