Does conflict of interest distort global university rankings?

Abstract Global university rankings influence students’ choices and higher education policies throughout the world. When rankers not only evaluate universities but also provide them with consulting, analytics, or advertising services, are vulnerable to conflicts of interest that may potentially distort their rankings. The paper assesses impact contracting on ranking outcomes using a difference-in-difference research design. study matches data positions 28 Russian in QS World University Rankings between 2016 2021 information contracts these had for services from QS—the company produces compares fluctuations obtained Times Higher Education recorded by national statistics. results suggest frequent QS-related an increase 0.75 standard deviations (~ 140 positions) 0.9 reported faculty-student ratio scores over 5 years, regardless changes institutional characteristics. observed distortions could be explained rankers’ self-serving bias benefits both prestige-seeking reinforces persistence education.