Beyond rankings: QS CEO reveals the real secret to choosing the right university

University rankings can be an easy starting point when students begin looking for a college. But according to Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the number beside a university’s name should not become the whole decision.

Speaking about how students should use rankings while choosing a university, Turner said students should look at the course, the subject and the data behind the ranking before making a choice.

“There's the headline number, but it's really the data underneath that helps you to figure out more about the profile of that university, how they're perceived, what trajectory they're on,” she said.THE RANKING NUMBER IS JUST THE START

A university’s overall position can offer a quick comparison, but Turner suggested students go one step further. Instead of asking only where a university stands globally, students should ask whether it is strong in the subject they want to study.

Turner said students should look at “which universities are really specialising that subject and why”. That could mean examining the research being produced, the university’s employer reputation and other factors linked to the course.WHAT IS BEHIND THE RANKING?

The next step is to understand what is driving a university’s position. Is it its research strength? Is it how employers view its graduates? Or is there another area where it performs strongly? A ranking can tell you a lot. But the number alone doesn’t tell you everything.CEO of QS, Jessica Turner shares how students can look beyond the headline ranking and use the data behind it to find what really matters.#QSWUR #StudyAbroad #UniversityRankings pic.twitter.com/ZmIXavViaL— QS World University Rankings (@worlduniranking) September 14, 2026Turner encouraged students to identify the components that matter most to them. For someone focused on research, research performance may matter more. For another student, employer reputation or career outcomes may be more relevant.

Her broader point is that rankings can provide useful data, but they work best when combined with other information. Students can compare course content, specialisations, research opportunities, career prospects and their own priorities before deciding.

“Those are the things that I think are going to help to inform the decision, along with all of the other data points and the interactions that you're going to have,” Turner said.- EndsPublished By: Princy ShuklaPublished On: Sep 16, 2026 11:48 ISTRead | Prestige vs purpose: How students are rethinking college choice todayRead | Are Indian universities learning to game global rankings? The QS 2027 questions