Why University rankings matter: Reflecting quality, impact, and opportunity
University rankings play a significant role in the global higher education landscape. Each year, organizations such as the Financial Times and Times Higher Education assess universities and their programmes using indicators like career outcomes, international mobility, diversity, and sustainability. Although their methodologies are often debated, rankings continue to shape how students, institutions, and employers evaluate educational quality and reputation.
A recent example is the performance of the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at Maastricht University in the 2025 Financial Times Masters in Management (MiM) ranking, its MSc in International Business programme was placed 65th worldwide, an improvement of eight positions from the previous year and became the highest-ranked programme in the Netherlands. Such progress illustrates how rankings can highlight institutional development over time.
A useful benchmark
Rankings provide a practical benchmark for prospective students comparing programmes across countries. As Dean Mariëlle Heijltjes explains: “Rankings are particularly valuable in an international landscape where differences in education systems can make comparisons difficult.” They offer a common reference point for evaluating institutions and identifying potential partners.
They also support universities in strengthening international partnerships and positioning themselves globally. However, no ranking captures the full picture: each uses different criteria, meaning results should always be interpreted with care. Mariëlle adds: “You have to be mindful of what is actually being measured, what indicators are prioritised and whether they align with what you want to represent as a school.” Understanding how rankings are constructed what indicators they prioritise and how they are weighted is essential for making meaningful comparisons.
For universities, rankings are not just outcomes but tools for improvement. Strong results can validate strategic choices, while weaker areas point to opportunities for development. As Mariëlle notes, “Rankings can act as a mirror: confirming strengths while also revealing where change is needed.” Institutions often use ranking insights to refine curricula, improve student services, and align their strategies with long-term goals.
For example, SBE performed particularly well in the Financial Times MiM 2025 value-for-money indicator, ranking 10th worldwide, and showed improvement in career services, factors that are closely linked to graduate outcomes.
Why it matters for our students and alumni: Rankings can directly influence their career opportunities and the value of their degree
For students and alumni, rankings can have tangible effects. A highly ranked programme can enhance employability by signalling quality and competitiveness to employers. In practice, rankings often influence where companies choose to recruit, which universities they partner with for internships, and how degrees are perceived during initial CV screening. As Associate Dean Gaby Odekerken explains: “Rankings send a strong signal to employers that our graduates are well prepared for the labour market and can bring value to their organisations.” This makes rankings not just an institutional metric, but something that can build individual career paths.
They also continue to matter after graduation. As Gaby highlights: “Alumni want to feel proud of their education and confident that their degree holds value in the labour market.” Strong rankings reinforce that sense of long-term credibility and recognition.
More than a number
Rankings are not definitive measures of quality, but they remain useful when interpreted thoughtfully. Looking beyond overall positions to the underlying indicators provides a more nuanced understanding of a programme’s strengths. Importantly, not all rankings measure the same dimensions of success. While rankings such as those by the Financial Times focus on career outcomes and return on investment, others take a broader perspective. For instance, the Positive Impact Rating evaluates business schools based on students’ perceptions of their societal impact, highlighting how institutions contribute to addressing global challenges.
As Mariëlle emphasises: “Success is not only about economic outcomes, but also about the ability to create positive societal change.” This demonstrates that rankings can also reflect values such as sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility, not just economic outcomes.
Ultimately, strong rankings do more than reflect performance: they indicate a university’s ongoing commitment to improving education and supporting student success.
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