I think it overweights academic research if one is considering strength of undergrad teaching. Different if considering a grad school. In my discipline, picking your mentor meaning prof running your project mattered equal and likely more than the school. From their site: What the Rankings Measure The rankings evaluate over 1,500 institutions worldwide using a standardized methodology based on the following key indicators: Top Universities +2 Academic Reputation (30%): Global surveys of academics evaluating research and teaching quality. Employer Reputation (15%): Surveys assessing how well an institution's graduates perform in the workplace. *Research Impact & Citations (20%): *Measures of the average research impact per faculty member. Faculty/Student Ratio (10%): An evaluation of teaching resources. International Outlook (10%): The proportion of international students and faculty. Sustainability & Employability: Modern metrics evaluating environmental impact, social responsibility, and graduate career success.