@DrGoogle The rankings are based on research output and often do not factor size into the equation. They tell us nothing about an institution’s undergraduate quality and are often heavily biased in favor of universities based in certain countries (anyone who thinks University College London deserves to be ranked ahead of Yale is deluded beyond belief).
For instance, the QS ranking uses percentage of international students and international faculty members to rank universities. How is this even remotely indicative of quality? It only serves to ensure that British institutions are perceived to be on par with American universities (because American institutions don’t need to rely on faculty members from around the world).