Webometrics Methodology

Webometrics.org is a global university ranking platform designed to reflect the multidimensional performance of higher education institutions. Unlike traditional rankings focused solely on research, we evaluate universities based on their digital presence, academic influence, openness, and global visibility.

While we utilize various academic and web data sources, Webometrics.org remains an independent, research-based initiative committed to transparency and non-commercial evaluation.

Our Mission
We promote open access, digital transparency, and scholarly visibility. The web is not only a reflection of a university’s academic output but also a vital channel for learning, research dissemination, and public engagement.

We do not rank websites, but universities. Web performance is a proxy for institutional impact in the real world.

Ranking Indicators
We use a composite scoring model combining normalized indicators to ensure fair and balanced evaluation:

• Visibility: Impact based on number of external referring domains (Ahrefs.com) – 50%
• Transparency: Citations from top 310 cited researchers (excluding top 20 outliers) (Google Scholar profiles) – 10%
• Excellence: Research papers in the top 10% most cited (2019–2023) (Scopus / Scimago) – 40%

Note: The “Presence” metric has been discontinued to avoid duplication and manipulation.

Data Collection
Coverage: 32,000+ institutions from over 200 countries.
Updated twice yearly: Data is gathered in January and July.
Multiple data points are collected and the maximum valid value is used to ensure reliability.

We Measure

• Research and scholarly impact
• Academic openness and visibility
• Digital engagement and third-party references
• Performance across all university missions: education, research, and public service

We Do Not Measure

• Website design or user experience
• Visitor traffic or analytics
• Marketing or advertising activity

Limitations & Improvements
We acknowledge certain limitations:

• Rankings are size-dependent and reflect institutional output.
• Institutions are not segmented by type (e.g., research-intensive vs. community colleges).
• Universities with multiple domains or poor domain management may receive lower visibility scores.

We regularly evolve our methodology to improve fairness and accuracy.

Ethical Standards
We do not tolerate manipulation via artificial links, duplicate content, or unethical SEO tactics. Violating institutions may be excluded or penalized.

Exclusion Criteria

• Unaccredited or diploma-mill institutions
• Offline or unresponsive servers
• Conflicting or multiple central web domains
• Institutions focused solely on non-higher education (e.g., K–12)

Final Note
Webometrics.org is a free, open-access, non-commercial project created to support transparency and academic excellence worldwide.