A Comparative Study of Criteria and Indicators of Local, Regional, and National University Ranking Systems

University ranking systems are among the topics of interest in scientometric studies. This study aims to identify and rank the most important criteria and indicators of global, regional, and national university ranking systems. In this descriptive study, the criteria and indicators of 34 global rankings, 23 regional rankings, 88 national rankings, and 145 university rankings were reviewed. Criteria and indicators of each ranking system were written on special worksheets. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, frequency percentage, and cumulative frequency. After combining the identified criteria and indicators, 17 criteria and 397 indicators were extracted. The results showed that in academic ranking systems, the criteria of research, education, students, financial factors, internationalization, and regional interactions emphasized more than other cases. today, universities and institutions of higher education will no longer be able to carry out the new missions of scientific societies in the process of producing knowledge and wealth by using only the traditional functions of the university, namely education and research. This article shows the current trends in the national, regional, and international ranking of universities, which can provide a perspective for the development of ranking systems and increase the quality of universities.