How do the ranks actually work?

Every professor and university starts at 1500 points, just like a brand new chess player. From there, we run thousands of simulated “matches” against random opponents. Who wins each one comes down to real RateMyProfessors data: mostly the average rating, plus a little credit for “would take again” (for professors) or reputation (for universities).

But we don't just trust a raw average. A perfect 5.0 from three reviews doesn't mean much, so we treat it with skepticism. A 4.8 from three hundred reviews is a much stronger signal, so we trust it almost completely. The more reviews behind a rating, the more weight it carries.

From there, the simulation plays out like a chess ladder. Win a match you were expected to win, and your points barely move. Pull off an upset, and they jump. Professors and schools with a long track record barely budge after any single result, since we already trust their number. Newer ones swing around more until the picture becomes clear.

The result: professors and universities that are consistently good, with plenty of reviews to back it up, rise to the top. A handful of lucky five-star reviews alone won't get you there.