Not sure if this is still true, but at one point, the biggest factor in the ranking was peer reputation rating. That kind of results in a self-reinforcing vicio

Not sure if this is still true, but at one point, the biggest factor in the ranking was peer reputation rating. That kind of results in a self-reinforcing vicious cycle of top schools remaining top schools, but short of bribery, there isn't really any way to manipulate that at least.