University Benchmarks

Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

UniversityBenchmarks.com ranks the universities that attract and produce the best academic students.

There are many 'University Rankings' on the internet. Most rankings rely heavily on subjective metrics like 'reputation' and 'selectivity'. UniversityBenchmarks is purely an academic ranking model. The rankings are based on the reported academic and financial metrics of the colleges. There are no subjective factors like 'reputation' that are used. The calculations are performed using normal statistical models. All universities are considered equal and there is no weighting of the ranking categories.

The university 2014-2015 dataset is comprised of over 2400 US Universities & Colleges and comes from multiple sources using the most favorable reported metrics for a university.

The universities are ranked against each other in each filtered set. It is an iterative process whereby lower ranking universities are removed and the set is re-ranked until the final set of 100 is reached.

Selecting 'Rank Top 10 Only' will show the Top 10 for each filter category ranked against each other.

The academic rankings of the universities within the major conferences (ACC, Big12, Big10, Pac12, SEC) are available.

The 2017 rankings will be available in August.

Notes:
  • It is possible for universities to be ranked higher/lower than one another depending on the filter set.
  • Conference averages are based on the top 8 schools in the conference.
  • Public Schools are highlighted
  • Clicking on the university's seal icon will take you to the university's website.

Ranking Fields

Rank - Overall rank based on the average of the ranking fields (Scores, Difficulty, Smartest, Brainpower, Faculty and Research).

Scores - SAT & ACT scores. The university's test scores are corrected for dropout rate when score level is Good, Excellent or Elite. This will slightly boost scores for highly competitive schools.

Difficulty - Academic rigor is estimated based on how difficult it is to get an "A" at the university. An estimated GPA at the university is calculated for the average US Student. University grade inflation, average GPA, and STEM density are factors.

Smartest - University that can field the highest scoring students based on the average US University size. Higher Smartest Rank = "Smartest for the Average University"

Brainpower - The average "smartest" rank using 5 reference populations (CalTech, MIT, Stanford, GaTech and Berkeley). Higher Brainpower Rank = "Higher Density of Smart Students". The university ranked higher can mathematically field 'X' number of smarter students than universities ranked below them.

Faculty - Ranking based on number of % of faculty with awards and academy membership.

Research - Ranking is achieved by iteratively ranking the average of 3 research metrics (r-pop, r-stem, r-other ). The lowest ranked college is then removed and the new set is re-ranked. The result is the schools with potentially the strongest research environments per student bubble up to the top regardless of size or research budget.

  • r-pop - Average research spending for student population
  • r-stem - STEM research spending
  • r-other - Other/Medical/Health research spending

Salary ROI - "Salary Return on Investment" is not used in the overall ranking but is provided for additional information. Using the undergraduate average starting and mid-career salaries, the rank is based on a 20yr salary accumulation (with raises) minus the cost of a 4 year education at the university. Salaries are normalized across the country using the average COLA for the university's geo-economic region (7 regions total). The COLA effect is diminished by the level of the university. Elite, Excellent and Good universities have a greater distribution of graduates across the country and a diminishing COLA effect. The resultant value would be the graduate's spending potential over the 20yr period.

Overall ROI - "Overall Return on Investment" is not used in the overall ranking but is provided for additional information. The average of Overall Rank and Salary ROI. This would be the "Best academic bang for the buck". Colleges that produce the best education, at the best price, with the best return will be ranked higher.

Color Key - ranks are colorized as follows 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 50 100

The 2016 University Academic Rankings

Islands Region University Academic Rankings

 Search :
examples: Yale "Wake Forest" "Big Ten" TX NC

2016 Islands University Academic Rankings

2016 Islands University Academic Rankings
rank value image public university state conference scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research r pop r stem r other salary ROI overall ROI scores value difficulty value smartest value brainpower value faculty value research value salary ROI value overall ROI value scores level stem drop gpa avg research undergrads grads salary price scores valid
11.33
PublicUniversity of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPuerto RicoIndependent Southeast Region111122222721784|742.58|351940|811766|74300|02.00|98297545|154.00|961784/1189/27AboveAverage14362.9501236232973510015345True
22.00
PublicUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...332211111621605|672.70|321828|761682|70104|661.00|99378593|194.00|961605/1070/24Average35392.803111412653814400045624True
32.54
PublicUniversity of Puerto Rico-CayeyPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation223322222951636|682.70|331564|651293|54300|02.00|98285825|146.00|941636/1090/25Average16492.80036870351000True
44.32
PrivateBrigham Young University-HawaiiHawaiiPacific West Conference446622222111585|662.78|311362|571099|46300|02.00|98633139|322.50|981585/1057/24Average18452.800278705170014606True
56.20
PublicUniversity of Puerto Rico-CarolinaPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation1465422222961536|642.89|281472|611169|49300|02.00|98285825|147.00|931536/1024/23Average0692.80038430351000True
66.60
PrivateHawaii Pacific UniversityHawaiiPacific West Conference1574522222541480|622.94|261493|621152|48300|02.00|98396413|205.50|951480/987/22BelowAverage36592.80048359924160037704True
76.80
PublicUniversity of Puerto Rico-AguadillaPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation1357722222971552|652.86|291355|561054|44300|02.00|98285825|148.00|921552/1035/23Average11652.80029270351000True
87.50
PrivateInter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222213111565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98277196|1410.50|901565/1043/23Unknown29712.80070162633319000False
87.50
PrivateUniversidad Del TuraboPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222213111565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98277196|1410.50|901565/1043/23Unknown0772.800145962729319000False
87.50
PrivateInter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222213111565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98277196|1410.50|901565/1043/23Unknown24722.8004248465319000False
87.50
PrivateUniversidad MetropolitanaPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222213111565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98277196|1410.50|901565/1043/23Unknown0742.800115292244319000False
87.50
PrivateInter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222212101565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98285615|1410.00|901565/1043/23Unknown32602.80044537703190014504False
87.50
PrivateUniversidad del Sagrado CorazonPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222218181565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98263711|1313.00|871565/1043/23Unknown29632.80046436183190019980False
87.50
PrivatePontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PoncePuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation512121222222871565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98287015|148.00|921565/1043/23Unknown10592.800586522143190014154False
87.50
PrivateUniversidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation51212122222213111565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|02.00|98277196|1410.50|901565/1043/23Unknown100752.8003788719319000False
168.50
PublicUniversity of Hawaii-West OahuHawaiiNo Conference Affiliation181091022222391315|553.14|22963|40656|27300|02.00|98469454|239.50|911315/877/20BelowAverage002.80026610440000True
178.60
PublicUniversity of Hawaii at HiloHawaiiPacific West Conference17888222224111420|593.00|251281|53866|36300|02.00|98434721|2210.50|901420/947/21BelowAverage54582.80033625624400031592True
189.20
PrivateChaminade University of HonoluluHawaiiPacific West Conference1691092222219191440|603.00|25480|20711|30300|02.00|98198051|1018.50|821440/960/22BelowAverage19582.80020557013190036395True
1910.80
PublicUniversity of the Virgin IslandsVirgin IslandsNo Conference Affiliation19111111222222111225|513.19|2050|2334|14300|02.00|98578714|2910.50|901225/817/18BelowAverage32682.80021101704900027854True

Common Questions...

What are the best colleges in the Islands?

1. University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras

2. University of Hawaii at Manoa

3. University of Puerto Rico-Cayey

4. Brigham Young University-Hawaii

5. University of Puerto Rico-Carolina

6. Hawaii Pacific University

7. University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla

2016 Top 10 Islands University Academic Rankings

2016 Top 10 Islands University Academic Rankings
rank value public name state conference scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI scores level stem drop gpa avg research undergrads grads salary price
11.33PublicUniversity of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPuerto RicoIndependent Southeast Region111122311784/1189/27AboveAverage14362.9501236232973510015345
22.00PublicUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...332211211605/1070/24Average35392.803111412653814400045624
32.54PublicUniversity of Puerto Rico-CayeyPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation223322541636/1090/25Average16492.80036870351000
43.60PrivateBrigham Young University-HawaiiHawaiiPacific West Conference444422131585/1057/24Average18452.800278705170014606
54.00PrivatePontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PoncePuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation555522451565/1043/23Unknown10592.800586522143190014154
54.00PrivateInter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation555522661565/1043/23Unknown32602.80044537703190014504
54.00PrivateUniversidad Politecnica de Puerto RicoPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation555522771565/1043/23Unknown100752.8003788719319000
54.00PrivateUniversidad Del TuraboPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation555522771565/1043/23Unknown0772.800145962729319000
54.00PrivateUniversidad MetropolitanaPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation555522771565/1043/23Unknown0742.800115292244319000
54.00PrivateInter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboPuerto RicoNo Conference Affiliation555522771565/1043/23Unknown24722.8004248465319000