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

Bowling Green State University

2016 University Academic Rankings
Bowling Green State University is a public research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The 1,338-acre (541.5 ha) main academic and residential campus is located 15 miles (24 km) south of Toledo, Ohio. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 as a normal school, specializing in teacher training and education, as part of the Lowry Normal School Bill that authorized two new normal schools in the state of Ohio. Over the university's history, it developed from a small rural normal school into a comprehensive public university.

As of 2012 Bowling Green offered over 200 undergraduate programs, as well as master's and doctoral degrees through eight academic colleges. Its academic programs have been nationally ranked by Forbes magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly. The 2011 Carnegie Foundation classified BGSU as having "high research activity". Research projects in the areas of psychology, sociology, education and human development, energy and sustainability are among the most prominent. BGSU had an on-campus residential student population of 6,500 students and a total student population of over 17,000 students as of 2011. The university also maintains a satellite campus, known as BGSU Firelands, in Huron, Ohio, 60 miles (97 km) east of the main campus. Although the majority of students attend classes on BGSU's main campus, about 2,500 students attend classes at Firelands and about 1,000 additional students at extension locations or online. About 85% of Bowling Green's students are from Ohio.

The university hosts an extensive student life program, with over 300 student organizations. Fielding athletic teams known as Bowling Green Falcons, the university competes at the NCAA Division I level (NCAA Division I FBS for football) as a member of the Mid-American Conference in all sports except ice hockey, in which the university is a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The campus is home to annual events including the Dance Marathon a student-organized philanthropy event, Winterfest, and Buckeye Boys State.

History | Early history

The movement for a public high learning institution in northwestern Ohio began in the late 1800s as part of the growth in public institutions during the Progressive Era to meet demands for training and professional development of teachers. During the period, people of northwestern Ohio campaigned for a school in their region to produce better quality education and educators. The movement argued that the existing universities, The Ohio State University in Columbus, Miami University in Oxford and Ohio University in Athens, were distant and the region lacked a state-supported school of its own.

In 1910, the Ohio General Assembly passed the Lowry Normal School Bill that authorized Governor Judson Harmon to appoint the Commission on Normal School Sites to survey forty communities for two sites for normal schools, one in northeastern Ohio and one in northwestern Ohio. The commission examined population within a 25-mile (40.2 km) radius of each community, along with railroad and transportation infrastructure, the moral atmosphere, health and sanitary conditions and site suitability. Bowling Green offered four possible sites and became one of four finalists including Fremont, Napoleon, and Van Wert. Despite the town being the home of John Lowry, Napoleon was ruled out because the commission found it had numerous saloons. Fremont was eliminated mainly due to the specific stipulations imposed by the President Rutherford B. Hayes Memorial Commission. Bowling Green was chosen on November 10, 1910 over Van Wert in a 3-2 vote by the commission. The site located on 82.5 acres (0.334 km2) of primarily rural land and a small town park, nearby railroad and transportation infrastructure, its ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bowling Green State University", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Bowling Green State University Details

Bowling Green State University Details
detail value
stateOhio
conferenceMid American Conference
publicPublic
scores1520/1013/23
levelAverage
rank[442
overall ROI rank[351
sizemedium
undergrads14099
grads2455
price31566
drop40
stem13
research9
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Bowling Green State University?

1. number 442 for Academics.

2. number 351 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Bowling Green State University?

1. University of Rhode Island

2. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

3. University of New Hampshire

4. CUNY Queens College

5. Ball State University

6. Sam Houston State University

7. The University of Montana


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Bowling Green State University National Academic Rankings

Bowling Green State University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Mid - American Conference118101213510712
Mid West Region839394534825386679
State of Ohio2941371111692426
Top Ten Mid - American Conference98910105857


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

(mathematically similar student body, size, academics, stem, salary... etc)

Bowling Green State University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Bowling Green State University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
93.09
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
92.80
University of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth CarolinaSouthern ConferencePublicAverage449439
92.73
University of New HampshireNew HampshireColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage221225
92.63
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400
92.39
Ball State UniversityIndianaMid American ConferencePublicAverage337326
92.26
Sam Houston State UniversityTexasSouthland ConferencePublicAverage472383
92.20
The University of MontanaMontanaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage372232
91.89
Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage254236
91.74
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
91.66
Towson UniversityMarylandColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAverage264365
86.55
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPennsylvania State Athletic Co...PublicAboveAverage315361
86.33
CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage135182
86.11
SUNY at AlbanyNew YorkColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage188218
85.96
St John's University-New YorkNew YorkBig East ConferencePrivateAverage309444
85.85
University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPuerto RicoIndependent Southeast RegionPublicAboveAverage176232
85.78
Appalachian State UniversityNorth CarolinaSun Belt ConferencePublicAboveAverage230228
85.39
Western Kentucky UniversityKentuckyConference USAPublicBelowAverage491433
85.20
University of VermontVermontAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage136191
85.20
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath ConfPublicAverage479363
85.19
University of MississippiMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAverage232197
85.13
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
84.91
James Madison UniversityVirginiaColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage196170
84.88
The University of Tennessee-ChattanoogaTennesseeSouthern ConferencePublicAverage434464
84.82
University of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath ConfPublicAverage350253
84.67
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
84.57
University of OregonOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage174221
84.34
Grand Valley State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage247239
84.22
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
84.03
Kent State University at KentOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage347358
82.83
Duquesne UniversityPennsylvaniaNortheast Conference / Atlanti...PrivateAboveAverage346374
82.19
Monmouth UniversityNew JerseyBig South Conference / Metro A...PrivateAverage478477
81.33
Maryville University of Saint LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAverage424426
79.98
Western Washington UniversityWashingtonGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage297338
79.51
Syracuse UniversityNew YorkAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage172216
79.46
University of North Carolina WilmingtonNorth CarolinaColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage221228
79.25
Montclair State UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicBelowAverage447463
79.15
DePaul UniversityIllinoisBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage193150
79.11
University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraskaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage491364
78.90
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage193228
78.88
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
78.29
University of DelawareDelawareColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage107138
78.21
Loyola University ChicagoIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage228206
77.88
Central Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage454402
77.59
University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath ConfPublicAverage466414
77.44
Pace University-New YorkNew YorkNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAverage476465
77.36
Northern Arizona UniversityArizonaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage336333
77.32
Ohio UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage215174
77.21
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
76.66
SUNY College at BrockportNew YorkEmpire Eight / State Universit...PublicAverage473487
76.32
SUNY College at CortlandNew YorkNew Jersey Athletic Conference...PublicAverage479490


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Bowling Green State University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Bowling Green State University

Bowling Green State University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Bowling Green State University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.70
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
96.00
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
92.82
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
92.36
Western Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage446320
90.25
Pacific Lutheran UniversityWashingtonNorthwest ConferencePrivateAverage439431
87.89
Wittenberg UniversityOhioNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage441295
87.68
Virginia Military InstituteVirginiaBig South ConferencePublicAboveAverage444227
87.63
Saint Anselm CollegeNew HampshireNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage443423