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

Eastern Michigan University

2016 University Academic Rankings
Eastern Michigan University (EMU) is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is 35 miles (56 km) west of Detroit and eight miles (13 km) east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School. Today, the university is governed by an eight-member Board of Regents, who are appointed by the Governor of Michigan for eight-year terms. The school belongs to the Mid-American Conference and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Since 1991 EMU athletics has gone by the name "Eagles". Then in 1994, "Swoop" was officially adopted by the university as the school's mascot. Currently, EMU comprises seven colleges and schools: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Health and Human Services, College of Technology, an Honors College, and a Graduate School. The university's site is composed of an academic and athletic campus spread across 800 acres (3.2 km2), with over 120 buildings. EMU has a total enrollment of more than 23,000 students.

History

The university was founded in 1849 and opened its doors in 1853 as Michigan State Normal School. Michigan State Normal School was the first in Michigan and the first normal school created outside the original 13 colonies. One hundred and twenty-two students started classes March 29, 1853. Adonijah Welch served as Michigan State Normal School's first principal. Michigan created a state educational system modeled on that of Germany. The normal schools were to train teachers for common schools, which were being established rapidly in new towns in the state. In 1899, the school became the Michigan State Normal College when it created the first four-year curriculum for a normal college in the nation. Normal began the 20th century as Michigan's premier teacher-preparatory school and had become the first teacher-training school in the United States to have a four-year degree program. Just like many other universities during World War I, the Great Depression and World War II, the school survived and expanded further. With the additions of departments and the large educational enrollment after WWII, the school became Eastern Michigan College in 1956.

In 1959 the school became a university gaining the title Eastern Michigan University after establishing the Graduate School (graduate classes were offered since 1939). Between 1959 through 1980 the College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School, College of Business, College of Health and Human Services and College of Technology were established. In the early 1970s, international student exchange schemes were organised, including one with Coventry College of Education (later part of the University of Warwick) in Britain. In 2005, the Honors Program became the Eastern Michigan University Honors College. More recently, extended programs were added such as Continuing Education (which includes EMU Online), the Centers for Corporate Training, the World College and numerous community-focused institutes. Today the university's total student population averages about 23,000, of whom roughly 5,000 are graduate students. Most programs are undergraduate or master's level, although the university has doctoral programs in Educational Leadership, Technology, and Psychology. EMU former-President Susan W. Martin, Ph.D., took office as EMU's twenty-second president on July 7, 2008, just after the university was fined a then-record $350,000 for not reporting to students the sexual assault and murder of a student in her residence hall room.

Governance

"Other institutions of higher education established by law having authority to grant baccalaureate degrees shall each be governed by a board of control which shall be a body corporate. The board shall have gen ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Eastern Michigan University Details

Eastern Michigan University Details
detail value
stateMichigan
conferenceMid American Conference
publicPublic
scores1505/1003/23
levelAverage
rank[445
overall ROI rank[385
sizemedium
undergrads18340
grads4061
price37548
drop54
stem18
research0
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Eastern Michigan University?

1. number 445 for Academics.

2. number 385 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Eastern Michigan University?

1. Missouri State University-Springfield

2. University of California-Riverside

3. Towson University

4. Boise State University

5. University of Memphis

6. University of Akron Main Campus

7. Oakland University


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Eastern Michigan University National Academic Rankings

Eastern Michigan University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Mid - American Conference9101189121289
Mid West Region809495423942427887
State of Michigan16252476991917
Top Ten Mid - American Conference1010108899610


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Eastern Michigan University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Eastern Michigan University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
93.27
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
93.17
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
93.17
Towson UniversityMarylandColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAverage264365
92.99
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
92.87
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
92.87
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
92.82
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
92.79
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
92.78
Sam Houston State UniversityTexasSouthland ConferencePublicAverage472383
92.75
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
92.50
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
92.47
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
92.40
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400
92.23
University of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth CarolinaSouthern ConferencePublicAverage449439
92.16
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
91.91
Northern Arizona UniversityArizonaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage336333
91.85
Ohio UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage215174
91.79
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
91.61
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
91.37
SUNY at AlbanyNew YorkColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage188218
91.11
University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraskaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage491364
86.60
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
86.54
Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage254236
86.47
Western Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage446320
86.45
University of DelawareDelawareColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage107138
86.34
Western Kentucky UniversityKentuckyConference USAPublicBelowAverage491433
86.27
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
86.12
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
86.03
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeConference USAPublicAverage384372
85.95
University of OregonOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage174221
85.92
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
85.77
Montclair State UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicBelowAverage447463
85.66
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
85.60
University of ArkansasArkansasSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage171119
85.43
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
85.42
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
85.40
CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage135182
85.39
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWisconsinHorizon LeaguePublicBelowAverage420367
85.24
Kent State University at KentOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage347358
85.18
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
85.14
University of Nevada-Las VegasNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicBelowAverage421449
85.13
Bowling Green State UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage442351
85.04
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
84.83
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
84.78
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
84.71
San Francisco State UniversityCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicBelowAverage428458
84.66
University of New HampshireNew HampshireColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage221225
84.60
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage7959
84.50
Saint Louis UniversityMissouriAtlantic 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage169165
84.49
University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPuerto RicoIndependent Southeast RegionPublicAboveAverage176232


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Eastern Michigan University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Eastern Michigan University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.39
Western Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage446320
96.01
Bowling Green State UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage442351
95.34
University of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth CarolinaSouthern ConferencePublicAverage449439
94.21
Montclair State UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicBelowAverage447463
90.19
High Point UniversityNorth CarolinaBig South ConferencePrivateAverage448438
89.38
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (Average)-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference-Conf-Average-458
88.33
John Carroll UniversityOhioOhio Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage449276
87.79
Virginia Military InstituteVirginiaBig South ConferencePublicAboveAverage444227
86.37
College Conference of Illinois and Wisc (Average)-College Conference of Illinois...-Conf-AboveAverage-386
85.76
Saint Anselm CollegeNew HampshireNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage443423
85.05
Southern California Intercoll Ath Conf (Low)-Southern California Intercoll ...-Conf-AboveAverage-427
84.01
Wittenberg UniversityOhioNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage441295