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

Florida Atlantic University

2016 University Academic Rankings
Florida Atlantic University (also referred to as FAU or Florida Atlantic) is a public university located in Boca Raton, Florida, with five satellite campuses located in the Florida cities of Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and in Fort Pierce at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. FAU belongs to the 12-campus State University System of Florida and serves South Florida, which has a population of more than five million people and spans more than 100 miles (160 km) of coastline. Florida Atlantic University is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with high research activity. The university offers more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs within its 10 colleges in addition to a professional degree from the College of Medicine. Programs of study cover arts and humanities, the sciences, medicine, nursing, accounting, business, education, public administration, social work, architecture, engineering, and computer science.

Florida Atlantic opened in 1964 as the first public university in southeast Florida, offering only upper-division and graduate level courses. Initial enrollment was only 867 students, increasing in 1984 when the university admitted its first lower-division undergraduate students. As of 2012, enrollment has grown to over 30,000 students representing 140 countries, 50 states, and the District of Columbia. Since its inception, Florida Atlantic has awarded more than 110,000 degrees to nearly 105,000 alumni.

In recent years, FAU has undertaken an effort to increase its academic and research standings while also evolving into a more traditional university. The university has raised admissions standards, increased research funding, built new facilities, and established notable partnerships with major research institutions. Changes include an on-campus stadium, additional on-campus housing, and the establishment of a College of Medicine in 2010.

History | Establishment

On July 15, 1961, to meet the burgeoning educational demands of South Florida, the state legislature passed an act authorizing the establishment of a new university in the City of Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic University was built on Boca Raton Army Airfield, a 1940s-era army airbase. During World War II, the airfield served as the Army Air Corps' sole radar training facility. The base was built on the existing Boca Raton Airport and on 5,860 acres (23.7 km²) of adjacent land. A majority of the land was acquired from Japanese-American farmers from the failing Yamato Colony. The land was seized through eminent domain, leaving many Japanese-Americans little recourse in the early days of World War II.

The airbase was used for radar training, anti-submarine patrols along the coast, and as a stop-over point for planes being ferried to Africa and Europe via South America. The airfield was composed of four runways, still visible on the Boca Campus today and mainly used for parking.

By early 1947, the military decided to transfer future radar training operations to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. The departure of the air force in 1947 would leave Boca Raton Army Airfield essentially abandoned.

Expansion and growth

Florida Atlantic University opened on September 14, 1964, with an initial student body of 867 students in five colleges. The first degree awarded was an honorary doctorate given to President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 25, 1964, at the dedication and opening of the university. At the time of its opening, there were 120 faculty out of a total of 350 employees. On-campus housing for students was first added in September 1965, when Algonquin Hall opened.

Florida Atlantic's history is one of continuing expansion as the university's service population has grown. The u ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Florida Atlantic University Details

Florida Atlantic University Details
detail value
stateFlorida
conferenceConference USA
publicPublic
scores1560/1040/23
levelAverage
rank[305
overall ROI rank[303
sizelarge
undergrads25476
grads4821
price34316
drop52
stem33
research61
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Florida Atlantic University?

1. number 305 for Academics.

2. number 303 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Florida Atlantic University?

1. The University of Texas at San Antonio

2. University of Memphis

3. San Jose State University

4. Oregon State University

5. Washington State University

6. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

7. Texas Tech University


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Florida Atlantic University National Academic Rankings

Florida Atlantic University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Div1 Public809392716967808290
Conference Usa4765436108
South East Region649595392931346871
State of Florida13242187881814
Top Ten Conference Usa476543588


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Florida Atlantic University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Florida Atlantic University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.69
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
97.80
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
93.04
San Jose State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage386389
92.92
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
92.91
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
92.60
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWisconsinHorizon LeaguePublicBelowAverage420367
92.60
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
92.57
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
92.48
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
92.37
University of New MexicoNew MexicoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage265153
92.15
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
92.03
California State University-Long BeachCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage318387
91.99
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
91.82
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
90.88
University of ToledoOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage405285
89.76
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
88.61
Rutgers University-NewarkNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage371392
88.50
Howard UniversityWashington DCMid Eastern Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage343429
86.64
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
86.55
San Francisco State UniversityCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicBelowAverage428458
86.41
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
86.40
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage7959
86.19
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
86.17
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
86.16
University of California-DavisCaliforniaBig Sky Conference / Big West ...PublicAboveAverage58142
85.89
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
85.88
Iowa State UniversityIowaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage12971
85.82
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
85.50
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
85.40
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
85.23
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
85.19
The University of Texas at El PasoTexasConference USAPublicBelowAverage499294
85.15
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486
85.14
University of HoustonTexasAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage8960
85.06
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
84.94
Western Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage446320
84.92
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
84.77
California State University-NorthridgeCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicBelowAverage459474
84.52
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
84.43
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
84.18
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
84.14
Florida International UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage163170
84.04
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
83.70
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
83.69
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
83.14
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
83.13
Wichita State UniversityKansasMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage382307
83.02
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266
82.49
Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisianaConference USAPublicAverage392213
81.87
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Florida Atlantic University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Florida Atlantic University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.68
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
95.42
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
94.81
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
94.00
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400
93.55
Rowan UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage306392
93.50
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
92.98
North Dakota State UniversityNorth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage261196
92.51
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath ConfPublicAverage302258
92.30
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
92.00
St John's University-New YorkNew YorkBig East ConferencePrivateAverage309444
90.26
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
90.23
University of Northern IowaIowaMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage252248
90.04
Virginia Military InstituteVirginiaBig South ConferencePublicAboveAverage444227
89.36
New England Football Conference (Average)-New England Football Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-320
87.40
Lipscomb UniversityTennesseeAtlantic Sun ConferencePrivateAboveAverage303255
86.64
DePauw UniversityIndianaNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage304173
85.91
Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (Low)-Upstate Collegiate Athletic As...-Conf-AboveAverage-320