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

Ivy League (Low)

2016 University Academic Rankings

The Ivy League is a collegiate athletic conference comprising sports teams from eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group. The eight institutions are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University. The term Ivy League has connotations of academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism.

While the term was in use as early as 1933, it only became official after the formation of the NCAA Division I athletic conference in 1954. Seven of the eight schools were founded during the United States colonial period; the exception is Cornell, which was founded in 1865. Ivy League institutions account for seven of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution, the other two being Rutgers University and College of William & Mary.

Ivy League schools are generally viewed as some of the most prestigious, and are ranked among the best universities worldwide. All eight universities place in the top fifteen of the U.S. News & World Report 2016 university rankings, including the top four schools and five of the top nine. U.S. News has named a member of the Ivy League as the best national university in each of the past sixteen years ending with the 2016 rankings: Princeton nine times, Harvard twice and the two schools tied for first five times.

Undergraduate enrollments range from about 4,000 to 14,000, making them larger than those of a typical private liberal arts college and smaller than a typical public state university. Total enrollments, including graduate students, range from approximately 6,100 at Dartmouth to over 20,000 at Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, and Penn. Ivy League financial endowments range from Brown's $3 billion to Harvard's $36.4 billion, the largest financial endowment of any academic institution in the world.

Ivy League universities have some of the largest university financial endowments in the world, which allows the universities to provide many resources for their academic programs and research endeavors. As of 2014, Harvard University has an endowment of $36.4 billion. Additionally, each university receives millions of dollars in research grants and other subsidies from federal and state governments.

Brown University1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence PlantationsBaptist, founding charter promises "no religious tests" and "full liberty of conscience"

Note: Six of the eight Ivy League universities consider their founding dates to be simply the date that they received their charters and thus became legal corporations with the authority to grant academic degrees. Harvard University uses the date that the legislature of the Massachusetts Bay Colony formally allocated funds for the creation of a college. Harvard was chartered in 1650, although classes had been conducted for approximately a decade by then. The University of Pennsylvania initially considered its founding date to be 1750; this is the year which appears on the first iteration of the university seal. Later in Penn's early history, the university changed its officially recognized founding date to 1749, which was used for all of the nineteenth century, including a centennial celebration in 1849. In 1899, Penn's board of trustees formally adopted a third founding date of 1740, in response to a petition from Penn's General Alumni Society. Penn was chartered in 1755, the same year collegiate classes began. "Religious affiliation" refers to financial sponsorship, formal association with, and promotion by, a religious denomination. All of the schools in the Ivy League are private and not currently associated with any ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ivy League (Low)", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Ivy League Details

Ivy League Details
detail value
state-
conferenceIvy League
public-Conf-
scores2120/1413/32
levelElite
rank[-
overall ROI rank[21
sizemedium-small
undergrads8246
grads9100
price63427
drop4
stem28
research217
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Ivy League (Low)?

1. number - for Academics.

2. number 21 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Ivy League (Low)?

1. Northwestern University

2. Washington University in St Louis

3. Stanford University

4. Duke University

5. University of Pennsylvania

6. University of Chicago

7. Columbia University in the City of New York



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Ivy League National Academic Rankings

Ivy League National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top250-3349273233855021
All-3347273233593022
All Nonivy-2540192525532917
Div1-1620202523622516
Div1 Nonivy-813121815552312
Div1 Public-265111146168
Div1 Private-1515161513171312
Public-285111456227
Private-3242232220292717
Power5-711111713441812
Stem Low-2240192526574023
Conferences5292321742
Atlantic Coast Conference-454531174
Southeastern Conference-22221843
Big Twelve Conference-11112443
Pacific - 12 Conference-244551123
Big Ten Conference-234861355
American Athletic Conference-11111231
Atlantic 10 Conference-11111221
Big East Conference-11111221
Big West Conference-11113411
Colonial Athletic Association-12221311
Conference Usa-22222222
Horizon League-11111211
Mid - American Conference-11111211
Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference-11111121
Missouri Valley Conference-11111111
Mountain West Conference-12111321
Sun Belt Conference-11111111
West Coast Conference-11111122
Western Athletic Conference-11111121
Ivy League-98989848
Patriot League-11112241
Top Ten Top250-3349273233855021
Top Ten Div1 Public-2551081046
Top Ten Public-2551081044
Top Ten Conferences327232712
Top Ten Atlantic Coast Conference-45453864
Top Ten Southeastern Conference-22221743
Top Ten Big Twelve Conference-11112443
Top Ten Pacific - 12 Conference-244551023
Top Ten Big Ten Conference-234851045
Top Ten American Athletic Conference-11111231
Top Ten Atlantic 10 Conference-11111211
Top Ten Big East Conference-11111221
Top Ten Big West Conference-11113411
Top Ten Colonial Athletic Association-12221311
Top Ten Conference Usa-22222222
Top Ten Horizon League-11111211
Top Ten Mid - American Conference-11111211
Top Ten Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference-11111121
Top Ten Missouri Valley Conference-11111111
Top Ten Mountain West Conference-12111321
Top Ten Sun Belt Conference-11111111
Top Ten West Coast Conference-11111122
Top Ten Western Athletic Conference-11111121
Top Ten Ivy League-98989848
Top Ten Patriot League-11112241


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Ivy League Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Ivy League

Ivy League Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Ivy League
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
92.74
Northwestern UniversityIllinoisBig Ten ConferencePrivateElite1113
92.65
Washington University in St LouisMissouriUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite86
92.34
Stanford UniversityCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePrivateElite917
92.02
Duke UniversityNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateElite133
91.43
University of PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaIvy LeaguePrivateElite127
91.31
University of ChicagoIllinoisUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite1014
86.55
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkIvy LeaguePrivateElite742
86.51
University of Notre DameIndianaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateElite3112
85.54
Vanderbilt UniversityTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePrivateElite148
85.32
Harvard UniversityMassachusettsIvy LeaguePrivateElite210
85.29
Brown UniversityRhode IslandIvy LeaguePrivateElite2534
85.14
Johns Hopkins UniversityMarylandCentennial ConferencePrivateElite1647
84.43
Yale UniversityConnecticutIvy LeaguePrivateElite337
84.19
Tufts UniversityMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateElite2334
84.07
Northeastern UniversityMassachusettsColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateElite40109
83.85
Cornell UniversityNew YorkIvy LeaguePrivateElite1539
82.93
University of Southern CaliforniaCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePrivateElite2281
79.47
Georgetown UniversityWashington DCPatriot League / Big East Conf...PrivateElite4288
79.09
Villanova UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic Association ...PrivateExcellent9968
78.40
University of RochesterNew YorkUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateExcellent3993
78.25
University of MiamiFloridaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateExcellent4493
77.82
SUNY College at GeneseoNew YorkState University of New York A...PublicExcellent111184
77.69
Princeton UniversityNew JerseyIvy LeaguePrivateElite411
77.43
SUNY at BinghamtonNew YorkAmerica EastPublicExcellent65125
76.80
Dartmouth CollegeNew HampshireIvy LeaguePrivateElite1921
76.67
University of VirginiaVirginiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicExcellent3227
76.51
Rice UniversityTexasConference USAPrivateElite204
76.38
Boston UniversityMassachusettsPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent45116
75.19
University of California-Los AngelesCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePublicExcellent2984
75.12
University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsinBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3325
75.00
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignIllinoisBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent2417
75.00
Carleton CollegeMinnesotaMidwest ConferencePrivateElite8443
74.67
Pomona CollegeCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite52125
74.58
Swarthmore CollegePennsylvaniaCentennial ConferencePrivateElite6748
71.43
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvaniaUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite219
69.55
Bucknell UniversityPennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent13193
69.12
St Olaf CollegeMinnesotaMinnesota Intercollegiate Ath ConfPrivateExcellent144127
68.69
Lafayette CollegePennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent165106
68.64
Gettysburg CollegePennsylvaniaCentennial ConferencePrivateExcellent170148
68.60
University of Michigan-Ann ArborMichiganBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent1716
68.48
Union CollegeKentuckyMid - South Conference / Appal...PrivateBelowAverage162178
68.43
Lewis & Clark CollegeOregonNorthwest ConferencePrivateExcellent179221
68.34
Williams CollegeMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateElite58161
68.32
Colorado CollegeColoradoSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateExcellent149160
68.31
Rhodes CollegeTennesseeSouthern Athletic AssociationPrivateExcellent191147
68.27
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinnesotaBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3022
68.16
Colby CollegeMaineNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateExcellent132155
68.07
Grinnell CollegeIowaMidwest ConferencePrivateExcellent114123
67.88
Whitman CollegeWashingtonNorthwest ConferencePrivateExcellent153154
67.78
Reed CollegeOregonNo Conference AffiliationPrivateExcellent106144


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Ivy League Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Ivy League

Ivy League Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Ivy League
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
97.32
University of Notre DameIndianaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateElite3112
96.84
Northeastern UniversityMassachusettsColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateElite40109
96.43
Brown UniversityRhode IslandIvy LeaguePrivateElite2534
96.39
University Athletic Association (Average)-University Athletic Association-Conf-Elite-21
95.44
Georgetown UniversityWashington DCPatriot League / Big East Conf...PrivateElite4288
95.31
Atlantic Coast Conference (Average)-Atlantic Coast Conference-Conf-Excellent-21
94.92
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateExcellent2734
94.85
Boston CollegeMassachusettsAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateExcellent4775
94.26
University of Southern CaliforniaCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePrivateElite2281
94.25
Harvey Mudd CollegeCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite4919
93.87
Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringMassachusettsNo Conference AffiliationPrivateElite4853
93.52
Tufts UniversityMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateElite2334
93.46
Case Western Reserve UniversityOhioPresidents' Athletic Conferenc...PrivateExcellent2814
93.19
Rice UniversityTexasConference USAPrivateElite204
93.07
University of MiamiFloridaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateExcellent4493
92.91
New York UniversityNew YorkUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateExcellent35101
92.73
University of RochesterNew YorkUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateExcellent3993
92.62
University of VirginiaVirginiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicExcellent3227
92.37
University Athletic Association (Low)-University Athletic Association-Conf-Excellent-32
92.29
University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignIllinoisBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent2417
92.28
Ivy League (Average)-Ivy League-Conf-Elite-20
90.52
Big Ten Conference (Average)-Big Ten Conference-Conf-Excellent-22
89.69
Wake Forest UniversityNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateExcellent6650
89.56
Pacific - 12 Conference (Average)-Pacific 12 Conference-Conf-Excellent-32
89.38
Tulane University of LouisianaLouisianaAmerican Athletic ConferencePrivateExcellent61106
89.22
University of California-Los AngelesCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePublicExcellent2984
89.01
Lehigh UniversityPennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent6932
88.66
University of Maryland-College ParkMarylandBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3460
88.44
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinnesotaBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3022
87.70
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicExcellent3764
86.72
University of California-San DiegoCaliforniaDivision II IndependentsPublicExcellent2670
86.63
University of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsinBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3325
86.60
Colonial Athletic Association (Average)-Colonial Athletic Association-Conf-Excellent-112
85.82
The University of Texas at AustinTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicGood3851
84.55
University of FloridaFloridaSoutheastern ConferencePublicGood4338
84.43
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPennsylvaniaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicGood5075
83.98
Southeastern Conference (Average)-Southeastern Conference-Conf-Good-53
83.65
Ohio State UniversityOhioBig Ten ConferencePublicGood4043
80.37
University of Washington-Seattle CampusWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicGood5566
80.05
Big Ten Conference (Low)-Big Ten Conference-Conf-Good-51
76.84
Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5384