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

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

2016 University Academic Rankings

Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, often referred to as LSU) is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy. The current LSU main campus was dedicated in 1926, consists of more than 250 buildings constructed in the style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, and occupies a 650-acre (2.6 km²) plateau on the banks of the Mississippi River.

LSU is the flagship institution of the Louisiana State University System, and the largest institution of higher education in Louisiana in terms of student enrollment. In 2015, the University enrolled over 26,000 undergraduate and over 5,000 graduate students in 14 schools and colleges. Several of LSU's graduate schools, such as the E.J. Ourso College of Business and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, have received national recognition in their respective fields of study. Designated as a land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant institution, LSU is also noted for its extensive research facilities, operating some 800 sponsored research projects funded by agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

LSU's athletics department fields teams in 21 varsity sports (9 men's, 12 women's), and is a member of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the SEC (Southeastern Conference). The University is represented by its mascot, Mike the Tiger.

History | 19th century

Louisiana State University Agricultural & Mechanical College at Baton Rouge had its origin in several land grants made by the United States government in 1806, 1811, and 1827 for use as a seminary of learning. It was founded as a military academy and is still today steeped in military tradition, giving rise to the school's nickname "The Ole War Skule." In 1853, the Louisiana General Assembly established the Seminary of Learning of the State of Louisiana near Pineville in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana. Modeled initially after Virginia Military Institute, the institution opened with five professors and nineteen cadets on January 2, 1860, with Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman as superintendent. The original location of the Old LSU Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On January 26, 1861, after only a year at the helm, Sherman resigned his position because Louisiana became the sixth state to secede from the Union. The school closed on June 30, 1861, with the start of the American Civil War.

During the course of the war, the University reopened briefly in April 1863, but was closed once again with the invasion of the Red River Valley by the Union Army. The losses sustained by the institution during the Union occupation were heavy, and after 1863 the seminary remained closed for the remainder of the Civil War. Following the surrender of the Confederates at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, General Sherman donated two cannons to the institution. These cannons had been captured from Confederate forces after the close of the war and had been used during the initial firing upon Fort Sumter in April 1861. The cannons are still displayed in front of LSU's Military Science/Aerospace Studies Building.

The seminary officially reopened its doors on October 2, 1865, only to be burned October 15, 1869. On November 1, 1869, the institution resumed its exercises in Baton Rouge, where it has since remained. In 1870, the name of the institution was officially changed to Louisiana State University.

Louisiana State University Agricultural & Mechanical College was established by an act of ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Details

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Details
detail value
stateLouisiana
conferenceSoutheastern Conference
publicPublic
scores1695/1130/25
levelAboveAverage
rank[148
overall ROI rank[88
sizelarge
undergrads25572
grads5472
price41867
drop38
stem26
research288
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?

1. number 148 for Academics.

2. number 88 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College?

1. University of Colorado Boulder

2. University of Utah

3. Colorado State University-Fort Collins

4. Iowa State University

5. University of Kentucky

6. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

7. University of Kansas



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College National Academic Rankings

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top25014821022610799147695588
Div1807987706590512853
Div1 Nonivy707482625785442741
Div1 Public524760454677371927
Public687487545283432446
Power5504750464460381929
Stem Low919397636276504275
Southeastern Conference9799912656
South East Region245662222135141614
State of Louisiana233224131
Top Ten Top25014821022610799147695588
Top Ten Southeastern Conference9798810545
Top Ten State of Louisiana233224121


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.75
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage7959
99.57
University of UtahUtahPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage14286
99.49
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage143139
99.23
Iowa State UniversityIowaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage12971
99.13
University of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage159130
98.54
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
98.38
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
92.99
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
92.99
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicGood7540
92.90
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
92.89
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
92.84
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
92.83
University of Missouri-ColumbiaMissouriSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage12198
92.49
University of IowaIowaBig Ten ConferencePublicGood6879
92.47
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
92.36
University of ArkansasArkansasSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage171119
92.31
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage116188
92.14
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
92.04
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
91.97
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
91.17
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
89.71
University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabamaConference USAPublicAboveAverage153148
86.64
Florida Atlantic UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage305303
86.60
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
86.39
San Jose State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage386389
86.34
University of CincinnatiOhioAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage202106
86.00
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
85.95
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
85.88
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
85.87
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
85.83
George Mason UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage156143
85.80
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
85.79
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
85.68
University of New MexicoNew MexicoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage265153
85.56
University of Washington-Seattle CampusWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicGood5566
85.46
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
85.39
California State University-Long BeachCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage318387
85.24
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
85.19
University of FloridaFloridaSoutheastern ConferencePublicGood4338
85.18
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
85.17
Florida State UniversityFloridaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage76104
85.17
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486
85.14
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
84.94
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew JerseyBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage56115
84.90
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
84.80
University of ConnecticutConnecticutBig East ConferencePublicGood87139
84.78
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
84.45
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
84.31
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
84.21
Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5384


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
97.53
Pacific - 12 Conference (Low)-Pacific 12 Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-115
96.29
Conference USA (Average)-Conference USA-Conf-AboveAverage-148
95.71
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage143139
95.50
America East (Average)-America East-Conf-AboveAverage-202
95.33
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
95.30
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
95.20
University of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage159130
95.20
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
94.98
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
94.81
University of ArkansasArkansasSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage171119
94.69
Florida International UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage163170
94.55
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
94.55
George Mason UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage156143
94.53
University of UtahUtahPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage14286
94.43
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
94.27
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
94.27
University of OregonOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage174221
93.90
Michigan Technological UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAboveAverage14658
93.13
University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabamaConference USAPublicAboveAverage153148
92.74
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486
92.65
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
92.33
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
91.69
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
90.96
Saint Louis UniversityMissouriAtlantic 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage169165
89.80
The College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicGood164193
87.74
Big East Conference (Average)-Big East Conference-Conf-Good-144
87.66
West Coast Conference (Average)-West Coast Conference-Conf-Good-155
87.34
Yeshiva UniversityNew YorkSkyline ConferencePrivateGood141208
86.99
Patriot League (Low)-Patriot League-Conf-Good-84
85.72
United States Military AcademyNew YorkDivision I-A Independents / Pa...PublicGood14578
85.24
New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNew MexicoNo Conference AffiliationPublicGood18093
85.18
Bucknell UniversityPennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent13193
84.85
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
84.65
Union CollegeKentuckyMid - South Conference / Appal...PrivateBelowAverage162178
84.39
Lafayette CollegePennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent165106
83.92
Wheaton CollegeIllinoisCollege Conference of Illinois...PrivateExcellent149114
83.32
Colorado CollegeColoradoSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateExcellent149160
82.67
Kenyon CollegeOhioNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateExcellent14791
82.22
Davidson CollegeNorth CarolinaPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateExcellent155129
82.15
No Conference Affiliation (Average)-No Conference Affiliation-Conf-Excellent-180
82.10
St Olaf CollegeMinnesotaMinnesota Intercollegiate Ath ConfPrivateExcellent144127
81.09
Macalester CollegeMinnesotaMinnesota Intercollegiate Ath ConfPrivateExcellent133146
80.36
Colby CollegeMaineNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateExcellent132155