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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2016 University Academic Rankings
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, MIT adopted a European polytechnic university model and stressed laboratory instruction in applied science and engineering. Researchers worked on computers, radar, and inertial guidance during World War II and the Cold War. Post-war defense research contributed to the rapid expansion of the faculty and campus under James Killian. The current 168-acre (68.0 ha) campus opened in 1916 and extends over 1 mile (1.6 km) along the northern bank of the Charles River basin.

MIT, with five schools and one college which contain a total of 32 departments, is often cited as among the world's top universities. The Institute is traditionally known for its research and education in the physical sciences and engineering, and more recently in biology, economics, linguistics, and management as well. The "Engineers" sponsor 31 sports, most teams of which compete in the NCAA Division III's New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference; the Division I rowing programs compete as part of the EARC and EAWRC.

As of 2015, 85 Nobel laureates, 52 National Medal of Science recipients, 65 Marshall Scholars, 45 Rhodes Scholars, 38 MacArthur Fellows, 34 astronauts, 19 Turing award winners, and 6 Fields Medalists have been affiliated with MIT. The school has a strong entrepreneurial culture, and the aggregated revenues of companies founded by MIT alumni would rank as the eleventh-largest economy in the world.

History | Foundation and vision

“.... a school of industrial science aiding the advancement, development and practical application of science in connection with arts, agriculture, manufactures, and commerce."

In 1859, a proposal was submitted to the Massachusetts General Court to use newly filled lands in Back Bay, Boston for a "Conservatory of Art and Science", but the proposal failed. A charter for the incorporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, proposed by William Barton Rogers, was signed by the governor of Massachusetts on April 10, 1861.

Rogers, a professor from the University of Virginia, wanted to establish an institution to address rapid scientific and technological advances. He did not wish to found a professional school, but a combination with elements of both professional and liberal education, proposing that:

The true and only practicable object of a polytechnic school is, as I conceive, the teaching, not of the minute details and manipulations of the arts, which can be done only in the workshop, but the inculcation of those scientific principles which form the basis and explanation of them, and along with this, a full and methodical review of all their leading processes and operations in connection with physical laws.

The Rogers Plan reflected the German research university model, emphasizing an independent faculty engaged in research, as well as instruction oriented around seminars and laboratories.

Early developments

Two days after the charter was issued, the first battle of the Civil War broke out. After a long delay through the war years, MIT's first classes were held in the Mercantile Building in Boston in 1865. The new institute was founded as part of the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act to fund institutions "to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes", and was a land-grant school. In 1863 under the same act, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts founded the Massachusetts Agricultural College, which developed as the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1866, the proceeds from land sales went toward new buildings in the Back Bay.< ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Massachusetts Institute of Technology", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Top Ten All Universities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Details

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Details
detail value
stateMassachusetts
conferenceNew England Football Conferenc...
publicPrivate
scores2235/1490/34
levelElite
rank[5
overall ROI rank[2
sizesmall
undergrads4512
grads6807
price61030
drop6
stem87
research742
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

1. number 5 for Academics.

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

What universities are similar to Massachusetts Institute of Technology?

1. Georgia Institute of Technology

2. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

3. Yale University

4. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

5. Duke University

6. California Institute of Technology

7. Harvey Mudd College


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology National Academic Rankings

Massachusetts Institute of Technology National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top2505621011242142
All562101124292
All Nonivy2325618292
Private562101015271
Stem High2221371122
Stem Low44278202132
New England Region4416611231
State of Massachusetts221223111
Top Ten Top2505621011242142
Top Ten All562798122
Top Ten All Nonivy232566231
Top Ten Private562887112
Top Ten Stem High222137142
Top Ten Stem Low442788121
Top Ten New England Region441668211
Top Ten State of Massachusetts221223111


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
88.72
Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicElite61
79.59
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMassachusettsUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateExcellent7340
78.83
Yale UniversityConnecticutIvy LeaguePrivateElite337
78.69
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateExcellent2734
77.87
Duke UniversityNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateElite133
74.79
California Institute of TechnologyCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite15
74.52
Harvey Mudd CollegeCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite4919
73.85
Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringMassachusettsNo Conference AffiliationPrivateElite4853
73.00
Dartmouth CollegeNew HampshireIvy LeaguePrivateElite1921
72.79
Case Western Reserve UniversityOhioPresidents' Athletic Conferenc...PrivateExcellent2814
72.48
Tufts UniversityMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateElite2334
72.25
Princeton UniversityNew JerseyIvy LeaguePrivateElite411
71.91
University of ChicagoIllinoisUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite1014
71.78
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvaniaUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite219
71.40
Johns Hopkins UniversityMarylandCentennial ConferencePrivateElite1647
71.26
Brown UniversityRhode IslandIvy LeaguePrivateElite2534
71.06
Vanderbilt UniversityTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePrivateElite148
70.95
Stanford UniversityCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePrivateElite917
70.94
Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyEmpire EightPrivateExcellent9943
70.73
Washington University in St LouisMissouriUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite86
70.04
Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyIndianaHeartland Collegiate Athletic ...PrivateExcellent15960
68.77
Cornell UniversityNew YorkIvy LeaguePrivateElite1539
67.99
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtNew YorkNo Conference AffiliationPrivateExcellent10969
67.78
University of California-BerkeleyCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePublicExcellent1826


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Massachusetts Institute of Technology
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
97.24
Yale UniversityConnecticutIvy LeaguePrivateElite337
97.21
Princeton UniversityNew JerseyIvy LeaguePrivateElite411
97.13
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkIvy LeaguePrivateElite742
96.35
Washington University in St LouisMissouriUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite86
96.06
Harvard UniversityMassachusettsIvy LeaguePrivateElite210
95.62
Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicElite61
95.12
University of ChicagoIllinoisUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite1014
94.78
Stanford UniversityCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePrivateElite917
93.47
Northwestern UniversityIllinoisBig Ten ConferencePrivateElite1113
93.16
California Institute of TechnologyCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite15
92.78
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvaniaUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite219
92.58
Ivy League (Average)-Ivy League-Conf-Elite-20
92.21
Vanderbilt UniversityTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePrivateElite148
92.00
Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringMassachusettsNo Conference AffiliationPrivateElite4853
91.75
Duke UniversityNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateElite133
89.08
University of California-BerkeleyCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePublicExcellent1826
88.47
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateExcellent2734
86.98
Case Western Reserve UniversityOhioPresidents' Athletic Conferenc...PrivateExcellent2814
78.88
University of California-San DiegoCaliforniaDivision II IndependentsPublicExcellent2670
68.17
North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage5831