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

Mercer University

2016 University Academic Rankings

Mercer enrolls more than 8,500 students in 12 colleges and schools: liberal arts, business, engineering, education, music, continuing and professional studies, law, theology, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions. Mercer is a member of the Georgia Research Alliance and has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest collegiate honors society.

Mercer has three campuses: the main campus in Macon, a graduate and professional education campus in Atlanta, and a four-year campus of the School of Medicine in Savannah. Mercer also has regional academic centers in Henry County, Douglas County, and Newnan; the Walter F. George School of Law on its own campus in Macon; teaching hospitals in Macon, Savannah, and Columbus; a university press and a performing arts center, the Grand Opera House, in Macon; and the Mercer Engineering Research Center in Warner Robins. The Mercer University Health Sciences Center encompasses Mercer's medical, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions programs in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus.

U.S. News and World Report has ranked Mercer among the top ten universities in the South for 17 consecutive years, and among the top two best values in terms of education relative to cost for four consecutive years. Princeton Review consistently ranks Mercer in the top ten percent of colleges and universities in North America, and in 2005, rated Mercer has having one of the top five most beautiful college campuses in North America. Mercer was cited by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for its community engagement, and was among the 113 institutions listed on the 2013 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction.

Mercer has an NCAA Division I athletic program and fields teams in eight men's and ten women's sports; all university-sponsored sports compete in the Southern Conference except women's lacrosse and women's sand volleyball, which are not sponsored by the SoCon, and thus compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

History | Founding

Mercer University was founded in Penfield, Georgia, as a boys' preparatory school under Billington McCarthy Sanders, a professor who served as the first president, and Adiel Sherwood, a Baptist minister who previously founded a boys' manual labor school that served as a model. The school opened as Mercer Institute with 39 students on January 14, 1833. The school was named for Jesse Mercer, a prominent Baptist leader who provided a founding endowment and who served as the first chairman of the board of trustees. The Georgia General Assembly granted a university charter in December 1837. Mercer adopted its present name in 1838 and graduated its first university class, of three students, in 1841.

In 1871, Mercer moved to Macon, a center of transportation and commerce in Georgia. The School of Law was established in 1873 and was named the Walter F. George School of Law in 1947 in honor of Mercer alumnus Walter F. George, class of 1901, who served as a United States Senator from Georgia and as President pro tempore of the United States Senate.

World War II

During World War II, Mercer was one of 131 colleges and universities in the V-12 Navy College Training Program, which offered military training that prepared students for a commission in the United States Navy.

Expansion

Mercer expanded to Atlanta in 1959 when the university absorbed the independent Southern School of Pharmacy. The College of Liberal Arts, the Walter F. George School of Law, and the Southern School of Pharmacy comprised the university until 1972 when Mercer merged with Atlanta Baptist College, which became Mercer's Atlanta campus.

Atlanta Baptist College wa ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Mercer University Details

Mercer University Details
detail value
stateGeorgia
conferenceSouthern Conference
publicPrivate
scores1760/1173/26
levelAboveAverage
rank[237
overall ROI rank[242
sizesmall
undergrads4570
grads3982
price48468
drop38
stem28
research0
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Mercer University?

1. number 237 for Academics.

2. number 242 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Mercer University?

1. Seattle University

2. Creighton University

3. Bradley University

4. Christopher Newport University

5. Calvin College

6. University of the Pacific

7. University of North Carolina at Asheville



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Mercer University National Academic Rankings

Mercer University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Div1 Nonivy955751959890908497
Div1 Private353430333631313739
South East Region423234566048476452
State of Georgia4548877116
Top Ten State of Georgia454776676


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Mercer University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Mercer University

Mercer University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Mercer University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
93.14
Seattle UniversityWashingtonWestern Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage280320
92.60
Creighton UniversityNebraskaBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage273190
86.64
Bradley UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage326177
85.98
Christopher Newport UniversityVirginiaUSA South Athletic Conference ...PublicAboveAverage268320
85.68
Calvin CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateAboveAverage255209
85.56
University of the PacificCaliforniaWest Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage251344
85.55
University of North Carolina at AshevilleNorth CarolinaBig South ConferencePublicAboveAverage242319
85.36
University of PortlandOregonWest Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage235245
85.16
Truman State UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage208189
85.05
Webster UniversityMissouriSt.Louis Intercollegiate Ath ConfPrivateAboveAverage458421
85.04
Hope CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateAboveAverage244227
83.62
Marquette UniversityWisconsinBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage197121
83.57
University of DaytonOhioPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage278138
83.01
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
82.95
Loyola University ChicagoIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage228206
82.53
Rowan UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage306392
82.46
Saint Louis UniversityMissouriAtlantic 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage169165
82.37
Simmons CollegeMassachusettsGreat Northeast Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage376452
82.35
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
81.84
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
81.77
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
81.52
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
81.48
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
81.24
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
81.19
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
81.15
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage7959
81.05
Iowa State UniversityIowaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage12971
78.40
University of TulsaOklahomaAmerican Athletic ConferencePrivateGood13975
78.40
Manhattan CollegeNew YorkMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage460378
78.08
Valparaiso UniversityIndianaPioneer Football League / Hori...PrivateAverage407281
77.87
John Carroll UniversityOhioOhio Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage449276
77.85
The College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicGood164193
77.72
Madonna UniversityMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPrivateAboveAverage418377
77.68
Howard UniversityWashington DCMid Eastern Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage343429
77.64
University of Michigan-FlintMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage189264
77.50
Ohio Northern UniversityOhioOhio Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage332170
77.45
Rutgers University-NewarkNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage371392
77.44
Maryville University of Saint LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAverage424426
77.43
California Lutheran UniversityCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateAboveAverage481488
76.99
Grove City CollegePennsylvaniaPresidents' Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage235202
76.92
Gustavus Adolphus CollegeMinnesotaMinnesota Intercollegiate Ath ConfPrivateAboveAverage239210
76.65
Rockhurst UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage404250
76.43
Saint Michael's CollegeVermontNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage329452
76.37
Eckerd CollegeFloridaSunshine State ConferencePrivateAboveAverage495417
76.34
University of Northern IowaIowaMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage252248
76.28
Allegheny CollegePennsylvaniaNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage322411
76.25
College of CharlestonSouth CarolinaColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage219233
76.23
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottArizonaNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage402205
76.10
University of Minnesota-MorrisMinnesotaUpper Midwest Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage321161
75.97
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Mercer University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Mercer University

Mercer University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Mercer University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
97.88
Drake UniversityIowaPioneer Football League / Miss...PrivateAboveAverage263136
97.85
University of St ThomasMinnesotaMinnesota Intercollegiate Ath ConfPrivateAboveAverage238156
96.44
Texas Christian UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePrivateAboveAverage214181
96.14
Colonial Athletic Association (Low)-Colonial Athletic Association-Conf-AboveAverage-214
95.60
Hope CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateAboveAverage244227
95.17
Appalachian State UniversityNorth CarolinaSun Belt ConferencePublicAboveAverage230228
94.27
Stetson UniversityFloridaPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage344395
93.93
University of CincinnatiOhioAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage202106
93.61
University of DaytonOhioPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage278138
93.37
Grove City CollegePennsylvaniaPresidents' Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage235202
92.72
Furman UniversitySouth CarolinaSouthern ConferencePrivateGood232192
91.66
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
91.54
University of San DiegoCaliforniaPioneer Football League / West...PrivateGood203195
91.33
University of Missouri-St LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage242211
91.33
University of North TexasTexasConference USAPublicAboveAverage192165
91.24
Montana State UniversityMontanaBig Sky ConferencePublicAboveAverage217168
89.72
Trinity CollegeConnecticutNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateGood215225
88.49
Trinity UniversityTexasSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateGood212170
88.34
Howard UniversityWashington DCMid Eastern Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage343429
88.00
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
87.68
Ohio UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage215174
80.59
Liberty UniversityVirginiaBig South ConferencePrivateAverage230248