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

Old Dominion University

2016 University Academic Rankings
Old Dominion University also known as ODU is a public, co-educational research university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, with two satellite campuses in the Hampton Roads area. It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary and is now one of the largest universities in Virginia with an enrollment of 24,670 students for the 2014-2015 academic year. Its campus covers over 251 acres straddling the city neighborhoods of Larchmont, Highland Park, and Lambert's Point approximately 5 miles from Downtown Norfolk.

Old Dominion University is classified as a Carnegie Doctoral, Higher Research Activity University whose purpose is to provide the highest quality of undergraduate and graduate education, while raising its stature as one of the nation's best public research institutions. As one of the largest educational institution in the region, Old Dominion University provides nearly $2 billion annually to the regional economy. The university offers 168 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to over 24,000 students and is one of the nation's largest providers of online distance learning courses. Old Dominion University has approximately 124,000 alumni in all 50 states and 67 countries. Old Dominion University derives its name from one of Virginia's state nicknames, "The Old Dominion", given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War.

History

The foundations of Old Dominion University began in the minds of administrators and officials at the College of William and Mary in the first decades of the twentieth century. Notable among these men were Robert M. Hughes, a W&M Board of Visitors member from 1893-1917, and J.A.C. Chandler, the 18th president of that school. In 1924 after becoming the director of the William and Mary extension in Norfolk, Joseph Healy began organizing classes and finding locations for faculty and staff. He along with the collective efforts of Robert M. Hughes, Dr. J.A.C. Chandler, and A.H. Foreman, a two-year branch division was established on March 13, 1930. On September 12, 1930 the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary held their first class with 206 students (125 men and 81 women) in the old Larchmont School building which was an abandoned elementary school on Hampton Boulevard. On September 3, 1930 H. Edgar Timmerman becomes the Division's first director.

"The Division," as it was affectionately called, which started out in the old Larchmont School building and allowed people with less means to attend a school of higher education for two years. Tuition for the first year was 50 USD. The following September, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, more commonly known as Virginia Tech, began offering classes at "The Division," expanding the number of courses taught. Old Dominion began educating teachers and engineers. Created in the first year of the Great Depression, the college benefited from federal funding as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The Public Works Administration provided funds for the Administration Building, now Rollins Hall, and Foreman Field, named after A.H Foreman, an early proponent of the college. Lewis Warrington Webb first joined the faculty in 1932 as an instructor of engineering and would later be called "the Father of Old Dominion." After serving 10 years as an instructor at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, he was appointed Assistant Director in 1942. He also served as Director of the Defense and War Training Program at the College from 1940-1944. Through its defense and training classes, the Norfolk Division makes an invaluable contribution to the war effort. The program also allows the school to remain open during a period when most young men were serving their country. The program attracts many women, wh ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Old Dominion University Details

Old Dominion University Details
detail value
stateVirginia
conferenceConference USA
publicPublic
scores1540/1027/23
levelAverage
rank[356
overall ROI rank[368
sizemedium-large
undergrads20115
grads4817
price39248
drop46
stem19
research101
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Old Dominion University?

1. number 356 for Academics.

2. number 368 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Old Dominion University?

1. West Virginia University

2. San Diego State University

3. Texas Tech University

4. University of Akron Main Campus

5. Oklahoma State University

6. Towson University

7. University of Arkansas


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Old Dominion University National Academic Rankings

Old Dominion University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Conference Usa888871141310
State of Virginia131920910651212
Top Ten Conference Usa8888794109


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Old Dominion University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Old Dominion University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.28
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
98.06
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
98.02
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
93.20
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
93.07
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
92.90
Towson UniversityMarylandColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAverage264365
92.81
University of ArkansasArkansasSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage171119
92.75
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
92.69
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
92.69
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
92.42
Kent State University at KentOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage347358
92.42
Northern Arizona UniversityArizonaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage336333
92.36
Ohio UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage215174
92.33
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
92.33
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
92.29
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
92.28
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
92.25
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
91.96
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
91.96
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
91.89
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400
91.71
Syracuse UniversityNew YorkAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage172216
90.49
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266
86.62
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
86.62
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeConference USAPublicAverage384372
86.49
Central Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage454402
86.41
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
86.38
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
86.28
University of DelawareDelawareColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage107138
86.26
Western Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage446320
86.23
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
86.03
University of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage159130
86.02
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
85.97
Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage254236
85.95
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
85.91
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWisconsinHorizon LeaguePublicBelowAverage420367
85.72
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
85.68
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
85.63
University of Nevada-Las VegasNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicBelowAverage421449
85.59
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage193228
85.57
Sam Houston State UniversityTexasSouthland ConferencePublicAverage472383
85.53
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
85.48
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
85.39
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
85.39
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSouth CarolinaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage93130
85.26
Montclair State UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicBelowAverage447463
85.24
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
85.17
San Francisco State UniversityCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicBelowAverage428458
85.16
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
85.05
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage7959


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Old Dominion University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Old Dominion University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.72
South Dakota State UniversitySouth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage354263
95.09
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
94.36
Arizona State University-Downtown PhoenixArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage357234
93.09
Southern Conference (Average)-Southern Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-361
91.65
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
90.90
Quinnipiac UniversityConnecticutMetro Atlantic Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage353433
88.28
Point Loma Nazarene UniversityCaliforniaPacific West ConferencePrivateAboveAverage357440
86.17
VanderCook College of MusicIllinoisNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage355454