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

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

2016 University Academic Rankings
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - commonly referred to as SDSM&T, Tech, or Mines - is a public institution of higher learning in Rapid City, South Dakota, governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents. Founded in 1885 as the Dakota School of Mines, Tech offers degree programs in engineering and science fields. 2,311 students were enrolled in fall 2011. The school athletic teams are called the Hardrockers.

History

The cornerstone of the first School of Mines building was dedicated on August 19, 1885, with the first classes being held February 21, 1887. John W. Hancher received the first bachelor of science degree at the first commencement on May 31, 1888.

The School of Mines presented exhibits during the 1904 World's Fair and the first licensed radio station in the state of South Dakota was established on campus in December 1911, a full decade before WCAT (the precursor the current campus station KTEQ-FM). The first "M-Day" homecoming celebration occurred on October 5, 1912 with the construction of the "M" on M-Hill, the school's mountain monogram. The school's ROTC battalion was formed in 1918 in response to World War I. The football stadium began construction in 1931 and was completed as "O'Harra Field" in 1938.

In September 2012, SDSM&T made national news when Bloomberg announced that it had passed Harvard in the category of starting salaries for graduates. On September 19, Tech President Dr. Robert A. Wharton died due to complications of cancer treatments. During the presidential search, Duane C. Hrncir was the interim President.

On April 25, 2013, the School of Mines announced that Heather Wilson will become the first female president in the school's 128-year history, starting in June 2013.

Academics | Campus

The campus is located on the eastern side of Rapid City, on the northern slope of small foothills of the Black Hills. South Dakota Tech currently has three residence halls: Connolly Hall, Palmerton Hall, and Peterson Hall. Connolly was built in the 1940s, Palmerton in the 1960s, and Peterson Hall in 2004. The three combined can house up to 660 students on-campus After completion of Peterson Hall, March Hall and Dake Hall (both built in the 1950s) were demolished in 2006 to make room for additional parking.

The APEX Gallery is located in Classroom Building 211, and hosts a new exhibit every four to six weeks. The gallery hosts contemporary works of artists and scientists, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized.

Museum of Geology

Opening the same year as the school, the Museum of Geology collects, conserves, curates, interprets, and exhibits paleontologically, mineralogical and geologically significant objects and serves as the repository for such objects from South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains. The public exhibits of the museum have been housed since 1944 in second floor of the then newly completed O'Harra Building, while the preparation laboratories and collections are held in the James E. Martin Paleontology Center, constructed in 2009.

Student organizations

Active Fraternities on campus include Lambda Chi Alpha, Alpha Chi Sigma, Delta Sigma Phi, Theta Tau, and Triangle. Sororities include Alpha Delta Pi & Alpha Omega Epsilon. Student government organizations include the Student Association Senate.

Student media organizations include KTEQ-FM (the campus radio station) and "the Aurum" (the campus newspaper, formerly known as "the Tech" and then "the Raver"). "The Aurum" is the original name of the school newspaper, first published in November, 1901. The newspaper changed its name back to "The Aurum" in January 2010. The campus radio station, KTEQ, was started in 1922 as a low-powered AM station, left the air in 1955, and returned as the ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "South Dakota School of Mines and Technology", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Details

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Details
detail value
stateSouth Dakota
conferenceGreat Northwest Athletic Conference
publicPublic
scores1740/1160/26
levelAboveAverage
rank[281
overall ROI rank[111
sizesmall
undergrads2471
grads327
price25730
drop49
stem82
research0
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

1. number 281 for Academics.

2. number 111 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology?

1. Kettering University

2. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

3. Lawrence Technological University

4. Montana Tech of the University of Montana

5. Clarkson University

6. Florida Institute of Technology

7. Milwaukee School of Engineering


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology National Academic Rankings

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Stem High40283045453232928
Mountain West Region8321615121222
State of South Dakota211333311
Top Ten Mountain West Region632997712
Top Ten State of South Dakota211333311


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Peer Universities, Similar Universities to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Peer Universities, Similar Universities to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
91.34
Kettering UniversityMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage332139
91.33
SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNew YorkNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage229244
85.89
Lawrence Technological UniversityMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPrivateAboveAverage319146
85.10
Montana Tech of the University of MontanaMontanaFrontier ConferencePublicAboveAverage399203
85.07
Clarkson UniversityNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage211187
84.53
Florida Institute of TechnologyFloridaGulf South Conference / Sunshi...PrivateAboveAverage260130
79.68
Milwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...PrivateGood184102
78.65
Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinoisDivision III IndependentsPrivateGood12255
77.54
Drury UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage295378
76.27
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAlabamaGulf South ConferencePublicAboveAverage181103
76.24
Michigan Technological UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAboveAverage14658
76.09
Southern Polytechnic State UniversityGeorgiaNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage267128
75.63
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
75.52
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyIndependent Northeast RegionPublicAboveAverage195185
74.78
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
74.56
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
74.52
University of Missouri-St LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage242211
74.01
North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage5831
72.74
LeTourneau UniversityTexasAmerican Southwest ConferencePrivateAboveAverage328173
72.57
Messiah CollegePennsylvaniaMiddle Atlantic States Athleti...PrivateAboveAverage387436
71.65
Cedarville UniversityOhioPrivateAboveAverage287278
71.59
Wagner CollegeNew YorkNortheast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage385412
71.15
University of PortlandOregonWest Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage235245
71.07
New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNew MexicoNo Conference AffiliationPublicGood18093
70.59
Saint Martin's UniversityWashingtonGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage-1-1
70.36
Colorado School of MinesColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePublicGood8424
70.17
Nova Southeastern UniversityFloridaSunshine State ConferencePrivateAverage488397
69.98
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFloridaFlorida Sun ConferencePrivateAverage401210
69.96
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
69.19
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicGood10532
69.08
United States Coast Guard AcademyConnecticutNew England Football Conferenc...PublicGood18597
69.02
Polytechnic Institute of New York UniversityNew YorkNo Reported AffiliationPrivateGood7672
67.94
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage293347
67.89
University of Colorado DenverColoradoNo Conference AffiliationPublicAverage283217
67.56
Wayne State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage414286
67.41
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
67.40
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
98.71
Seattle UniversityWashingtonWestern Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage280320
96.42
SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNew YorkNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage229244
95.89
Drury UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage295378
95.40
University of DallasTexasSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateAboveAverage282175
94.84
Kettering UniversityMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage332139
93.48
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
92.81
University of DaytonOhioPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage278138
91.67
No Conference Affiliation (Low)-No Conference Affiliation-Conf-Good-338
91.09
University of Colorado DenverColoradoNo Conference AffiliationPublicAverage283217
90.92
Big Twelve Conference (Low)-Big Twelve Conference-Conf-Average-178
90.45
Kalamazoo CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateGood285415
89.97
The College of WoosterOhioNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateGood277317
89.25
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
88.22
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
88.22
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
85.82
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
81.00
Wayne State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage414286