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

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

2016 University Academic Rankings

Southern Illinois University is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIU is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. (The other members are Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Southern Illinois School of Law, and Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.) The university is known as SIU Carbondale, but colloquially as SIU. SIU's total student enrollment is 17,292.

The University is categorized as an RU/H Research University (high research activity) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. SIU is recognized in the U.S. News & World Report rankings as a "National University," that is, a university which grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; SIU's ranking in the 2016 US News ratings is #153. Additionally, the National Science Foundation ranks SIU #171 among public universities in the U.S. for total research and development expenditures, and #107 among earned doctorates. SIU Carbondale enrolls students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The University offers more than 200 undergraduate, 70 master's and 31 doctoral programs in addition to professional degrees in law and medicine.

History

The Pulliam Hall clock tower has a carillon that is regularly played. This landmark tower has been incorporated into the logo of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

An Act of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly of Illinois, approved March 9, 1869, created Southern Illinois Normal College, the second state-supported normal school in Illinois. Carbondale held the ceremony of cornerstone laying, May 17, 1870. It began with twelve academic departments and an initial class of 1143.

The university continued primarily as a teacher's college until Delyte W. Morris took office as president of the university in 1948. Morris was SIU's longest-serving president (1948-1970). During his presidency, Morris transformed SIU, adding Colleges of Law, Medicine and Dentistry. Since World War II, higher education has been emphasized as a goal for more students. Southern Illinois University grew rapidly in size from 3,500 to over 23,000 students between 1950 and 1980.

In 1957, a second campus of SIU was established at Edwardsville. This school, now known as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is an independent university within the SIU system.

Leadership

Randy Dunn is the eighth president of the Southern Illinois University System. Dr. Dunn served as president at two other state institutions and was the state superintendent of education, appointed to that role by the Illinois State Board of Education. His career in education includes classroom teaching, serving as principal at two school districts, serving as superintendent for two Illinois school systems, and holding the rank of professor at two universities including SIUC. Dr. Dunn has served on a number of committees, councils and task forces, and he contributes to a variety of scholarly publications. Dunn received his doctorate in educational administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1991. He graduated from Illinois State University with a master's in administration and foundations in 1983, and the B.S. in education in 1980. Before coming to Southern Illinois, he served as president at two other state institutions - Murray State University in Kentucky (2006-2013) and Youngstown State University in Ohio (2013-2014). Before that, Dunn was the state superintendent of education, appointed to that role by the Illinois State Board of Education. He is not a stranger to the SIU System, having held the rank of professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Higher Education at SIUC. D ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Southern Illinois University Details

Southern Illinois University Details
detail value
stateIllinois
conferenceMissouri Valley Conference
publicPublic
scores1585/1057/24
levelAverage
rank[368
overall ROI rank[278
sizemedium
undergrads13461
grads4528
price38606
drop54
stem52
research71
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?

1. number 368 for Academics.

2. number 278 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale?

1. CUNY Brooklyn College

2. University of Hawaii at Manoa

3. Louisiana Tech University

4. The University of Texas at El Paso

5. The University of Texas at San Antonio

6. University of Colorado Denver

7. University of Massachusetts-Lowell



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Southern Illinois University National Academic Rankings

Southern Illinois University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Div1 Public878678939374736081
Stem High424649283127203441
Missouri Valley Conference6109661375
Mid West Region628378385229236160
State of Illinois132523811761211
Top Ten Missouri Valley Conference799661356


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Southern Illinois University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Southern Illinois University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
93.02
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
93.02
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
91.39
Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisianaConference USAPublicAverage392213
91.20
The University of Texas at El PasoTexasConference USAPublicBelowAverage499294
90.36
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
86.64
University of Colorado DenverColoradoNo Conference AffiliationPublicAverage283217
86.43
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
86.39
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage293347
86.33
New Mexico State UniversityNew MexicoSun Belt Conference / Western ...PublicBelowAverage486360
85.66
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
85.31
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage120134
85.18
University of Missouri-Kansas CityMissouriWestern Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage197155
85.01
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
84.89
Wayne State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage414286
84.60
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
84.05
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
83.75
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
83.54
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309
83.37
San Jose State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage386389
82.48
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
80.00
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
79.92
Montana State UniversityMontanaBig Sky ConferencePublicAboveAverage217168
79.69
University of North FloridaFloridaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAboveAverage219214
79.27
Wichita State UniversityKansasMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage382307
79.05
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266
78.97
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
78.91
University of ToledoOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage405285
78.70
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
78.59
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
77.85
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
77.79
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
77.34
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
77.15
The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage350429
77.00
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
76.34
The University of Texas at ArlingtonTexasSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage240157
76.05
University of HoustonTexasAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage8960
75.79
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFloridaFlorida Sun ConferencePrivateAverage401210
75.66
Nova Southeastern UniversityFloridaSunshine State ConferencePrivateAverage488397
75.55
Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5384
75.48
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast ConferencePrivateAverage348352
74.84
University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinoisGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAverage403397
73.61
Centenary College of LouisianaLouisianaSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateAverage-1-1
73.07
SUNY at AlbanyNew YorkColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage188218
72.61
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
72.56
Syracuse UniversityNew YorkAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage172216
72.53
University of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth CarolinaSouthern ConferencePublicAverage449439
72.52
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
72.48
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
72.36
St John's University-New YorkNew YorkBig East ConferencePrivateAverage309444
72.36
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Southern Illinois University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Southern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Southern Illinois University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
98.04
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
98.00
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
96.84
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
96.62
Rutgers University-NewarkNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage371392
96.06
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
96.00
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
96.00
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
95.94
Ramapo College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage369437
95.12
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
95.08
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
95.05
Big South Conference (Average)-Big South Conference-Conf-Average-392
94.65
Azusa Pacific UniversityCaliforniaGreat Northeast Athletic Confe...PrivateAverage370455
94.54
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast ConferencePrivateAverage348352
94.45
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
94.41
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
94.40
South Dakota State UniversitySouth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage354263
93.94
SUNY OneontaNew YorkState University of New York A...PublicAverage365466
93.84
The University of MontanaMontanaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage372232
93.33
Wayne State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage414286
92.07
Texas State UniversityTexasSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage364290
91.91
Seton Hall UniversityNew JerseyBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage365390
91.35
Adelphi UniversityNew YorkNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage365444
90.93
Drury UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage295378
90.15
Kettering UniversityMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage332139
89.09
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth DakotaGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage281111
87.68
Northwest Conference (Average)-Northwest Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-440