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

The University of Texas at San Antonio

2016 University Academic Rankings
The University of Texas at San Antonio (officially "UTSA") is a state research university in San Antonio, Texas, United States. With over 28,000 students, it is the largest university in San Antonio and the eighth-largest (2014) in the state of Texas. Its three campuses span over 747 acres of land, with its main campus being the largest in the University of Texas System. UTSA offers a wide array of academic studies, with 133 undergraduate, 51 graduate and 24 doctoral programs. In 2012 and 2013, it was selected by Times Higher Education as one of the best universities in the world under 50 years old.

UTSA is a member of the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a consortium of the nation's major doctorate-level universities dedicated to collaboration and scientific advancement. It is an institutional member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, recognizing its influence and role as a Hispanic-serving institution. UTSA is also a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, an organization of public institutions that seek to both offer educational excellence and opportunities to historically under-served populations.

Established in 1969, UTSA has evolved to become the fourth largest institution within the UT System. Through an aggressive expansion of its academic funding, the university devoted over $56 million to research in 2011. Its football team has competed in Conference USA since 2013, previously playing a stint in the WAC and as an FCS independent.

Alongside seven other emerging research institutions, The University of Texas at San Antonio is currently in competition to become Texas' third flagship university.

History

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a part of the larger vision of "The University of Texas", as enumerated in the Texas Constitution. The University of Texas came into being in 1876, when the state constitution was adopted. Article VII articulated a vision for the university to the legislature:

"The Legislature shall as soon as practicable, establish, organize, and provide for the maintenance, support, and direction of a university of the first class, to be located by a vote of the people of this State, and styled "The University of Texas."

Until 1967, the Austin institution was the sole university stylized as "The University of Texas". It was during this year's legislative session that the UT System was given uniform designations based upon each institution's respective location. Two years later, San Antonio (one of the largest cities at the time without a public university) was finally granted its own institution in The University of Texas System.

Early years (1970s to 1980s)

The University of Texas at San Antonio was officially founded on June 5, 1969 by the 61st Texas Legislature as H.B. 42 and signed into law by Governor Preston Smith. Frank Lombardino, a conservative Democrat who represented northwest Bexar County in the state legislature, was known as the "father of UTSA" due to his impassioned advocacy for the institution. When Governor Smith signed the bill officially establishing the university, he did so on the back of Lombardino in a grand ceremony in front of the Alamo. At the university's inaugural commencement, the first diploma was also signed on Lombardino's back. In 1970, the University of Texas Board of Regents appointed the university's first president, Arleigh B. Templeton, who served from 1970 to 1972, and received a land donation of 600 acres (2.4 km2) in far northwest San Antonio for the site of UTSA. Architects Ford, Powell and Carson Inc. was assigned to design a master plan for the university. O'Neil Ford, the designer of both the Tower of the Ameri ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "The University of Texas at San Antonio", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

The University of Texas at San Antonio Details

The University of Texas at San Antonio Details
detail value
stateTexas
conferenceConference USA
publicPublic
scores1540/1027/23
levelAverage
rank[330
overall ROI rank[180
sizemedium-large
undergrads24285
grads4343
price29854
drop68
stem47
research57
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for The University of Texas at San Antonio?

1. number 330 for Academics.

2. number 180 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to The University of Texas at San Antonio?

1. Florida Atlantic University

2. Portland State University

3. Oregon State University

4. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

5. San Jose State University

6. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

7. Wichita State University


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

The University of Texas at San Antonio National Academic Rankings

The University of Texas at San Antonio National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Div1 Public859896787669791753
Conference Usa689765732
South West Region325950252220201918
State of Texas122624131299135
Top Ten Conference Usa789765634


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

The University of Texas at San Antonio Peer Universities, Similar Universities to The University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio Peer Universities, Similar Universities to The University of Texas at San Antonio
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.69
Florida Atlantic UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage305303
99.41
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
93.23
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
92.77
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
92.74
San Jose State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage386389
90.36
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
89.95
Wichita State UniversityKansasMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage382307
89.91
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
86.61
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
86.15
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
85.44
The University of Texas at El PasoTexasConference USAPublicBelowAverage499294
85.42
The University of Texas at ArlingtonTexasSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage240157
85.04
Wayne State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage414286
84.90
University of HoustonTexasAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage8960
84.64
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage120134
84.24
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
83.95
Florida International UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage163170
83.88
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
83.87
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
83.30
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
82.62
Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisianaConference USAPublicAverage392213
81.96
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309
81.38
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
79.95
North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage5831
79.90
University of UtahUtahPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage14286
79.81
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage143139
79.80
Ohio UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage215174
79.39
California State University-SacramentoCaliforniaBig Sky ConferencePublicBelowAverage453472
79.21
University of California-DavisCaliforniaBig Sky Conference / Big West ...PublicAboveAverage58142
79.04
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
78.79
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
78.69
Purdue UniversityIndianaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5720
78.54
University of South FloridaFloridaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage94113
78.02
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
77.92
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
77.33
Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5384
77.04
University of Colorado DenverColoradoNo Conference AffiliationPublicAverage283217
76.90
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
76.87
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage293347
76.84
New Mexico State UniversityNew MexicoSun Belt Conference / Western ...PublicBelowAverage486360
76.47
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
76.20
University of Missouri-Kansas CityMissouriWestern Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage197155
76.16
Tennessee Technological UniversityTennesseeOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage374212
75.88
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
75.45
The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage350429
74.70
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFloridaFlorida Sun ConferencePrivateAverage401210
74.52
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast ConferencePrivateAverage348352
74.17
University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinoisGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAverage403397
73.22
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
73.07
Northern Arizona UniversityArizonaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage336333


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

The University of Texas at San Antonio Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to The University of Texas at San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to The University of Texas at San Antonio
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.47
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
95.25
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
95.16
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
95.16
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
95.09
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
94.40
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
94.06
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
93.16
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
88.32
Ohio Northern UniversityOhioOhio Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage332170
87.86
Virginia Military InstituteVirginiaBig South ConferencePublicAboveAverage444227
87.53
Kettering UniversityMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage332139
86.86
Georgia College and State UniversityGeorgiaPeach Belt ConferencePublicAboveAverage334352
86.86
Bradley UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage326177
86.76
LeTourneau UniversityTexasAmerican Southwest ConferencePrivateAboveAverage328173
86.75
Centennial Conference (Low)-Centennial Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-415
86.75
Saint Michael's CollegeVermontNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage329452
84.75
Ursinus CollegePennsylvaniaCentennial ConferencePrivateAboveAverage327378