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

United States Naval Academy

2016 University Academic Rankings

The United States Naval Academy (also known as USNA, Annapolis, or simply Navy) is a four-year coeducational federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland, United States. Established in 1845 under Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, it is the second oldest of the United States' five service academies, and educates officers for commissioning primarily into the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The 338-acre (137 ha) campus is located on the former grounds of Fort Severn at the confluence of the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay in Anne Arundel County, 33 miles (53 km) east of Washington, D.C. and 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Baltimore. The entire campus is a National Historic Landmark and home to many historic sites, buildings, and monuments. It replaced Philadelphia Naval Asylum, in Philadelphia, that served as the first United States Naval Academy from 1838 to 1845 when the Naval Academy formed in Annapolis.

Candidates for admission generally must both apply directly to the academy and receive a nomination, usually from a Member of Congress. Students are officers-in-training and are referred to as midshipmen. Tuition for midshipmen is fully funded by the Navy in exchange for an active duty service obligation upon graduation. Approximately 1,200 "plebes" (an abbreviation of the Ancient Roman word plebeian) enter the Academy each summer for the rigorous Plebe Summer, but only about 1,000 midshipmen graduate. Graduates are usually commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, but a small number can also be cross-commissioned as officers in other US services, and the services of allied nations. The United States Naval Academy has some of the highest paid graduates in the country according to starting salary. The academic program grants a bachelor of science degree with a curriculum that grades midshipmen's performance upon a broad academic program, military leadership performance, and mandatory participation in competitive athletics. Midshipmen are required to adhere to the academy's Honor Concept.

Description

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In its most recent report, the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked the US Naval Academy as the No. 1 Public Liberal Arts College in the nation. In the category of High School Counselor Rankings of National Liberal Arts Colleges, the Naval Academy is also tied for No. 1 with the US Military Academy and the US Air Force Academy. It also holds the No. 5 spot with the US Air Force Academy for Best Undergraduate Engineering programs. In the same year, Forbes ranked the US Naval Academy as No. 17 overall in nation in its report "America's Top Colleges 2011".

Prospective candidates must be first nominated by a US congressman, senator, the Vice-President, or the President, or be the child of a Medal of Honor recipient. This nomination typically involves an interview with that specific nominating body and/or retired officers within the same jurisdiction. Candidates must also pass a physical fitness test and a thorough medical exam as part of the application process. In the 21st century, there have been about 1,200 students in each new class of plebes (freshmen). The U.S. government pays for tuition, room and board. Midshipmen receive monthly pay of $1,017.00, as of 2015. From this amount, pay is automatically deducted for the cost of uniforms, books, supplies, services, and other miscellaneous expenses. Midshipmen only receive a portion of their total pay in cash while the rest is released during "firstie" (senior) year. Midshipmen fourth-class (plebes) to midshipmen second-class (juniors) receive monthly stipen ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "United States Naval Academy", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

United States Naval Academy Details

United States Naval Academy Details
detail value
stateMaryland
conferenceDivision I Independents / Patr...
publicPublic
scores1905/1270/29
levelExcellent
rank[126
overall ROI rank[48
sizesmall
undergrads4511
grads0
price0
drop10
stem53
research10
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for United States Naval Academy?

1. number 126 for Academics.

2. number 48 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to United States Naval Academy?

1. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

2. Case Western Reserve University

3. Lehigh University

4. United States Air Force Academy

5. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

6. United States Military Academy

7. Rice University



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

United States Naval Academy National Academic Rankings

United States Naval Academy National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top250126103601421711531531148
Public60171374828689620
Stem High211721192228301012
Stem Low785447788577781034
Patriot League773786711
New England Region59563262715758124
State of Maryland433455612
Top Ten Top250126103601421711531531148
Top Ten Patriot League773786711
Top Ten State of Maryland433454412


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

United States Naval Academy Peer Universities, Similar Universities to United States Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy Peer Universities, Similar Universities to United States Naval Academy
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
86.26
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteMassachusettsUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateExcellent7340
86.12
Case Western Reserve UniversityOhioPresidents' Athletic Conferenc...PrivateExcellent2814
85.94
Lehigh UniversityPennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent6932
85.84
United States Air Force AcademyColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicExcellent9130
85.35
Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateExcellent2734
79.86
United States Military AcademyNew YorkDivision I-A Independents / Pa...PublicGood14578
79.14
Rice UniversityTexasConference USAPrivateElite204
78.44
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPennsylvaniaUniversity Athletic AssociationPrivateElite219
77.61
Stevens Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyEmpire EightPrivateExcellent9943
76.70
Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyIndianaHeartland Collegiate Athletic ...PrivateExcellent15960
74.55
University of California-San DiegoCaliforniaDivision II IndependentsPublicExcellent2670
74.44
University of Maryland-College ParkMarylandBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3460
74.44
University of California-BerkeleyCaliforniaPacific 12 ConferencePublicExcellent1826
70.38
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkIvy LeaguePrivateElite742
68.77
Cornell UniversityNew YorkIvy LeaguePrivateElite1539
68.71
Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicElite61
68.23
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCaliforniaBig Sky Conference / Big West ...PublicGood9688
67.99
United States Coast Guard AcademyConnecticutNew England Football Conferenc...PublicGood18597
67.91
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicGood7540
67.85
Harvey Mudd CollegeCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite4919
67.54
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinnesotaBig Ten ConferencePublicExcellent3022
67.18
Franklin W Olin College of EngineeringMassachusettsNo Conference AffiliationPrivateElite4853


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

United States Naval Academy Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to United States Naval Academy

United States Naval Academy Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to United States Naval Academy
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.56
University of TulsaOklahomaAmerican Athletic ConferencePrivateGood13975
95.63
Santa Clara UniversityCaliforniaWest Coast ConferencePrivateExcellent12398
95.17
Bucknell UniversityPennsylvaniaPatriot LeaguePrivateExcellent13193
94.99
University of RichmondVirginiaColonial Athletic Association ...PrivateExcellent128150
94.92
Atlantic 10 Conference (Average)-Atlantic 10 Conference-Conf-Good-158
93.81
Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinoisDivision III IndependentsPrivateGood12255
93.56
Missouri University of Science and TechnologyMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicGood10532
92.51
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtNew YorkNo Conference AffiliationPrivateExcellent10969
92.03
CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage135182
91.96
Colby CollegeMaineNew England Small College Ath ConfPrivateExcellent132155
91.64
Reed CollegeOregonNo Conference AffiliationPrivateExcellent106144
91.32
Scripps CollegeCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateElite127204
89.60
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage120134
89.13
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
88.43
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
87.53
University of VermontVermontAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage136191
86.76
Michigan Technological UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAboveAverage14658
85.35
University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabamaConference USAPublicAboveAverage153148
84.75
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
84.39
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAlabamaGulf South ConferencePublicAboveAverage181103
84.39
University of South FloridaFloridaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage94113
84.39
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
83.41
University of UtahUtahPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage14286
83.41
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
82.42
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage143139
82.41
Iowa State UniversityIowaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage12971
80.37
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486