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

University of Akron Main Campus

2016 University Academic Rankings
The University of Akron is a public research university in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio and is regarded as a world leader in polymer research. As a STEM-focused institution, it focuses on industries such as polymers, advanced materials, and engineering. In the last decade it has sought to increase its research portfolio and gain recognition for its productivity in technology transfer and commercialization.

The University of Akron offers about 200 undergraduate and more than 100 graduate majors. With an enrollment of approximately 27,000 students from throughout Ohio, the United States, and 71 foreign countries, The University of Akron is one of the largest principal campuses in Ohio. The University's best-known program is its College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, housed in a 12-story reflective glass building that overlooks downtown Akron and the western edge of the campus. UA's Archives of the History of American Psychology, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, contains famous psychology artifacts and is visited regularly by researchers from around the world.

The university has multiple branch campuses, Wayne College in Orrville, Ohio, the Medina County University Center, in Lafayette Township, Ohio, and UA Lakewood, in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, Ohio. In addition, the University hosts various nursing programs in affiliation with Lorain County Community College under the University Partnership program.

History | Buchtel College

In 1867, at the annual Convention of the Universalist Church of the state of Ohio, the Committee on Education expressed an interest in founding a college compatible with Universalist religious principles. It was announced that the location would be given to those who could find an appropriate location and also supply $60,000 for the college. John R. Buchtel, a prominent Akron businessman and Universalist, promptly contributed $25,000 to the endowment fund and $6,000 to the building fund. This led other Akronites to donate, setting the goal and securing Akron as the location for Buchtel College, named after its greatest supporter. John R. Buchtel would continue to be the college's most significant contributor, giving $500,000 over his lifetime, approximately equivalent to $16 million today. When the university opened for business in 1872 it was a single-building campus, housed in what is now known as "Old Buchtel." George Washington Crouse donated $10,000 of the $20,000 needed to build a new gymnasium, completed in 1888. It was named Crouse Gymnasium in his honor, and was known as "the finest gym west of the Alleghenies."

Tragedy struck the small college on December 20, 1899, when Old Buchtel burned to the ground. Insurance only covered $65,000 of the estimated $100,000 in loss. While new campus buildings were being constructed, the Crouse Gymnasium was divided into seven classrooms and served as the college until a new Buchtel Hall was opened in 1901. The new Buchtel Hall, which itself was gutted by fire in 1971, survives to this day but had some blackening on the exterior up until a 2011 restoration.

20th century

In 1907, the college shed its Universalist affiliation and became a non-denominational institution, in order to be able to receive funds from the Carnegie Foundation, which would not give funds to religiously affiliated schools. In 1913, Buchtel College trustees transferred the institution and its assets to the city of Akron, and Buchtel College became the Municipal University of Akron. At this time, the enrollment was 198 students. Tax money levied for the school and Akron's growing population led to strong growth for the university. Over the next several decades the university continued to add new buildings to accommodate its growing student population, acquiring more land t ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "University of Akron Main Campus", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

University of Akron Main Campus Details

University of Akron Main Campus Details
detail value
stateOhio
conferenceMid American Conference
publicPublic
scores1580/1053/24
levelAverage
rank[331
overall ROI rank[251
sizemedium
undergrads19710
grads4252
price33376
drop58
stem26
research0
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for University of Akron Main Campus?

1. number 331 for Academics.

2. number 251 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to University of Akron Main Campus?

1. Boise State University

2. Old Dominion University

3. Kansas State University

4. Oklahoma State University

5. Eastern Michigan University

6. University of New Mexico

7. University of North Carolina at Charlotte


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

University of Akron Main Campus National Academic Rankings

University of Akron Main Campus National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Mid - American Conference56666121263
Mid West Region578483312942426255
State of Ohio1626258811102016
Top Ten Mid - American Conference566669943


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

University of Akron Main Campus Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Akron Main Campus

University of Akron Main Campus Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Akron Main Campus
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
93.21
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
93.20
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
93.13
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
92.94
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
92.87
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
92.70
University of New MexicoNew MexicoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage265153
92.58
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
92.57
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
92.44
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
92.39
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
92.36
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
92.17
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
92.16
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
92.11
University of ToledoOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage405285
92.07
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
92.00
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400
91.89
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
91.82
Florida Atlantic UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage305303
91.59
San Jose State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage386389
91.44
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
91.44
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
91.29
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
91.26
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
86.63
The University of Texas at El PasoTexasConference USAPublicBelowAverage499294
86.58
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
86.49
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeConference USAPublicAverage384372
86.39
Western Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage446320
86.37
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
86.36
Central Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicBelowAverage454402
86.36
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
86.25
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
86.14
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
86.09
Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage254236
86.02
University of ArkansasArkansasSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage171119
85.91
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
85.84
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
85.83
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
85.82
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
85.80
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWisconsinHorizon LeaguePublicBelowAverage420367
85.59
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
85.57
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
85.52
University of Nevada-Las VegasNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicBelowAverage421449
85.51
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
85.44
California State University-ChicoCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage392409
85.37
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
85.27
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
85.19
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
85.14
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
85.07
San Francisco State UniversityCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicBelowAverage428458
84.95
University of Colorado BoulderColoradoPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage7959


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

University of Akron Main Campus Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Akron Main Campus

University of Akron Main Campus Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Akron Main Campus
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.40
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
91.67
Ohio Northern UniversityOhioOhio Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage332170
90.86
Kettering UniversityMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage332139
90.22
Georgia College and State UniversityGeorgiaPeach Belt ConferencePublicAboveAverage334352
90.03
Centennial Conference (Low)-Centennial Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-415
88.07
LeTourneau UniversityTexasAmerican Southwest ConferencePrivateAboveAverage328173
88.03
Saint Michael's CollegeVermontNortheast 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage329452
86.03
Ursinus CollegePennsylvaniaCentennial ConferencePrivateAboveAverage327378
85.52
Maryland Institute College of ArtMarylandNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage335440
84.90
Southern Athletic Association (Average)-Southern Athletic Association-Conf-AboveAverage-408