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 Colorado Denver

2016 University Academic Rankings
The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (sic) is a public research university in the U.S. state of Colorado. It is part of the University of Colorado system.

The university has two campuses - one in downtown Denver at the Auraria Campus, and the other at the Anschutz Medical Campus located in neighboring Aurora. The single university is the result of the 2004 consolidation of the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

The University of Colorado Denver is located on Auraria Campus in Downtown Denver, Colorado while the CU Anschutz Medical Campus is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, nearly 10 miles away. CU Anschutz shares the campus with the Children's Hospital and University of Colorado Hospital. There are currently more than 18,000 students at the school's two physical campuses in downtown Denver and in Aurora. The school also offers classes via CU Online.

The University of Colorado Denver is the largest research institution in Colorado, attracting more than $375 million in research grants annually and granting more graduate degrees than any other institution in the state. CU Denver, along with University of Colorado Hospital and University Physicians, Inc., employs more than 12,200 Coloradans, making it one of the metro Denver area's top employers. The university serves more than 500,000 patients a year through its hospital and clinical services.

History | University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

The University of Colorado created the Department of Medicine and Surgery in September 1883 in the Old Main building on the Boulder campus. The Department of Nursing opened in 1898.

By 1892, the last two years of classes were taught in Denver because the larger population afforded more practical experience. This practice triggered something of a turf battle with the University of Denver's medical school and the subsequent legal battle went to the state Supreme Court. In 1897, the court found that CU's charter restricted them to Boulder. However, in 1910, CU got an amendment to the state Constitution passed which allowed them to move back to Denver. In 1911, the School of Medicine combined with the Denver and Gross Medical College to form a larger school with a more comprehensive program, paving the way for the school's permanent move to Denver. In 1925, the School of Medicine moved to the campus on Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Denver. This would become the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC).

In 1995, the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center was officially put on the Base Realignment and Closure list, after which officials from the Health Sciences Center, University of Colorado Hospital and the City of Aurora presented a proposal to the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. to repurpose the decommissioned base as an academic health center. In 1999, the Army base was closed under the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure action. In 2004, the first UCHSC labs moved from Denver to the research towers on the Fitzsimons campus. In 2006, the Fitzsimons campus of UCHSC was renamed the Anschutz Medical Campus in recognition of philanthropic donations from Philip and Nancy Anschutz. By the end of 2008, academic and research operations of all CU Denver health sciences schools and colleges relocated from the Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard campus to the new Anschutz campus, joining the affiliated University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital. In 2011, the Regents approved the name University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus.

University of Colorado Denver

The University of Colorado Denver began as the Extension Cent ... [more on wikipedia]

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

University of Colorado Denver Details

University of Colorado Denver Details
detail value
stateColorado
conferenceNo Conference Affiliation
publicPublic
scores1628/1085/24
levelAverage
rank[283
overall ROI rank[217
sizemedium
undergrads13509
grads9282
price40452
drop54
stem59
research413
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for University of Colorado Denver?

1. number 283 for Academics.

2. number 217 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to University of Colorado Denver?

1. University of Illinois at Chicago

2. Wayne State University

3. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

4. CUNY City College

5. University of Maryland-Baltimore County

6. Drexel University

7. North Carolina State University at Raleigh


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

University of Colorado Denver National Academic Rankings

University of Colorado Denver National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Stem High34404626282173335
South West Region23332826281625234
State of Colorado778674245
Top Ten State of Colorado778674245


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

University of Colorado Denver Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Colorado Denver

University of Colorado Denver Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Colorado Denver
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
92.05
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
91.58
Wayne State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage414286
86.64
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
86.36
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage293347
85.62
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
85.33
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage120134
83.68
North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage5831
83.01
The University of Texas at ArlingtonTexasSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage240157
82.98
Purdue UniversityIndianaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5720
82.90
University of South FloridaFloridaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage94113
79.98
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
79.82
University of Missouri-St LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage242211
79.74
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
79.71
University of North FloridaFloridaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAboveAverage219214
78.49
University of Missouri-Kansas CityMissouriWestern Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage197155
77.40
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
77.35
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
77.14
The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage350429
77.04
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
76.86
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309
76.60
University of California-DavisCaliforniaBig Sky Conference / Big West ...PublicAboveAverage58142
76.06
University of HoustonTexasAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage8960
75.81
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
75.78
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFloridaFlorida Sun ConferencePrivateAverage401210
75.65
Nova Southeastern UniversityFloridaSunshine State ConferencePrivateAverage488397
75.47
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast ConferencePrivateAverage348352
74.83
University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinoisGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAverage403397
74.19
SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNew YorkNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage229244
74.05
Saint Martin's UniversityWashingtonGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage-1-1
73.61
Centenary College of LouisianaLouisianaSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateAverage-1-1
73.29
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
73.04
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
73.00
University of New HampshireNew HampshireColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage221225
72.65
North Dakota State UniversityNorth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage261196
72.45
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
72.31
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
72.06
South Dakota State UniversitySouth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage354263
71.46
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
71.32
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
71.28
University of MaineMaineAtlantic 10 Conference / Ameri...PublicAverage248245
71.25
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
71.20
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
70.21
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
69.40
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486
68.99
Michigan State UniversityMichiganBig Ten ConferencePublicAverage11174
68.60
Drury UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage295378
68.46
Florida Institute of TechnologyFloridaGulf South Conference / Sunshi...PrivateAboveAverage260130
68.27
Clarkson UniversityNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage211187
68.08
Ohio Northern UniversityOhioOhio Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage332170
68.03
University of Detroit MercyMichiganHorizon LeaguePrivateAboveAverage415313


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

University of Colorado Denver Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Colorado Denver

University of Colorado Denver Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Colorado Denver
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.85
Big Twelve Conference (Low)-Big Twelve Conference-Conf-Average-178
97.64
University of Missouri-St LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage242211
94.74
Florida Institute of TechnologyFloridaGulf South Conference / Sunshi...PrivateAboveAverage260130
94.28
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
93.32
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
93.08
SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestryNew YorkNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage229244
93.01
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
91.53
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth DakotaGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage281111
90.80
Seattle UniversityWashingtonWestern Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage280320
90.53
Providence CollegeRhode IslandBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage286350
89.80
Clarkson UniversityNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage211187
89.17
University of DallasTexasSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateAboveAverage282175
88.74
Cedarville UniversityOhioPrivateAboveAverage287278
86.35
Kalamazoo CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateGood285415
83.68
No Conference Affiliation (Low)-No Conference Affiliation-Conf-Good-338
83.62
United States Coast Guard AcademyConnecticutNew England Football Conferenc...PublicGood18597
82.69
New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologyNew MexicoNo Conference AffiliationPublicGood18093