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 Maine

2016 University Academic Rankings
The University of Maine (also referred to as UMaine or Maine) is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is the flagship university of the University of Maine System. Having an enrollment of approximately 11,000 students, UMaine is the largest university in the state and is the only institution in Maine classified as a research university (RU/H) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The University of Maine's athletic teams are nicknamed the Black Bears and they are Maine's only Division I athletics program.

History

University of Maine was founded in 1862 as a function of the Morrill Act, signed by President Lincoln. Established in 1865 and originally named the Maine College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, the Maine College opened on September 21, 1868, changing its name to the University of Maine in 1897.

By 1871, curricula had been organized in Agriculture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and electives. The Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station was founded as a division of the university in 1887. Gradually the university developed the Colleges of Life Sciences and Agriculture (later to include the School of Forest Resources and the School of Human Development), Engineering and Science, and Arts and Sciences. In 1912 the Maine Cooperative Extension, which offers field educational programs for both adults and youths, was initiated. The School of Education was established in 1930 and received college status in 1958. The School of Business Administration was formed in 1958 and was granted college status in 1965. Women have been admitted into all curricula since 1872. The first master's degree was conferred in 1881; the first doctor's degree in 1960. Since 1923 there has been a separate graduate school.

Near the end of the 19th century, the curriculum was expanded to place greater emphasis on liberal arts. As a function of this shift, new faculty hired during the early 20th century included Caroline Colvin, chair of the history department, and the first woman in the nation to head a major university department.

In 1906, The Senior Skull Honor Society was founded to "publicly recognize, formally reward, and continually promote outstanding leadership and scholarship, and exemplary citizenship within the University of Maine community."

On April 16, 1925, 80 women met in Balentine Hall - faculty, alumnae, and undergraduate representatives - to plan a pledging of members to a new honorary organization. This organization was called "The All Maine Women" because only those women closely connected with the University of Maine were elected as members. On April 22, 1925, the new members were inducted into the honor society.

When the University of Maine System was incorporated, the school was renamed by the legislature over the objections of the faculty to the University of Maine at Orono (or UMO). This was changed back to the University of Maine in 1986.

Organization and administration

University of Maine is the flagship of the University of Maine System. The president of the university is Susan J. Hunter,. The senior administration governs cooperatively with the Chancellor of the University of Maine system, James H. Page and the sixteen members of the University of Maine Board of Trustees (of which fifteen are appointed by the Governor of Maine and one is the current Maine State Commissioner of Education). The Board of Trustees has full legal responsibility and authority for the university system. It appoints the Chancellor and each university President, approves the establishment and elimination of academic programs, confers tenure on faculty members, and sets tuition rates/operatin ... [more on wikipedia]

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

University of Maine Details

University of Maine Details
detail value
stateMaine
conferenceAtlantic 10 Conference / Ameri...
publicPublic
scores1605/1070/24
levelAverage
rank[248
overall ROI rank[245
sizemedium-small
undergrads9339
grads1947
price40982
drop37
stem30
research105
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for University of Maine?

1. number 248 for Academics.

2. number 245 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to University of Maine?

1. University of Idaho

2. South Dakota State University

3. North Dakota State University

4. Louisiana Tech University

5. University of Colorado Colorado Springs

6. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

7. University of Southern Mississippi


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

University of Maine National Academic Rankings

University of Maine National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top25024824522520623310191202245
Atlantic 10 Conference91281011341111
New England Region949893839541347291
State of Maine233231152
Top Ten Top25024824522520623310191202245
Top Ten Atlantic 10 Conference9989103479
Top Ten State of Maine233231152


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

University of Maine Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Maine

University of Maine Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Maine
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.96
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
99.03
South Dakota State UniversitySouth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage354263
98.47
North Dakota State UniversityNorth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage261196
93.20
Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisianaConference USAPublicAverage392213
93.13
University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePublicAverage451347
92.12
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
91.85
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
91.82
University of Louisiana at MonroeLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage485352
91.35
Montana State UniversityMontanaBig Sky ConferencePublicAboveAverage217168
90.66
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
89.98
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
86.34
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath ConfPublicAverage302258
86.23
University of Minnesota-DuluthMinnesotaNorthern Sun Intercollegiate C...PublicAverage464346
86.15
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
86.14
University of Northern IowaIowaMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage252248
86.09
University of DaytonOhioPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage278138
86.04
Tennessee Technological UniversityTennesseeOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage374212
85.51
The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage350429
85.40
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266
85.33
University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabamaConference USAPublicAboveAverage153148
85.29
Rutgers University-NewarkNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage371392
85.26
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
85.20
Wichita State UniversityKansasMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage382307
85.18
Rowan UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage306392
85.09
University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraskaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage491364
85.05
University of Michigan-FlintMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage189264
85.01
Howard UniversityWashington DCMid Eastern Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage343429
84.87
New Mexico State UniversityNew MexicoSun Belt Conference / Western ...PublicBelowAverage486360
84.41
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
83.83
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
83.43
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
83.22
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
83.07
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeConference USAPublicAverage384372
83.06
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
82.64
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
82.61
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
82.60
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
81.89
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486
81.61
Michigan State UniversityMichiganBig Ten ConferencePublicAverage11174
79.34
Marquette UniversityWisconsinBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage197121
79.30
College of CharlestonSouth CarolinaColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage219233
79.29
University of Missouri-Kansas CityMissouriWestern Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage197155
78.36
Saint Louis UniversityMissouriAtlantic 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage169165
78.19
University of New HampshireNew HampshireColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage221225
78.13
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
77.74
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
77.74
University of North FloridaFloridaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAboveAverage219214
77.37
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
77.23
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
77.20
California State University-ChicoCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage392409


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

University of Maine Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Maine

University of Maine Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Maine
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
98.69
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
97.69
Grand Valley State UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAverage247239
95.69
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
94.77
Big Twelve Conference (Low)-Big Twelve Conference-Conf-Average-178
92.11
University of DaytonOhioPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage278138
91.24
Creighton UniversityNebraskaBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage273190
89.67
Great Lakes Valley Conference (Average)-Great Lakes Valley Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-227
86.32
St Mary's College of MarylandMarylandCapital Athletic ConferencePublicGood275409
85.92
Hope CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateAboveAverage244227
83.81
Rhode Island School of DesignRhode IslandNo Conference AffiliationPrivateGood276361
83.68
The College of WoosterOhioNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateGood277317
82.33
Beloit CollegeWisconsinMidwest ConferencePrivateGood250233
82.13
Centre CollegeKentuckySouthern Athletic AssociationPrivateGood244198
81.88
Sewanee-The University of the SouthTennesseeSouthern Athletic AssociationPrivateGood244250