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 Missouri-Kansas City

2016 University Academic Rankings

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) is a public research university located in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. It is a part of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza. The university's enrollment is more than 15,700 in 2014.

History | Lincoln and Lee University

The school has its roots in the Lincoln and Lee University movement first put forth by the Methodist Church and its Bishop Ernest Lynn Waldorf in the 1920s. The proposed university (which was to honor Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee) was to be built on the Missouri-Kansas border at 75th and State Line Road, where the Battle of Westport (the largest battle west of the Mississippi River during the American Civil War) took place. The centerpiece of the school was to be a National Memorial marking the tomb of an unknown Union soldier and unknown Confederate soldier. Proponents of the school said it would be a location "where North met South and East met West." The Methodist interest reflected the church's important role in the development of the Kansas City area through the Shawnee Methodist Mission which was the second capital of Kansas.

As the Methodists started having problems piecing together the necessary property, other civic leaders including J.C. Nichols began pushing to create a cultural center on either side of Brush Creek, just east of the Country Club Plaza. According to this plan the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Kansas City Art Institute would be built north of Brush Creek around the estate of The Kansas City Star publisher William Rockhill Nelson and a private nonsectarian University of Kansas City (initially proposed as a junior college) would be built south of the creek. In addition, a hospital would be constructed around the estate of Kansas City Journal-Post publisher Walter S. Dickey. The hospital was never built.

In 1930, after the Methodists had brought the Kansas City Dental School into their fold, the two plans were merged. The new school was to be called "Lincoln and Lee, the University of Kansas City." and plans were underway to develop it into a four-year school.

The university was built on a 40-acre (16.19 ha) plot, southeast of the Nelson mansion. William Volker had purchased and donated this land for the University of Kansas City. The original Volker purchase did not include the Dickey mansion itself. Dickey died unexpectedly in 1931 and Volker acquired it to be the first building.

University of Kansas City

The two groups were to squabble back and forth, with Ernest H. Newcomb attempting to mediate. The Church did not maintain its ties and the Lincoln and Lee name was abandoned.

The campus (now expanded to 90 acres or 36.4 hectares) is called the Volker Campus. The Dickey mansion is now Scofield Hall. The second building on the campus, the library, was named for Newcomb. A Carl Milles fountain on Brush Creek opposite the Nelson Gallery is called the Volker Fountain.

The University of Kansas City grew quickly, and soon incorporated other existing local private institutions of higher learning. The Kansas City School of Law, which was founded in the 1890s and located in downtown Kansas City, merged into the university in 1938. The Kansas City-Western Dental College followed in 1941 and the Kansas City College of Pharmacy merged in 1943. This was followed by the Kansas City Conservatory of Music in 1959. During this period, the university also established the School of Administration in 1953, the School of Education in 1954, and the Division for Continuing Education in 1958.

University of Missouri-Kansas City

On July 25, 1963, at the urging of alumnus Hilary A. Bush, the university became part of the University of Missouri System and $20 million of assets including 23 buildings were tr ... [more on wikipedia]

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

University of Missouri Details

University of Missouri Details
detail value
stateMissouri
conferenceWestern Athletic Conference
publicPublic
scores1740/1160/26
levelAboveAverage
rank[197
overall ROI rank[155
sizemedium
undergrads10453
grads5693
price33136
drop54
stem44
research31
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for University of Missouri-Kansas City?

1. number 197 for Academics.

2. number 155 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to University of Missouri-Kansas City?

1. University of Alabama at Birmingham

2. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

3. Northern Illinois University

4. University of Wyoming

5. University of Maryland-Baltimore County

6. Cleveland State University

7. Rowan University



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

University of Missouri National Academic Rankings

University of Missouri National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top25019718216016818915014095155
Public976051868985854778
Western Athletic Conference111112221
South East Region283928384842382920
State of Missouri576574474
Top Ten Top25019718216016818915014095155
Top Ten Western Athletic Conference111112221
Top Ten State of Missouri576574444


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

University of Missouri Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Missouri

University of Missouri Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Missouri
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
92.63
University of Alabama at BirminghamAlabamaConference USAPublicAboveAverage153148
92.03
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
91.18
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
86.46
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
86.12
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
85.89
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
85.80
Rowan UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage306392
85.24
Montana State UniversityMontanaBig Sky ConferencePublicAboveAverage217168
85.18
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
85.18
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
84.93
University of North FloridaFloridaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAboveAverage219214
84.93
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
84.57
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
84.51
University of Michigan-FlintMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage189264
83.38
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
83.14
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
82.95
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage143139
82.91
University of UtahUtahPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage14286
82.85
University of California-IrvineCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAboveAverage108162
82.53
University of California-DavisCaliforniaBig Sky Conference / Big West ...PublicAboveAverage58142
82.11
University of HoustonTexasAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage8960
81.72
Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvaniaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage5384
79.92
Loyola University ChicagoIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage228206
79.91
Tennessee Technological UniversityTennesseeOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage374212
79.70
University of Minnesota-DuluthMinnesotaNorthern Sun Intercollegiate C...PublicAverage464346
79.43
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
79.41
Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisianaConference USAPublicAverage392213
79.29
University of MaineMaineAtlantic 10 Conference / Ameri...PublicAverage248245
79.25
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
79.15
Wichita State UniversityKansasMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage382307
79.14
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
79.08
North Dakota State UniversityNorth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage261196
78.49
University of Colorado DenverColoradoNo Conference AffiliationPublicAverage283217
78.27
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
78.25
The Richard Stockton College of New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage350429
78.21
The University of Texas at DallasTexasAmerican Southwest ConferencePublicGood7055
77.89
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309
77.66
University of ToledoOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage405285
77.56
Stony Brook UniversityNew YorkColonial Athletic Association ...PublicGood62109
77.50
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
77.46
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage120134
76.84
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
76.76
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
76.53
University of New MexicoNew MexicoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage265153
76.53
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
76.48
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
76.26
Bradley UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage326177
76.25
Oregon State UniversityOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage152202
76.21
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginiaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicGood7540
76.20
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

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

University of Missouri Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Missouri
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
97.84
James Madison UniversityVirginiaColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage196170
97.42
Southeastern Conference (Low)-Southeastern Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-115
95.93
Mountain West Conference (Average)-Mountain West Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-193
95.54
Big Sky Conference (Average)-Big Sky Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-170
95.43
Marquette UniversityWisconsinBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage197121
95.42
DePaul UniversityIllinoisBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage193150
95.42
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage193228
95.18
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
94.56
University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPuerto RicoIndependent Southeast RegionPublicAboveAverage176232
93.81
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyIndependent Northeast RegionPublicAboveAverage195185
92.66
St Mary's College of MarylandMarylandCapital Athletic ConferencePublicGood275409
92.58
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
92.00
University of ArizonaArizonaPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage12486
91.58
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
91.50
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
90.92
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
90.91
Elon UniversityNorth CarolinaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateGood200178
90.22
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
89.92
Florida International UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage163170
89.60
Clark UniversityMassachusettsNew England Women's & Men's At...PrivateGood201224
88.59
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
87.12
Division I Independents (Average)-Division I Independents-Conf-Excellent-59
85.56
Colorado CollegeColoradoSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateExcellent149160
83.89
Kenyon CollegeOhioNorth Coast Athletic ConferencePrivateExcellent14791