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 Nevada-Reno

2016 University Academic Rankings
The University of Nevada, Reno (referred to as the University of Nevada or Nevada, and often abbreviated as UNR) is a public research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, United States. It is the sole land grant institution for the state of Nevada.

According to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the University of Nevada is a research university with high research activity (RU/H). The campus is home to the large-scale structures laboratory in the College of Engineering, which has put Nevada researchers at the forefront nationally in a wide range of civil engineering, earthquake and large-scale structures testing and modeling. The Nevada Terawatt Facility, located on a satellite campus of the university, includes a terawatt-level Z-pinch machine and terawatt-class high-intensity laser system - one of the most powerful such lasers on any college campus in the country. It is home to the University of Nevada School of Medicine, with campuses in both of Nevada's major urban centers, Las Vegas and Reno, and a health network that extends to much of rural Nevada. The faculty are considered worldwide and national leaders in diverse areas such as environmental literature, journalism, Basque studies, and social sciences such as psychology. It is also home to the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism, which has produced six Pulitzer Prize winners. The school includes 16 clinical departments and five nationally recognized basic science departments.

History

The Nevada State Constitution established the State University of Nevada in Elko, Nevada, in 1874. In 1881 it became Nevada State University. In 1885, the Nevada State University moved from Elko to Reno. In 1906 it was renamed the University of Nevada.

The University of Nevada remained the only four-year academic institution in the state of Nevada until 1965, when the Nevada Southern campus (now the University of Nevada, Las Vegas) separated into its own university.

Academics | Colleges | Schools | Centers | Libraries

Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center (main library). Opened on August 11, 2008 it was a $75.3 million project which began in September 2005. It replaced the Getchell library.

Rankings and reputation

In 2015, the university was ranked tied for 187th among national universities by U.S. News & World Report, and 437th by Forbes magazine out of the 650 best private and public colleges and universities in the U.S. The University of Nevada at Reno is the highest ranking university in Nevada.

Within the College of Business at the University of Nevada, the part-time MBA program was ranked 24th in the United States in 2014 by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Campus

The University of Nevada-Reno is the flagship institution of Nevada. The campus is located just north of downtown Reno overlooking Truckee Meadows and the downtown casinos.

Early construction

The university's first building, Morrill Hall, was completed in 1887 and still stands on the historic quad at the campus' southern end. The hall is named after U.S. Senator Justin Morrill, author of the 1862 Land-Grant College Act.

The Quad

The Quad is located in the southern part of the campus, surrounded by Morrill Hall and the Mackay School of Mines. This quadrangle is modeled after Thomas Jefferson's at the University of Virginia. The northern end of the Quad contains a statue of John William Mackay (namesake of Nevada's Mackay School of Mines, later renamed the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering), created by Mount Rushmore designer Gutzon Borglum. The Quad and the original campus buildings surrounding it have a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Arboretum

Acros ... [more on wikipedia]

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

University of Nevada Details

University of Nevada Details
detail value
stateNevada
conferenceMountain West Conference
publicPublic
scores1585/1057/24
levelAverage
rank[289
overall ROI rank[340
sizemedium
undergrads16839
grads3095
price36510
drop42
stem26
research90
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for University of Nevada-Reno?

1. number 289 for Academics.

2. number 340 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to University of Nevada-Reno?

1. Kansas State University

2. University of Rhode Island

3. University of North Dakota

4. Oakland University

5. University of Memphis

6. Clemson University

7. University of Toledo


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

University of Nevada National Academic Rankings

University of Nevada National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Div1 Public838672868455679194
Mountain West Conference887785488
West Coast Region395949313118163329
State of Nevada111111111
Top Ten Mountain West Conference887785489
Top Ten State of Nevada111111111


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

University of Nevada Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Nevada

University of Nevada Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Nevada
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
98.86
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
98.71
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
97.90
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266
93.30
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
93.24
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
93.17
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
93.04
University of ToledoOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage405285
92.99
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
92.90
Georgia Southern UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage254236
92.85
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
92.83
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
92.79
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
92.64
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
92.47
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
92.36
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
92.33
The University of Texas at El PasoTexasConference USAPublicBelowAverage499294
92.25
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
92.25
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
92.21
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeConference USAPublicAverage384372
92.02
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
91.81
University of ArkansasArkansasSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage171119
91.75
University of New HampshireNew HampshireColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage221225
91.64
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
91.51
University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraskaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage491364
91.47
North Dakota State UniversityNorth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage261196
91.43
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
91.42
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
91.41
Wichita State UniversityKansasMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage382307
91.19
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
90.34
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
86.55
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
86.44
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
86.43
Western Kentucky UniversityKentuckyConference USAPublicBelowAverage491433
86.37
California State University-ChicoCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage392409
86.11
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
85.80
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
85.65
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
85.59
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
85.44
Auburn UniversityAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage13979
85.34
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
85.18
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage116188
85.15
University of New MexicoNew MexicoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage265153
85.06
New Mexico State UniversityNew MexicoSun Belt Conference / Western ...PublicBelowAverage486360
85.05
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
85.04
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
85.04
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
84.98
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
84.76
Rowan UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage306392
84.76
Colorado State University-Fort CollinsColoradoMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage143139
84.74
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

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

University of Nevada Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Nevada
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.00
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
98.06
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
98.06
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
96.72
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
96.68
University of North Carolina at CharlotteNorth CarolinaDivision I-AA Independents / C...PublicAverage292207
96.00
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
95.40
Florida Atlantic UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage305303
95.08
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
94.84
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
92.94
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage293347
92.51
Virginia Military InstituteVirginiaBig South ConferencePublicAboveAverage444227
90.62
Big East Conference (Low)-Big East Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-224
88.69
University of Northern IowaIowaMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage252248
88.31
Cedarville UniversityOhioPrivateAboveAverage287278
88.09
Providence CollegeRhode IslandBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage286350
87.55
Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath Conf (Average)-Minnesota Intercollegiate Ath Conf-Conf-AboveAverage-242
86.55
Austin CollegeTexasSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateAboveAverage291415
82.04
Kalamazoo CollegeMichiganMichigan Intercollegiate Athle...PrivateGood285415