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

Wayne State University

2016 University Academic Rankings
Wayne State University (WSU) is an American public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District and Wayne State University Buildings Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 380 programs to nearly 28,000 graduate and undergraduate students. It is currently Michigan's third-largest university and one of the 100 largest universities in the United States.

The WSU main campus encompasses 203 acres (822,000 m²) linking more than 100 education and research buildings in the heart of Detroit. It also has six extension centers in the metro Detroit area providing access to a limited selection of courses. The institution is a notable engine in metro Detroit's educational, cultural and economic landscape, as manifested through efforts such as its thriving research and technology park and hosting of the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival.

Historical background

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The first component of the modern Wayne State University was established in 1868 as the Detroit Medical College, now the School of Medicine. In 1881, the Detroit Normal Training School was established, now the College of Education. Old Main Hall was built in 1896 as Central High School, which later began adding college classes in 1913. Those classes evolved into the Detroit Junior College in 1917, the College of the City of Detroit in 1923 and now WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In 1919, David L. Mackenzie - who served a dual role as Principal of Detroit Central High School and Detroit Junior College - was officially appointed first dean of the college that he had originated in 1917. With Mackenzie at the helm, Detroit Junior College grew to become the third-largest institution of higher learning in Michigan. The college was granted four-year degree status in 1923, becoming the College of the City of Detroit. Mackenzie continued as dean until his death in 1926.

In 1927, the Detroit Board of Education dedicated its newest high school to the memory of Mackenzie. The three-story structure stood on the city's west side at 9275 Wyoming Avenue; Mackenzie High School closed its doors in June 2007 and was demolished in 2012. A new pre-kingergarten-to-eighth-grade Mackenzie School opened near the high school site in 2012.

In 1933, the Detroit Board of Education organized the six colleges it ran - liberal arts, medical, education, pharmacy, engineering and a graduate school - into one university. In January 1934, that institution was officially named Wayne University, taking its name from the county in which it is located.

Wayne University continued to grow, adding the Law School in 1927, the School of Social Work in 1935, and the School of Business Administration in 1946. Wayne University was renamed Wayne State University in 1956 and the institution became a constitutionally established university by a popularly adopted amendment to the Michigan Constitution in 1959.

The Wayne State University Board of Governors created the Institute of Gerontology in 1965 in response to a State of Michigan mandate. The primary mission in that era was to engage in research, education and service in the field of aging.

Wayne State University continued growing with the additions of the College of Lifelong Learning in 1973, and the School of Fine and Performing Arts and the College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs in 1985.

The university libraries have grown to include eight libraries, the School of Library and Information Science, and the Office for University General Education. ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Wayne State University Details

Wayne State University Details
detail value
stateMichigan
conferenceGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...
publicPublic
scores1500/1000/23
levelAverage
rank[414
overall ROI rank[286
sizemedium
undergrads18347
grads9231
price37118
drop66
stem67
research253
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Wayne State University?

1. number 414 for Academics.

2. number 286 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Wayne State University?

1. University of Illinois at Chicago

2. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

3. University of Colorado Denver

4. Portland State University

5. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

6. The University of Texas at San Antonio

7. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Wayne State University National Academic Rankings

Wayne State University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Stem High435251292726123240
Mid West Region749592474128134960
State of Michigan152621974399


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Wayne State University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Wayne State University

Wayne State University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Wayne State University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
92.74
University of Illinois at ChicagoIllinoisHorizon LeaguePublicAboveAverage159111
91.66
North Carolina State University at RaleighNorth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage5831
91.58
University of Colorado DenverColoradoNo Conference AffiliationPublicAverage283217
85.53
Portland State UniversityOregonBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage308408
85.46
California State Polytechnic University-PomonaCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage288356
85.04
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
84.89
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
84.68
CUNY City CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage293347
84.09
The University of Texas at ArlingtonTexasSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage240157
83.94
University of South FloridaFloridaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage94113
78.75
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
78.37
University of Missouri-St LouisMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage242211
78.22
Rochester Institute of TechnologyNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage151195
77.77
University of California-DavisCaliforniaBig Sky Conference / Big West ...PublicAboveAverage58142
77.47
University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyMarylandAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage130174
77.04
University of HoustonTexasAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage8960
76.08
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyIndependent Northeast RegionPublicAboveAverage195185
75.93
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309
75.15
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
75.14
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFloridaFlorida Sun ConferencePrivateAverage401210
75.04
Nova Southeastern UniversityFloridaSunshine State ConferencePrivateAverage488397
74.91
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast ConferencePrivateAverage348352
74.51
Clarkson UniversityNew YorkUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...PrivateAboveAverage211187
74.44
University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinoisGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAverage403397
73.86
Saint Martin's UniversityWashingtonGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage-1-1
73.53
Centenary College of LouisianaLouisianaSouthern Collegiate Athletic C...PrivateAverage-1-1
73.24
University of MississippiMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAverage232197
72.99
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
72.82
University at BuffaloNew YorkMid American ConferencePublicAboveAverage124190
72.79
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
72.75
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
72.68
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
72.50
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
72.49
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
72.47
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
72.31
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage116188
72.16
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
72.10
Indiana University-Purdue University-IndianapolisIndianaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage427342
71.91
Kent State University at KentOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage347358
71.84
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
71.60
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
71.59
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSouth CarolinaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage93130
71.50
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
70.94
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
69.82
Michigan State UniversityMichiganBig Ten ConferencePublicAverage11174
69.27
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
68.84
Southern Polytechnic State UniversityGeorgiaNo Conference AffiliationPublicAboveAverage267128
68.72
Michigan Technological UniversityMichiganGreat Lakes Intercollegiate At...PublicAboveAverage14658
68.71
University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAlabamaGulf South ConferencePublicAboveAverage181103
68.09
Drury UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage295378


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

Wayne State University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Wayne State University

Wayne State University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Wayne State University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
94.83
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
93.64
Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage368278
93.24
Indiana Wesleyan UniversityIndianaCrossroads LeaguePrivateAverage412406
90.31
Wentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast ConferencePrivateAverage348352
90.17
Regis UniversityColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage360303
89.36
University of Detroit MercyMichiganHorizon LeaguePrivateAboveAverage415313
88.96
University of Michigan-DearbornMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPublicAboveAverage312185
88.14
University of Illinois at SpringfieldIllinoisGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAverage403397
86.60
Millsaps CollegeMississippiSouthern Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage416473
86.57
University of Northwestern-St PaulMinnesotaUpper Midwest Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage412246
86.21
Kettering UniversityMichiganNo Conference AffiliationPrivateAboveAverage332139
86.09
Madonna UniversityMichiganWolverine - Hoosier Athletic ConfPrivateAboveAverage418377
86.09
Saint Edward's UniversityTexasHeartland ConferencePrivateAboveAverage418480
85.24
Loyola University New OrleansLouisianaSouthern States Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage411391
84.89
Drury UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePrivateAboveAverage295378
83.21
South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologySouth DakotaGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage281111
82.96
Franciscan University of SteubenvilleOhioAllegheny Mountain Collegiate ...PrivateAboveAverage410310