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

Wichita State University

2016 University Academic Rankings
Wichita State University (WSU) is a public research university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is the third-largest university governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Wichita State University offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 200 areas of study in six colleges. The Graduate School offers 44 master's degrees in more than 100 areas and a specialist in education degree. It offers doctoral degrees in applied mathematics; audiology; chemistry; communicative disorders and sciences; nursing practice; physical therapy; psychology (programs in human factors, community and APA-accredited clinical psychology); educational administration; aerospace, industrial and mechanical engineering; and electrical engineering and computer science.

Wichita State University also hosts classes at four satellite locations. WSU West is located in Maize. This 9-acre (3.6 ha) campus hosts 80-100 university classes each academic semester. WSU South began offering Wichita State University coursework at a new facility in Derby in January 2008. The WSU Downtown Center houses the university's Center for Community Support & Research and the Department of Physical Therapy. A quarter-mile northeast of campus, the Advanced Education in General Dentistry building, built in 2011, houses classrooms and a dental clinic. It is adjacent to the university's 75,000-square-foot (7,000 m2) Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, where many of WSU noncredit courses are taught.

History

Wichita State University began in 1886 as Fairmount College, a private Congregational preparatory school, founded by Rev. Joseph Homer Parker. Initially it was referred to as "Young Ladies College", "Wichita Ladies College", and "Congregational Female College". It was to admit women twelve years and older who were "able to read, write, spell and recite the parts of speech." Support came mainly from the Plymouth Congregational Church to build it, but the school never opened its doors. In 1892, a corporation bought the property and named the preparatory school Fairmount Institute. It opened in September to men and women, with an emphasis on training in preaching or teaching. It closed because of financial difficulties.

In 1895, on the same site, Fairmount College opened collegiate classes for men and women with funding by the Congregational Education Society. Amid growing financial troubles, the college's supporters tried to get the city of Wichita to buy it in 1925, but failed. A second referendum passed in 1926, and that fall it became the Municipal University of Wichita (popularly known as "Wichita University" or "WU"). It was the first municipal university west of the Mississippi, and catered to students of limited means. On July 1, 1964, the school officially entered the state system of higher education as Wichita State University (WSU).

Campuses

The Main Campus is located at 1845 North Fairmount in northeast Wichita, is mostly bounded between the streets of 17th St N, 21st St N, Hillside St, Oliver Ave. Research facilities include the National Institute for Aviation Research, biology research labs (Hubbard Hall), the WSU Field Station, chemistry research labs (McKinley Hall), and physics research labs (Jabara Hall). The campus includes the Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art.

WSU has four satellite locations: WSU South is located at 200 West Greenway in Derby, Kansas, began offering Wichita State University coursework in January 2008. WSU West is located at 3801 North Walker in Maize, Kansas. This 9 acre (3.6 ha) campus hosts 80-100 university classes each academic semester.

Academics

Wichita State University was ranked the 35th top college in the United States by the Social Mobility Index college rankings. Wichita State is placed among National Universities in the ... [more on wikipedia]

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

Wichita State University Details

Wichita State University Details
detail value
stateKansas
conferenceMissouri Valley Conference
publicPublic
scores1600/1066/24
levelAverage
rank[382
overall ROI rank[307
sizemedium
undergrads11977
grads3018
price28325
drop51
stem32
research54
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for Wichita State University?

1. number 382 for Academics.

2. number 307 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to Wichita State University?

1. University of Southern Mississippi

2. University of North Dakota

3. University of Memphis

4. North Dakota State University

5. University of Nebraska at Omaha

6. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

7. CUNY Brooklyn College


National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

Wichita State University National Academic Rankings

Wichita State University National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Missouri Valley Conference88877721011
Mid West Region698177435440256872
State of Kansas343333353
Top Ten Missouri Valley Conference8787752710
Top Ten State of Kansas343333333


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

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

Wichita State University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Wichita State University

Wichita State University Peer Universities, Similar Universities to Wichita State University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.98
University of Southern MississippiMississippiConference USAPublicAverage493423
99.76
University of North DakotaNorth DakotaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage363266
98.01
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
93.25
North Dakota State UniversityNorth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage261196
93.20
University of Nebraska at OmahaNebraskaThe Summit LeaguePublicAverage491364
93.02
Southern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleIllinoisOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage438368
92.32
CUNY Brooklyn CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAverage296394
92.30
University of WyomingWyomingMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage250152
92.03
University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColoradoRocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePublicAverage451347
91.97
Louisiana Tech UniversityLouisianaConference USAPublicAverage392213
91.83
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
91.63
University of ToledoOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage405285
91.41
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
91.38
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
90.65
University of New OrleansLouisianaSouthland ConferencePublicAverage405309
90.57
Howard UniversityWashington DCMid Eastern Athletic ConferencePrivateAverage343429
89.95
The University of Texas at San AntonioTexasConference USAPublicAverage330180
86.64
Rowan UniversityNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage306392
86.58
Cleveland State UniversityOhioHorizon LeaguePublicAverage440299
86.25
New Mexico State UniversityNew MexicoSun Belt Conference / Western ...PublicBelowAverage486360
86.15
University of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica EastPublicAboveAverage247275
86.09
South Dakota State UniversitySouth DakotaMissouri Valley Conference / T...PublicAverage354263
85.74
Tennessee Technological UniversityTennesseeOhio Valley ConferencePublicAverage374212
85.65
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
85.56
University of Minnesota-DuluthMinnesotaNorthern Sun Intercollegiate C...PublicAverage464346
85.47
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath ConfPublicAverage302258
85.20
University of MaineMaineAtlantic 10 Conference / Ameri...PublicAverage248245
85.17
Northern Illinois UniversityIllinoisMid American ConferencePublicAverage435289
85.13
University of Louisiana at LafayetteLouisianaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage350248
85.00
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
84.97
California State University-ChicoCaliforniaCalifornia Collegiate Athletic...PublicAverage392409
84.91
University of California-Santa CruzCaliforniaDivision III IndependentsPublicAverage157208
84.83
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
84.75
University of DaytonOhioPioneer Football League / Atla...PrivateAboveAverage278138
84.73
Drexel UniversityPennsylvaniaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateAboveAverage120134
84.68
Marquette UniversityWisconsinBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage197121
84.40
Illinois State UniversityIllinoisMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage279222
84.25
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
84.13
Boise State UniversityIdahoMountain West ConferencePublicAverage389329
84.12
Rutgers University-NewarkNew JerseyNew Jersey Athletic ConferencePublicAverage371392
84.05
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
84.03
The University of Texas at El PasoTexasConference USAPublicBelowAverage499294
83.93
Kansas State UniversityKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage249168
83.54
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
83.38
Kennesaw State UniversityGeorgiaAtlantic Sun ConferencePublicAverage290291
83.15
Georgia State UniversityGeorgiaSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage253230
83.13
Florida Atlantic UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage305303
82.81
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
82.79
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
81.95
Florida International UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage163170


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

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

Wichita State University Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to Wichita State University
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
96.97
Missouri Valley Conference (Low)-Missouri Valley Conference-Conf-Average-270
96.09
University of IdahoIdahoSun Belt Conference / Big Sky ...PublicAverage379216
94.93
New Jersey Athletic Conference (Average)-New Jersey Athletic Conference-Conf-Average-436
94.78
Catholic University of AmericaWashington DCOld Dominion Athletic Conferen...PrivateAboveAverage381458
93.80
Middle Tennessee State UniversityTennesseeConference USAPublicAverage384372
93.37
Seattle Pacific UniversityWashingtonGreat Northwest Athletic ConferencePrivateAboveAverage383384
92.64
University of RedlandsCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateAboveAverage380460
91.11
San Jose State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage386389
89.46
Wagner CollegeNew YorkNortheast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage385412
88.46
Transylvania UniversityKentuckyHeartland Collegiate Athletic ...PrivateAboveAverage378417