2016 Iowa University Academic Rankings

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

State of Iowa University Academic Rankings

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2016 Iowa University Academic Rankings

2016 Iowa University Academic Rankings
rank	value	public	university	state	conference	scores	difficulty	smartest	brainpower	faculty	research	r pop	r stem	r other	salary ROI	overall ROI	scores value	difficulty value	smartest value	brainpower value	faculty value	research value	salary ROI value	overall ROI value	scores	level	stem	drop	gpa avg	research	undergrads	grads	salary	price	scores valid
1	1.50	Public	University of Iowa	Iowa	Big Ten Conference	2	3	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	4	1	1845\|77	2.60\|35	2045\|85	1987\|83	58\|81	1.00\|99	1333839\|67	2.50\|98	1845/1230/28	Good	17	28	3.10	445	22354	7616	45000	40191	True
2	2.50	Private	Grinnell College	Iowa	Midwest Conference	1	1	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	5	4	2070\|86	1.81\|55	1739\|72	1816\|76	300\|0	3.00\|97	1277662\|64	3.50\|97	2070/1380/31	Excellent	28	11	3.25	0	1734	0	42500	59317	True
3	3.50	Private	Drake University	Iowa	Pioneer Football League / Miss...	3	2	5	5	3	3	3	3	3	3	2	1780\|74	2.59\|35	1693\|71	1430\|60	300\|0	3.00\|97	1476095\|74	3.00\|97	1780/1187/27	AboveAverage	13	25	2.95	0	3364	1698	44300	46316	True
4	3.83	Public	Iowa State University	Iowa	Big Twelve Conference	7	8	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1685\|70	2.72\|32	1972\|82	1908\|80	99\|67	2.00\|98	1499625\|75	3.00\|97	1685/1123/25	AboveAverage	29	31	2.95	260	28893	5542	49500	31920	True
5	4.17	Public	University of Northern Iowa	Iowa	Missouri Valley Conference	6	6	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	8	5	1710\|71	2.71\|32	1856\|77	1660\|69	300\|0	3.00\|97	1207886\|60	6.50\|94	1710/1140/26	AboveAverage	22	31	2.95	0	10142	1786	42400	30057	True
6	4.83	Private	Cornell College	Iowa	Midwest Conference	4	4	9	6	3	3	3	3	3	9	7	1745\|73	2.64\|34	1090\|45	1225\|51	300\|0	3.00\|97	1192907\|60	7.50\|93	1745/1163/26	AboveAverage	21	30	2.95	0	1086	0	36700	50525	True
7	5.50	Private	Coe College	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	5	5	10	7	3	3	3	3	3	7	6	1735\|72	2.68\|33	1069\|45	1218\|51	300\|0	3.00\|97	1212721\|61	7.00\|93	1735/1156/26	AboveAverage	16	31	2.95	0	1435	1	45000	49220	True
8	6.67	Private	Luther College	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	9	9	8	8	3	3	3	3	3	14	10	1611\|67	2.73\|32	1181\|49	1101\|46	300\|0	3.00\|97	1071852\|54	11.00\|89	1611/1074/24	Average	20	30	2.80	0	2385	0	43200	49775	True
9	7.00	Private	Dordt College	Iowa	Great Plains Athletic Conference	8	7	11	10	3	3	3	3	3	22	14	1625\|68	2.72\|32	850\|35	1022\|43	300\|0	3.00\|97	714064\|36	15.50\|85	1625/1083/24	Average	17	39	2.80	0	1399	60	31900	40100	True
10	8.17	Private	Simpson College	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	10	10	12	11	3	3	3	3	3	11	9	1600\|67	2.74\|31	800\|33	985\|41	300\|0	3.00\|97	1117821\|56	10.50\|90	1600/1067/24	Average	23	31	2.80	0	1660	65	41300	44972	True
11	8.83	Private	Saint Ambrose University	Iowa	Midwest Classic Conference	14	14	7	12	3	3	3	3	3	25	16	1500\|63	2.88\|28	1230\|51	957\|40	300\|0	3.00\|97	709344\|35	18.00\|82	1500/1000/23	Average	22	37	2.80	0	2714	794	31900	41280	True
12	9.00	Private	Central College	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	11	11	13	13	3	3	3	3	3	6	8	1575\|66	2.78\|30	750\|31	933\|39	300\|0	3.00\|97	1272886\|64	9.00\|91	1575/1050/24	Average	21	37	2.80	0	1411	0	43400	46645	True
13	9.67	Private	Northwestern College	Iowa	Great Plains Athletic Conference	12	12	14	14	3	3	3	3	3	24	17	1529\|64	2.86\|29	658\|27	844\|35	300\|0	3.00\|97	711952\|36	18.50\|82	1529/1019/23	Average	17	34	2.80	0	1205	0	31900	40628	True
14	11.25	Private	Clarke University	Iowa	Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conf	13	13	15	16	3	3	3	3	3	26	22	1513\|63	2.86\|28	625\|26	800\|33	300\|0	3.00\|97	706224\|35	20.00\|80	1513/1008/23	Average	24	40	2.80	0	949	251	31900	42060	True
15	11.89	Private	Buena Vista University	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	14	15	16	15	3	3	3	3	3	13	12	1500\|63	2.89\|28	600\|25	816\|34	300\|0	3.00\|97	1072371\|54	14.00\|86	1500/1000/23	Average	20	45	2.80	0	2035	260	35200	42348	True
16	12.00	Private	Upper Iowa University	Iowa	Northern Sun Intercollegiate C...	20	22	6	9	3	3	3	3	3	12	12	1433\|60	3.01\|25	1418\|59	1069\|45	300\|0	3.00\|97	1102942\|55	14.00\|86	1433/956/22	BelowAverage	11	54	2.80	0	4439	723	40300	38658	True
17	12.37	Private	Morningside College	Iowa	Great Plains Athletic Conference	14	16	16	17	3	3	3	3	3	16	15	1500\|63	2.89\|28	600\|25	797\|33	300\|0	3.00\|97	1023832\|51	16.50\|84	1500/1000/23	Average	17	42	2.80	0	1321	1502	35900	39888	True
18	14.33	Private	Mount Mercy University	Iowa	Midwest Classic Conference	20	20	21	19	3	3	3	3	3	21	20	1433\|60	2.98\|25	467\|19	683\|28	300\|0	3.00\|97	714272\|36	19.50\|81	1433/956/22	BelowAverage	26	39	2.80	0	1444	318	31900	40048	True
19	14.49	Private	Loras College	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	19	18	20	18	3	3	3	3	3	23	24	1458\|61	2.97\|26	516\|22	728\|30	300\|0	3.00\|97	713852\|36	21.00\|79	1458/972/22	BelowAverage	19	41	2.80	0	1490	79	31900	40153	True
20	14.50	Private	St Luke's College	Iowa	No Conference Affiliation	18	19	19	25	3	3	3	3	3	27	27	1467\|61	2.98\|25	533\|22	533\|22	300\|0	3.00\|97	705401\|35	23.50\|77	1467/978/22	BelowAverage	0	0	2.80	0	254	0	31900	0	True
21	15.17	Private	Wartburg College	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	22	21	22	20	3	3	3	3	3	17	19	1425\|59	2.99\|25	450\|19	675\|28	300\|0	3.00\|97	1002138\|50	19.00\|81	1425/950/21	BelowAverage	30	36	2.80	0	1661	0	41900	47440	True
22	15.20	Private	Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary	Iowa	No Conference Affiliation	17	17	18	21	3	3	3	3	3	18	22	1490\|62	2.95\|26	580\|24	580\|24	300\|0	3.00\|97	766432\|38	20.00\|80	1490/993/22	Average	0	66	2.80	0	250	42	31900	27008	True
23	17.97	Private	Graceland University-Lamoni	Iowa	Heart of America Athletic Conf...	23	25	23	22	3	3	3	3	3	19	24	1353\|56	3.09\|23	306\|13	546\|23	300\|0	3.00\|97	726044\|36	21.00\|79	1353/902/20	BelowAverage	6	49	2.80	0	1594	812	31900	37105	True
24	20.00	Private	William Penn University	Iowa	Mid - States Football Associat...	25	23	25	24	3	3	3	3	3	15	20	1345\|56	3.09\|23	290\|12	534\|22	300\|0	3.00\|97	1045577\|52	19.50\|81	1345/897/20	BelowAverage	24	70	2.80	0	1698	93	41700	35060	True
25	20.40	Private	Iowa Wesleyan College	Iowa	Upper Midwest Athletic Confere...	24	24	24	27	3	3	3	3	3	20	26	1349\|56	3.09\|23	297\|12	297\|12	300\|0	3.00\|97	716112\|36	22.50\|78	1349/899/20	BelowAverage	18	73	2.80	0	473	0	31900	39588	True
25	20.40	Private	University of Dubuque	Iowa	Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf	25	26	25	23	3	3	3	3	3	1	11	1345\|56	3.10\|23	290\|12	537\|22	300\|0	3.00\|97	2042608\|100	13.00\|87	1345/897/20	BelowAverage	15	57	2.80	0	1775	346	60300	37560	True
27	22.00	Private	Grand View University	Iowa	Mid - States Football Associat...	27	27	27	26	3	3	3	3	3	10	17	1255\|52	3.17\|21	110\|5	384\|16	300\|0	3.00\|97	1130584\|57	18.50\|82	1255/837/19	BelowAverage	21	56	2.80	0	2005	59	39700	34788	True

2016 Top 10 Iowa University Academic Rankings

rank

value

public

name

state

conference

scores

difficulty

smartest

brainpower

faculty

research

salary ROI

overall ROI

scores

level

stem

drop

gpa avg

research

undergrads

grads

salary

price

1.50

Public

University of Iowa

Iowa

Big Ten Conference

1845/1230/28

Good

3.10

445

22354

7616

45000

40191

2.50

Private

Grinnell College

Iowa

Midwest Conference

2070/1380/31

Excellent

3.25

1734

42500

59317

3.50

Private

Drake University

Iowa

Pioneer Football League / Miss...

1780/1187/27

AboveAverage

2.95

3364

1698

44300

46316

3.83

Public

Iowa State University

Iowa

Big Twelve Conference

1685/1123/25

AboveAverage

2.95

260

28893

5542

49500

31920

4.17

Public

University of Northern Iowa

Iowa

Missouri Valley Conference

1710/1140/26

AboveAverage

2.95

10142

1786

42400

30057

4.67

Private

Cornell College

Iowa

Midwest Conference

1745/1163/26

AboveAverage

2.95

1086

36700

50525

5.33

Private

Coe College

Iowa

Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf

1735/1156/26

AboveAverage

2.95

1435

45000

49220

6.50

Private

Luther College

Iowa

Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf

1611/1074/24

Average

2.80

2385

43200

49775

6.67

Private

Dordt College

Iowa

Great Plains Athletic Conference

1625/1083/24

Average

2.80

1399

31900

40100

7.00

Private

Saint Ambrose University

Iowa

Midwest Classic Conference

1500/1000/23

Average

2.80

2714

794

31900

41280

University Benchmarks

Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

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2016 Top 10 Iowa University Academic Rankings

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