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

State of Kentucky University Academic Rankings

Search :
examples: Yale "Wake Forest" "Big Ten" TX NC

2016 Kentucky University Academic Rankings

2016 Kentucky University Academic Rankings
rank value image 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
12.50
PublicUniversity of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern Conference561111111411665|692.79|301930|801852|77119|601.00|991383934|692.50|981665/1110/25AboveAverage20392.953652222369804580037602True
23.24
PublicUniversity of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast Conference732222222831610|672.72|321849|771736|72132|562.00|981270498|645.00|951610/1073/24Average25452.801941596156004320038232True
34.17
PrivateCentre CollegeKentuckySouthern Athletic Association1110643333521863|782.57|361327|551446|60300|03.00|971328020|664.00|961863/1242/28Good15183.100138703970049440True
45.50
PrivateTransylvania UniversityKentuckyHeartland Collegiate Athletic ...22139433331451730|722.67|331060|441196|50300|03.00|971037039|529.00|911730/1153/26AboveAverage21302.950101403770045760True
56.00
PrivateBellarmine UniversityKentuckyGreat Lakes Valley Conference6491043333641620|682.75|311339|561140|48300|03.00|971323407|665.50|951620/1080/24Average5322.800258510244200053350True
66.86
PublicWestern Kentucky UniversityKentuckyConference USA131233433331251480|622.94|261773|741655|69300|03.00|971175389|599.00|911480/987/22BelowAverage18462.8001745227194270033356True
77.00
PrivateAsbury UniversityKentuckyKentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf3714114333323161684|702.80|30968|401133|47300|03.00|97740058|3715.00|851684/1123/25AboveAverage8292.95016462333190036510True
87.17
PrivateBerea CollegeKentuckyIndependent Southeast Region4515124333319151678|702.77|31956|401122|47300|03.00|97752130|3813.50|871678/1119/25AboveAverage21372.950162103190033492True
97.80
PublicEastern Kentucky UniversityKentuckyOhio Valley Conference13144443333951480|622.95|261736|721558|65300|03.00|971228681|619.00|911480/987/22BelowAverage15592.8001393923663980029276True
108.00
PublicNorthern Kentucky UniversityKentuckyAtlantic Sun Conference131355433331191480|622.95|261719|721460|61300|03.00|971221166|6110.50|901480/987/22BelowAverage19572.8001280922814330028998True
119.58
PrivateMidway CollegeKentuckyKentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf8816144333325201580|662.80|30760|32929|39300|03.00|97734498|3718.00|821580/1053/24Average11472.8001067733190037900True
129.80
PublicMorehead State UniversityKentuckyPioneer Football League / Ohio...1616674333313111475|612.96|261667|691403|58300|03.00|971047948|5212.50|881475/983/22BelowAverage13562.800995111013550031325True
1310.79
PublicMurray State UniversityKentuckyOhio Valley Conference2117784333310101440|602.97|261630|681353|56300|03.00|971228340|6111.50|891440/960/22BelowAverage28442.800944417634010032134True
1411.60
PrivateKentucky Wesleyan CollegeKentuckyGreat Lakes Valley Conference ...101017174333320171528|642.87|28655|27804|34300|03.00|97747538|3717.00|831528/1018/23Average31562.80070903190034640True
1511.79
PrivateGeorgetown CollegeKentuckyMid - South Conference12919194333327221505|632.86|28610|25789|33300|03.00|97705898|3521.00|791505/1003/23Average27402.8009792833190045050True
1612.00
PrivateBrescia UniversityKentuckyKentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf111118164333318171515|632.91|27630|26810|34300|03.00|97762138|3817.00|831515/1010/23Average6682.8001034223190030990True
1714.80
PrivateUniversity of the CumberlandsKentuckyMid - South Conference2221121543333381425|593.01|251107|46832|35300|03.00|971642791|8210.00|901425/950/21BelowAverage20552.800265530814900034200True
1815.20
PrivateMid-Continent UniversityKentuckyNo Reported Affiliation26258134333326251295|543.15|211432|60975|41300|03.00|97714786|3622.00|781295/863/19BelowAverage5812.80070000319000True
1915.22
PrivateThomas More CollegeKentuckyPresidents' Athletic Conference18182120433337121445|602.98|25490|20705|29300|03.00|971297240|6513.00|871445/963/22BelowAverage17482.80014971583930039249True
2015.60
PrivateAlice Lloyd CollegeKentuckyKentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf171520224333315191465|612.96|26530|22681|28300|03.00|97794258|4017.50|831465/977/22BelowAverage32552.80065703190022960True
2015.60
PrivateCampbellsville UniversityKentuckyMid - South Conference232211184333321211385|583.06|231166|49793|33300|03.00|97747282|3720.50|801385/923/21BelowAverage11552.80029924353190034704True
2216.17
PrivateLindsey Wilson CollegeKentuckyMid - South Conference92727274333324271565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|03.00|97736246|3723.00|771565/1043/23Unknown0722.80022054363190037463False
2317.00
PrivateSpalding UniversityKentuckySt.Louis Intercollegiate Ath Conf192022213333322261443|603.01|25485|20694|29200|333.00|97741402|3722.50|781443/962/22BelowAverage3562.80013129993190036174True
2417.80
PrivateUnion CollegeKentuckyMid - South Conference / Appal...20192323433332121442|603.00|25483|20665|28300|03.00|971719717|8613.00|871442/961/22BelowAverage9672.8008692705170034995True
2519.80
PrivateUniversity of PikevilleKentuckyMid - South Conference24232424433331121330|553.11|22260|11514|21300|03.00|972084024|10013.00|871330/887/20BelowAverage20742.80019295296030034500True
2620.60
PrivateKentucky Christian UniversityKentuckyMid - South Conference252425254333317231320|553.13|22240|10406|17300|03.00|97766218|3821.50|791320/880/20BelowAverage0552.800623353190029970True
2721.80
PublicKentucky State UniversityKentuckySouthern Intercollegiate Athle...272626264333316231167|493.23|19-66|0222|9300|03.00|97774082|3921.50|791167/778/18BelowAverage29752.80017541413190028004True

Common Questions...

What are the best colleges in Kentucky?

1. University of Kentucky

2. University of Louisville

3. Centre College

4. Transylvania University

5. Bellarmine University

6. Western Kentucky University

7. Asbury University

2016 Top 10 Kentucky University Academic Rankings

2016 Top 10 Kentucky 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
12.50PublicUniversity of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern Conference561111111665/1110/25AboveAverage20392.953652222369804580037602
23.24PublicUniversity of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast Conference732222431610/1073/24Average25452.801941596156004320038232
33.50PrivateCentre CollegeKentuckySouthern Athletic Association117633221863/1242/28Good15183.100138703970049440
44.17PrivateTransylvania UniversityKentuckyHeartland Collegiate Athletic ...228733851730/1153/26AboveAverage21302.950101403770045760
55.00PrivateBellarmine UniversityKentuckyGreat Lakes Valley Conference646833341620/1080/24Average5322.800258510244200053350
65.05PublicWestern Kentucky UniversityKentuckyConference USA883333761480/987/22BelowAverage18462.8001745227194270033356
75.67PrivateAsbury UniversityKentuckyKentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf3799331091684/1123/25AboveAverage8292.95016462333190036510
85.80PublicEastern Kentucky UniversityKentuckyOhio Valley Conference8104433561480/987/22BelowAverage15592.8001393923663980029276
95.83PrivateBerea CollegeKentuckyIndependent Southeast Region451010339101678/1119/25AboveAverage21372.950162103190033492
106.00PublicNorthern Kentucky UniversityKentuckyAtlantic Sun Conference895533681480/987/22BelowAverage19572.8001280922814330028998