2016 Kentucky 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 Kentucky University Academic Rankings

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2016 Kentucky University Academic Rankings

2016 Kentucky 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	2.50	Public	University of Kentucky	Kentucky	Southeastern Conference	5	6	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	4	1	1665\|69	2.79\|30	1930\|80	1852\|77	119\|60	1.00\|99	1383934\|69	2.50\|98	1665/1110/25	AboveAverage	20	39	2.95	365	22223	6980	45800	37602	True
2	3.24	Public	University of Louisville	Kentucky	Atlantic Coast Conference	7	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	8	3	1610\|67	2.72\|32	1849\|77	1736\|72	132\|56	2.00\|98	1270498\|64	5.00\|95	1610/1073/24	Average	25	45	2.80	194	15961	5600	43200	38232	True
3	4.17	Private	Centre College	Kentucky	Southern Athletic Association	1	1	10	6	4	3	3	3	3	5	2	1863\|78	2.57\|36	1327\|55	1446\|60	300\|0	3.00\|97	1328020\|66	4.00\|96	1863/1242/28	Good	15	18	3.10	0	1387	0	39700	49440	True
4	5.50	Private	Transylvania University	Kentucky	Heartland Collegiate Athletic ...	2	2	13	9	4	3	3	3	3	14	5	1730\|72	2.67\|33	1060\|44	1196\|50	300\|0	3.00\|97	1037039\|52	9.00\|91	1730/1153/26	AboveAverage	21	30	2.95	0	1014	0	37700	45760	True
5	6.00	Private	Bellarmine University	Kentucky	Great Lakes Valley Conference	6	4	9	10	4	3	3	3	3	6	4	1620\|68	2.75\|31	1339\|56	1140\|48	300\|0	3.00\|97	1323407\|66	5.50\|95	1620/1080/24	Average	5	32	2.80	0	2585	1024	42000	53350	True
6	6.86	Public	Western Kentucky University	Kentucky	Conference USA	13	12	3	3	4	3	3	3	3	12	5	1480\|62	2.94\|26	1773\|74	1655\|69	300\|0	3.00\|97	1175389\|59	9.00\|91	1480/987/22	BelowAverage	18	46	2.80	0	17452	2719	42700	33356	True
7	7.00	Private	Asbury University	Kentucky	Kentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf	3	7	14	11	4	3	3	3	3	23	16	1684\|70	2.80\|30	968\|40	1133\|47	300\|0	3.00\|97	740058\|37	15.00\|85	1684/1123/25	AboveAverage	8	29	2.95	0	1646	233	31900	36510	True
8	7.17	Private	Berea College	Kentucky	Independent Southeast Region	4	5	15	12	4	3	3	3	3	19	15	1678\|70	2.77\|31	956\|40	1122\|47	300\|0	3.00\|97	752130\|38	13.50\|87	1678/1119/25	AboveAverage	21	37	2.95	0	1621	0	31900	33492	True
9	7.80	Public	Eastern Kentucky University	Kentucky	Ohio Valley Conference	13	14	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	9	5	1480\|62	2.95\|26	1736\|72	1558\|65	300\|0	3.00\|97	1228681\|61	9.00\|91	1480/987/22	BelowAverage	15	59	2.80	0	13939	2366	39800	29276	True
10	8.00	Public	Northern Kentucky University	Kentucky	Atlantic Sun Conference	13	13	5	5	4	3	3	3	3	11	9	1480\|62	2.95\|26	1719\|72	1460\|61	300\|0	3.00\|97	1221166\|61	10.50\|90	1480/987/22	BelowAverage	19	57	2.80	0	12809	2281	43300	28998	True
11	9.58	Private	Midway College	Kentucky	Kentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf	8	8	16	14	4	3	3	3	3	25	20	1580\|66	2.80\|30	760\|32	929\|39	300\|0	3.00\|97	734498\|37	18.00\|82	1580/1053/24	Average	11	47	2.80	0	1067	73	31900	37900	True
12	9.80	Public	Morehead State University	Kentucky	Pioneer Football League / Ohio...	16	16	6	7	4	3	3	3	3	13	11	1475\|61	2.96\|26	1667\|69	1403\|58	300\|0	3.00\|97	1047948\|52	12.50\|88	1475/983/22	BelowAverage	13	56	2.80	0	9951	1101	35500	31325	True
13	10.79	Public	Murray State University	Kentucky	Ohio Valley Conference	21	17	7	8	4	3	3	3	3	10	10	1440\|60	2.97\|26	1630\|68	1353\|56	300\|0	3.00\|97	1228340\|61	11.50\|89	1440/960/22	BelowAverage	28	44	2.80	0	9444	1763	40100	32134	True
14	11.60	Private	Kentucky Wesleyan College	Kentucky	Great Lakes Valley Conference ...	10	10	17	17	4	3	3	3	3	20	17	1528\|64	2.87\|28	655\|27	804\|34	300\|0	3.00\|97	747538\|37	17.00\|83	1528/1018/23	Average	31	56	2.80	0	709	0	31900	34640	True
15	11.79	Private	Georgetown College	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference	12	9	19	19	4	3	3	3	3	27	22	1505\|63	2.86\|28	610\|25	789\|33	300\|0	3.00\|97	705898\|35	21.00\|79	1505/1003/23	Average	27	40	2.80	0	979	283	31900	45050	True
16	12.00	Private	Brescia University	Kentucky	Kentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf	11	11	18	16	4	3	3	3	3	18	17	1515\|63	2.91\|27	630\|26	810\|34	300\|0	3.00\|97	762138\|38	17.00\|83	1515/1010/23	Average	6	68	2.80	0	1034	22	31900	30990	True
17	14.80	Private	University of the Cumberlands	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference	22	21	12	15	4	3	3	3	3	3	8	1425\|59	3.01\|25	1107\|46	832\|35	300\|0	3.00\|97	1642791\|82	10.00\|90	1425/950/21	BelowAverage	20	55	2.80	0	2655	3081	49000	34200	True
18	15.20	Private	Mid-Continent University	Kentucky	No Reported Affiliation	26	25	8	13	4	3	3	3	3	26	25	1295\|54	3.15\|21	1432\|60	975\|41	300\|0	3.00\|97	714786\|36	22.00\|78	1295/863/19	BelowAverage	5	81	2.80	0	7000	0	31900	0	True
19	15.22	Private	Thomas More College	Kentucky	Presidents' Athletic Conference	18	18	21	20	4	3	3	3	3	7	12	1445\|60	2.98\|25	490\|20	705\|29	300\|0	3.00\|97	1297240\|65	13.00\|87	1445/963/22	BelowAverage	17	48	2.80	0	1497	158	39300	39249	True
20	15.60	Private	Alice Lloyd College	Kentucky	Kentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf	17	15	20	22	4	3	3	3	3	15	19	1465\|61	2.96\|26	530\|22	681\|28	300\|0	3.00\|97	794258\|40	17.50\|83	1465/977/22	BelowAverage	32	55	2.80	0	657	0	31900	22960	True
20	15.60	Private	Campbellsville University	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference	23	22	11	18	4	3	3	3	3	21	21	1385\|58	3.06\|23	1166\|49	793\|33	300\|0	3.00\|97	747282\|37	20.50\|80	1385/923/21	BelowAverage	11	55	2.80	0	2992	435	31900	34704	True
22	16.17	Private	Lindsey Wilson College	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference	9	27	27	27	4	3	3	3	3	24	27	1565\|65	4.00\|0	-2400\|0	-2400\|0	300\|0	3.00\|97	736246\|37	23.00\|77	1565/1043/23	Unknown	0	72	2.80	0	2205	436	31900	37463	False
23	17.00	Private	Spalding University	Kentucky	St.Louis Intercollegiate Ath Conf	19	20	22	21	3	3	3	3	3	22	26	1443\|60	3.01\|25	485\|20	694\|29	200\|33	3.00\|97	741402\|37	22.50\|78	1443/962/22	BelowAverage	3	56	2.80	0	1312	999	31900	36174	True
24	17.80	Private	Union College	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference / Appal...	20	19	23	23	4	3	3	3	3	2	12	1442\|60	3.00\|25	483\|20	665\|28	300\|0	3.00\|97	1719717\|86	13.00\|87	1442/961/22	BelowAverage	9	67	2.80	0	869	270	51700	34995	True
25	19.80	Private	University of Pikeville	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference	24	23	24	24	4	3	3	3	3	1	12	1330\|55	3.11\|22	260\|11	514\|21	300\|0	3.00\|97	2084024\|100	13.00\|87	1330/887/20	BelowAverage	20	74	2.80	0	1929	529	60300	34500	True
26	20.60	Private	Kentucky Christian University	Kentucky	Mid - South Conference	25	24	25	25	4	3	3	3	3	17	23	1320\|55	3.13\|22	240\|10	406\|17	300\|0	3.00\|97	766218\|38	21.50\|79	1320/880/20	BelowAverage	0	55	2.80	0	623	35	31900	29970	True
27	21.80	Public	Kentucky State University	Kentucky	Southern Intercollegiate Athle...	27	26	26	26	4	3	3	3	3	16	23	1167\|49	3.23\|19	-66\|0	222\|9	300\|0	3.00\|97	774082\|39	21.50\|79	1167/778/18	BelowAverage	29	75	2.80	0	1754	141	31900	28004	True

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

2.50

Public

University of Kentucky

Kentucky

Southeastern Conference

1665/1110/25

AboveAverage

2.95

365

22223

6980

45800

37602

3.24

Public

University of Louisville

Kentucky

Atlantic Coast Conference

1610/1073/24

Average

2.80

194

15961

5600

43200

38232

3.50

Private

Centre College

Kentucky

Southern Athletic Association

1863/1242/28

Good

3.10

1387

39700

49440

4.17

Private

Transylvania University

Kentucky

Heartland Collegiate Athletic ...

1730/1153/26

AboveAverage

2.95

1014

37700

45760

5.00

Private

Bellarmine University

Kentucky

Great Lakes Valley Conference

1620/1080/24

Average

2.80

2585

1024

42000

53350

5.05

Public

Western Kentucky University

Kentucky

Conference USA

1480/987/22

BelowAverage

2.80

17452

2719

42700

33356

5.67

Private

Asbury University

Kentucky

Kentucky Intercollegiate Ath Conf

1684/1123/25

AboveAverage

2.95

1646

233

31900

36510

5.80

Public

Eastern Kentucky University

Kentucky

Ohio Valley Conference

1480/987/22

BelowAverage

2.80

13939

2366

39800

29276

5.83

Private

Berea College

Kentucky

Independent Southeast Region

1678/1119/25

AboveAverage

2.95

1621

31900

33492

6.00

Public

Northern Kentucky University

Kentucky

Atlantic Sun Conference

1480/987/22

BelowAverage

2.80

12809

2281

43300

28998

University Benchmarks

Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

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2016 Top 10 Kentucky University Academic Rankings

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