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 Massachusetts University Academic Rankings

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

2016 Massachusetts University Academic Rankings

2016 Massachusetts 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
11.50
PrivateHarvard UniversityMassachusettsIvy League131112221212262|940.61|852292|952253|942|1001.67|981576667|791.50|992262/1508/34Elite3023.5067810338184536140062250True
21.83
PrivateMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...212231115112241|93-1.05|1002239|932181|9129|911.00|991693581|851.50|992241/1494/34Elite8763.26742451268077490061030True
33.83
PrivateTufts UniversityMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath Conf453344444532181|911.41|652189|912106|8844|853.33|971394761|704.00|962181/1454/33Elite2793.40158517757305420063400True
46.83
PrivateNortheastern UniversityMassachusettsColonial Athletic Association88441077661052103|881.95|512183|912099|87112|636.33|941167546|587.00|932103/1402/32Elite32223.40921351062885500060290True
57.00
PrivateFranklin W Olin College of EngineeringMassachusettsNo Conference Affiliation32761212121212642219|920.19|952037|852037|85300|012.00|881381467|695.50|952219/1479/33Elite7943.40035006000063801True
67.83
PrivateBoston CollegeMassachusettsAtlantic Coast Conference91157698108972062|862.31|422132|892035|8572|768.33|921278394|647.50|932062/1375/31Excellent1293.3551985644615310063022True
67.83
PrivateBoston UniversityMassachusettsPatriot League121265936321581964|822.38|412105|882051|8583|732.67|971124903|5610.50|901964/1309/29Excellent20153.2534718017140955060063644True
88.00
PrivateBrandeis UniversityMassachusettsUniversity Athletic Association1099122639714102038|852.12|472006|841879|786|985.00|951125505|5611.00|892038/1359/31Excellent1793.2574372922164530063250True
98.67
PrivateWilliams CollegeMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath Conf54118121212121257302180|911.36|661961|822014|84300|012.00|88444376|2233.00|672180/1454/33Elite2543.3802072543190064020True
109.50
PrivateWorcester Polytechnic InstituteMassachusettsUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...116101371010810451984|831.76|561969|821821|7677|759.33|911473669|747.00|931984/1322/30Excellent63223.2520423521466370059504True
1110.00
PrivateWellesley CollegeMassachusettsNew England Women's & Men's At...771210121212121223162137|891.94|511925|801963|82300|012.00|88996790|5017.00|832137/1425/32Elite1683.400232304900061088True
1210.33
PrivateAmherst CollegeMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath Conf610139121212121218142160|902.14|461919|801976|82300|012.00|881037725|5215.00|852160/1440/32Elite1433.500179204860064006True
1210.33
PublicUniversity of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...17138118555313121800|752.51|372016|841953|8181|734.00|961150890|5812.50|881800/1200/27AboveAverage23312.951822225263835160042355True
1414.00
PrivateEmerson CollegeMassachusettsNew England Women's & Men's At...14161515121212121225181879|782.60|351836|771654|69300|012.00|88952486|4819.50|811879/1253/28Good0193.10037877584330055846True
1515.17
PrivateBentley UniversityMassachusettsNortheast 10 Conference1619161612121212128111842|772.67|331825|761626|68300|012.00|881282377|6411.50|891842/1228/28Good5123.100426413015860058860True
1615.50
PublicUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellMassachusettsAmerica East21201414121212121212131680|702.69|331870|781666|69300|012.00|881155094|5814.00|861680/1120/25AboveAverage40482.9501298341965160041304True
1715.83
PrivateClark UniversityMassachusettsNew England Women's & Men's At...1515311851111111119171859|772.59|351318|551495|6256|8211.00|891034177|5218.00|821859/1239/28Good14203.107230111224070050280True
1816.17
PrivateBabson CollegeMassachusettsNew England Women's & Men's At...131429171212121212381886|792.58|361373|571497|62300|012.00|881520377|7610.50|901886/1258/28Good083.10021079426070062440True
1918.00
PrivateWentworth Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast Conference24172122121212121211141625|682.62|341605|671327|55300|012.00|881161501|5815.00|851625/1083/24Average53392.80043292295550049855True
2019.00
PrivateMCPHS UniversityMassachusettsNo Conference Affiliation23222223121212121254381630|682.75|311588|661317|55300|012.00|88453338|2337.00|631630/1087/24Average0312.800402729083190048884True
2120.33
PrivateGordon CollegeMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast Conference18213326121212121251361731|722.70|331062|441218|51300|012.00|88462794|2336.00|641731/1154/26AboveAverage12252.95017413643190046520True
2220.50
PrivateSimmons CollegeMassachusettsGreat Northeast Athletic Conference19183428121212121228231730|722.67|331060|441214|51300|012.00|88911998|4625.00|751730/1153/26AboveAverage20302.950162231804980053796True
2321.00
PublicUniversity of Massachusetts-DartmouthMassachusettsMassachusetts State College At...29261820121212121217191570|652.78|311688|701401|58300|012.00|881066649|5320.00|801570/1047/24Average26502.800745416574650038823True
2422.00
PrivateStonehill CollegeMassachusettsNortheast 10 Conference20243529121212121221211695|712.77|31990|411214|51300|012.00|881026736|5122.50|781695/1130/25AboveAverage12192.950228404440054216True
2523.17
PrivateWestern New England UniversityMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...28233034121212121222221590|662.77|311352|561103|46300|012.00|881023222|5123.50|771590/1060/24Average19382.800273211905380049454True
2623.33
PrivateEndicott CollegeMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...27292832121212121245351595|662.80|301397|581120|47300|012.00|88654605|3335.50|651595/1063/24Average2332.800287715524350046398True
2724.40
PublicUniversity of Massachusetts-BostonMassachusettsLittle East Conference4035171911887932261505|632.91|271738|721484|62177|417.67|92892761|4529.50|711505/1003/23Average27552.8058127004056463000True
2824.50
PublicMassachusetts College of Art and DesignMassachusettsNo Conference Affiliation25253736121212121241331615|672.77|31830|351017|42300|012.00|88805209|4034.50|661615/1077/24Average0292.80019671284100046425True
2924.95
PublicFramingham State UniversityMassachusettsMassachusetts State College At...34302525121212121227251555|652.84|291553|651244|52300|012.00|88919799|4628.00|721555/1037/23Average12472.800460918904220029284True
3025.00
PrivateEmmanuel CollegeMassachusettsGreat Northeast Athletic Conference22333635121212121234291645|692.86|28890|371072|45300|012.00|88862135|4332.00|681645/1097/25AboveAverage7362.95020822294510052499True
3126.20
PublicWorcester State UniversityMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...38312327121212121224241510|632.85|291563|651218|51300|012.00|88984933|4927.50|731510/1007/23Average29502.80055637874360029696True
3226.49
PublicBridgewater State UniversityMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...44391921121212121235321480|622.95|261666|691401|58300|012.00|88862107|4333.50|671480/987/22BelowAverage11452.800962815594090029493True
3327.17
PublicMassachusetts Maritime AcademyMassachusettsNew England Football Conference3527393812121212127191540|642.79|30680|28871|36300|012.00|881325340|6620.00|801540/1027/23Average37332.8001401965560037774True
3427.39
PrivateSuffolk UniversityMassachusettsGreat Northeast Athletic Conference38362430121212121229281510|632.91|271554|651213|51300|012.00|88904146|4531.50|691510/1007/23Average6452.800539028254420051021True
3528.20
PrivateLesley UniversityMassachusettsNew England Collegiate Conference26283837121212121243411600|672.80|30800|33990|41300|012.00|88662912|3339.00|611600/1067/24Average0502.800192929304090042065True
3628.39
PublicWestfield State UniversityMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...41372631121212121238381495|622.92|271551|651199|50300|012.00|88844445|4237.00|631495/997/22Average8402.80055907314570027817True
3728.60
PublicSalem State UniversityMassachusettsMassachusetts State College At...45422024121212121236371475|612.97|261610|671307|54300|012.00|88861601|4336.50|641475/983/22BelowAverage9542.800760016673980029394True
3829.17
PrivateSpringfield CollegeMassachusettsUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...37344139121212121246451525|642.90|28650|27862|36300|012.00|88616146|3142.00|581525/1017/23Average4322.800213810403190047665True
3930.49
PublicFitchburg State UniversityMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...46382733121212121230331470|612.95|261437|601105|46300|012.00|88899444|4534.50|661470/980/22BelowAverage20492.800420426064070027153True
4031.05
PublicMassachusetts College of Liberal ArtsMassachusettsMassachusetts State College At...36324040121212121242421530|642.86|28660|28858|36300|012.00|88743135|3741.00|591530/1020/23Average15462.80015622033690031034True
4134.17
PrivateWheelock CollegeMassachusettsNew England Collegiate Conference42404243121212121256501485|622.96|26570|24744|31300|012.00|88451214|2348.50|521485/990/22BelowAverage0412.8008694623190049415True
4234.50
PrivateBay Path CollegeMassachusettsNew England Collegiate Conference48454545121212121244471435|603.01|25470|20690|29300|012.00|88655596|3343.00|571435/957/22BelowAverage5322.800158410034090045699True
4335.17
PrivateRegis CollegeMassachusettsNew England Collegiate Conference49464646121212121259531420|593.02|24440|18647|27300|012.00|88438814|2251.00|491420/947/21BelowAverage9362.80011667463190052515True
4436.20
PrivateBecker CollegeMassachusettsEastern Collegiate Football Co...43414342121212121255521482|622.96|26563|23783|33300|012.00|88452754|2349.50|511482/988/22BelowAverage0702.800202103190049030True
4536.80
PrivateCurry CollegeMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...51483241121212121237421405|593.05|241166|49819|34300|012.00|88856874|4341.00|591405/937/21BelowAverage3522.80029002414740052235True
4637.00
PrivateAssumption CollegeMassachusettsNortheast 10 Conference30565656121212121231401565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|012.00|88896810|4538.50|621565/1043/23Unknown17322.80022254944760049922False
4637.00
PrivateNortheastern University Global NetworkMassachusettsColonial Athletic Association30565656121212121216271565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|012.00|881088676|5431.00|691565/1043/23Unknown002.80036896413550000False
4637.00
PrivateSmith CollegeMassachusettsNew England Women's & Men's At...30565656121212121239461565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|012.00|88837251|4242.50|581565/1043/23Unknown18142.80025634264240062330False
4637.00
PrivateMerrimack CollegeMassachusettsNortheast 10 Conference30565656121212121220301565|654.00|0-2400|0-2400|0300|012.00|881028933|5133.00|671565/1043/23Unknown17302.80030333045240051185False
5037.91
PrivateEastern Nazarene CollegeMassachusettsCommonwealth Coast Conference49444647121212121247501420|593.00|25440|18641|27300|012.00|88484186|2448.50|521420/947/21BelowAverage24462.80010641473190041172True
5138.00
PrivateLasell CollegeMassachusettsGreat Northeast Athletic Conference47434444121212121252541460|612.99|25520|22739|31300|012.00|88459874|2351.50|491460/973/22BelowAverage0532.80017373333190047250True
5239.11
PrivateCollege of Our Lady of the ElmsMassachusettsNew England Collegiate Conference52474848121212121240491400|583.04|24400|17621|26300|012.00|88821149|4146.00|541400/933/21BelowAverage9402.80013713464310046050True
5339.83
PrivateDean CollegeMassachusettsNo Conference Affiliation57535352121212121258591265|533.18|20130|5378|16300|012.00|88442274|2255.50|451265/843/19BelowAverage0382.800132503190051650True
5442.40
PrivateNichols CollegeMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...53494949121212121233481386|583.07|23372|16594|25300|012.00|88878099|4443.50|571386/924/21BelowAverage2562.80013301654200047380True
5543.20
PrivateMount Ida CollegeMassachusettsEastern Collegiate Football Co...54505050121212121250551325|553.13|22250|10484|20300|012.00|88464798|2352.50|481325/883/20BelowAverage2552.8001293273190046019True
5644.00
PrivateAmerican International CollegeMassachusettsNortheast 10 Conference55515151121212121226421320|553.13|22240|10482|20300|012.00|88931335|4741.00|591320/880/20BelowAverage6632.800147321565410046480True
5744.28
PrivateFisher CollegeMassachusettsIndependent Northeast Region58545454121212121253581235|513.20|2070|3345|14300|012.00|88456878|2355.00|451235/823/19BelowAverage0492.800187503190047999True
5845.00
PrivateNewbury CollegeMassachusettsNew England Collegiate Conference56525253121212121249561270|533.18|21140|6356|15300|012.00|88464994|2353.50|471270/847/19BelowAverage1582.80087403190045970True
5947.20
PrivatePine Manor CollegeMassachusettsGreat Northeast Athletic Conference59555555121212121248561145|483.24|19-110|0-110|0300|012.00|88479674|2453.50|471145/763/17BelowAverage37642.800403393190042300True

Common Questions...

What are the best colleges in Massachusetts?

1. Harvard University

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. Tufts University

4. Northeastern University

5. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

6. Boston College

7. Boston University

2016 Top 10 Massachusetts University Academic Rankings

2016 Top 10 Massachusetts 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
11.50PrivateHarvard UniversityMassachusettsIvy League131112212262/1508/34Elite3023.5067810338184536140062250
21.83PrivateMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusettsNew England Football Conferenc...212231112241/1494/34Elite8763.26742451268077490061030
33.83PrivateTufts UniversityMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath Conf453344432181/1454/33Elite2793.40158517757305420063400
45.83PrivateNortheastern UniversityMassachusettsColonial Athletic Association674486752103/1402/32Elite32223.40921351062885500060290
56.00PrivateFranklin W Olin College of EngineeringMassachusettsNo Conference Affiliation327699542219/1479/33Elite7943.40035006000063801
66.67PrivateBoston CollegeMassachusettsAtlantic Coast Conference795757662062/1375/31Excellent1293.3551985644615310063022
66.67PrivateBrandeis UniversityMassachusettsUniversity Athletic Association888925882038/1359/31Excellent1793.2574372922164530063250
86.83PrivateBoston UniversityMassachusettsPatriot League10106573991964/1309/29Excellent20153.2534718017140955060063644
97.50PrivateWilliams CollegeMassachusettsNew England Small College Ath Conf541089910102180/1454/33Elite2543.3802072543190064020
108.00PrivateWorcester Polytechnic InstituteMassachusettsUpstate Collegiate Athletic As...9691068371984/1322/30Excellent63223.2520423521466370059504