2016 South Carolina University Academic Rankings

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Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

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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.

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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.
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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 South Carolina University Academic Rankings

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2016 South Carolina University Academic Rankings

2016 South Carolina 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	1.67	Public	Clemson University	South Carolina	Atlantic Coast Conference	2	1	2	2	2	1	1	1	2	1	1	1795\|75	2.51\|37	1986\|83	1908\|79	105\|65	1.00\|99	1517832\|76	1.00\|99	1795/1197/27	AboveAverage	26	18	2.95	161	17260	4597	51900	47166	True
1	1.67	Public	University of South Carolina-Columbia	South Carolina	Southeastern Conference	3	2	1	1	1	2	2	2	1	6	3	1785\|74	2.57\|36	2017\|84	1957\|82	95\|68	1.67\|98	1223771\|61	3.50\|97	1785/1190/27	AboveAverage	17	28	2.95	215	24866	8105	43900	43847	True
3	3.33	Private	Furman University	South Carolina	Southern Conference	1	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	2	1858\|77	2.58\|35	1714\|71	1536\|64	300\|0	4.00\|96	1301863\|65	3.00\|97	1858/1239/28	Good	15	13	3.10	0	2810	163	42800	59051	True
4	3.67	Public	College of Charleston	South Carolina	Colonial Athletic Association	4	4	3	3	4	4	4	4	4	13	5	1745\|73	2.64\|34	1888\|79	1702\|71	300\|0	4.00\|96	1049627\|52	8.50\|92	1745/1163/26	AboveAverage	22	35	2.95	0	10440	1016	41800	44332	True
5	6.83	Private	Wofford College	South Carolina	Southern Conference	5	5	16	7	4	4	4	4	4	2	3	1740\|73	2.64\|34	1080\|45	1232\|51	300\|0	4.00\|96	1410790\|71	3.50\|97	1740/1160/26	AboveAverage	23	20	2.95	0	1658	0	46200	51504	True
6	7.17	Public	Citadel Military College of South Carolina	South Carolina	Southern Conference	9	6	9	11	4	4	4	4	4	25	15	1590\|66	2.77\|31	1362\|57	1105\|46	300\|0	4.00\|96	675897\|34	15.50\|85	1590/1060/24	Average	18	27	2.80	0	2763	829	31900	45982	True
7	7.62	Private	Anderson University	South Carolina	South Atlantic Conference	9	7	8	10	4	4	4	4	4	14	9	1590\|66	2.80\|30	1366\|57	1106\|46	300\|0	4.00\|96	1035391\|52	10.50\|90	1590/1060/24	Average	7	49	2.80	0	2780	332	39900	38324	True
8	7.83	Private	North Greenville University	South Carolina	Division II Independents / Con...	6	11	14	8	4	4	4	4	4	19	11	1680\|70	2.82\|30	1247\|52	1211\|50	300\|0	4.00\|96	735825\|37	13.50\|87	1680/1120/25	AboveAverage	4	52	2.95	0	2359	210	31900	31000	True
9	8.05	Public	Winthrop University	South Carolina	Big South Conference	12	13	6	6	4	4	4	4	4	10	6	1545\|64	2.84\|29	1566\|65	1245\|52	300\|0	4.00\|96	1071559\|54	9.50\|91	1545/1030/23	Average	15	41	2.80	0	4974	1050	38700	39148	True
10	9.17	Private	Presbyterian College	South Carolina	Big South Conference	7	10	18	12	4	4	4	4	4	27	21	1650\|69	2.81\|30	900\|38	1058\|44	300\|0	4.00\|96	668337\|33	18.50\|82	1650/1100/25	AboveAverage	22	32	2.95	0	1146	314	31900	47872	True
11	9.20	Public	Coastal Carolina University	South Carolina	Big South Conference	16	16	5	5	4	4	4	4	4	9	8	1485\|62	2.95\|26	1664\|69	1400\|58	300\|0	4.00\|96	1091497\|55	10.00\|90	1485/990/22	BelowAverage	15	52	2.80	0	9364	612	41600	36854	True
12	10.80	Public	University of South Carolina-Upstate	South Carolina	Atlantic Sun Conference	17	17	7	9	4	4	4	4	4	7	6	1460\|61	2.97\|26	1507\|63	1146\|48	300\|0	4.00\|96	1121840\|56	9.50\|91	1460/973/22	BelowAverage	27	60	2.80	0	5397	188	39400	33454	True
13	10.89	Private	Converse College	South Carolina	Conference Carolinas	11	8	20	14	4	4	4	4	4	18	15	1585\|66	2.80\|30	770\|32	922\|38	300\|0	4.00\|96	740425\|37	15.50\|85	1585/1057/24	Average	8	40	2.80	0	822	567	31900	29850	True
14	10.95	Private	Columbia International University	South Carolina	No Conference Affiliation	8	9	19	17	4	4	4	4	4	21	20	1595\|66	2.81\|30	790\|33	898\|37	300\|0	4.00\|96	728265\|36	17.50\|83	1595/1063/24	Average	0	43	2.80	0	560	543	31900	32890	True
15	11.40	Private	Limestone College	South Carolina	Division II Independents / Con...	15	15	10	13	4	4	4	4	4	16	15	1500\|63	2.92\|27	1336\|56	982\|41	300\|0	4.00\|96	993900\|50	15.50\|85	1500/1000/23	Average	19	59	2.80	0	3137	77	38200	37336	True
16	13.60	Private	Charleston Southern University	South Carolina	Big South Conference	17	18	13	16	4	4	4	4	4	8	10	1460\|61	2.98\|26	1251\|52	910\|38	300\|0	4.00\|96	1104708\|55	12.00\|88	1460/973/22	BelowAverage	20	60	2.80	0	2967	400	37800	36840	True
17	13.80	Private	Columbia College	South Carolina	Appalachian Athletic Conference	13	12	21	19	4	4	4	4	4	11	12	1530\|64	2.83\|29	660\|28	842\|35	300\|0	4.00\|96	1069750\|53	14.00\|86	1530/1020/23	Average	28	50	2.80	0	1120	101	39800	40198	True
18	14.20	Public	University of South Carolina-Aiken	South Carolina	Peach Belt Conference	19	19	11	18	4	4	4	4	4	15	18	1440\|60	2.99\|25	1286\|54	893\|37	300\|0	4.00\|96	1010793\|51	16.50\|84	1440/960/22	BelowAverage	27	57	2.80	0	3256	188	35000	31319	True
19	14.23	Private	Erskine College	South Carolina	Conference Carolinas	14	14	22	21	4	4	4	4	4	26	23	1510\|63	2.85\|29	620\|26	749\|31	300\|0	4.00\|96	669385\|33	22.50\|78	1510/1007/23	Average	31	45	2.80	0	591	162	31900	47610	True
20	14.80	Public	Francis Marion University	South Carolina	Peach Belt Conference	22	21	12	15	4	4	4	4	4	17	21	1390\|58	3.04\|24	1285\|54	919\|38	300\|0	4.00\|96	955184\|48	18.50\|82	1390/927/21	BelowAverage	35	56	2.80	0	3605	339	33000	30871	True
21	16.40	Public	Lander University	South Carolina	Peach Belt Conference	21	22	15	20	4	4	4	4	4	12	18	1397\|58	3.05\|24	1095\|46	792\|33	300\|0	4.00\|96	1067719\|53	16.50\|84	1397/931/21	BelowAverage	19	61	2.80	0	2717	70	37800	31438	True
22	17.80	Private	Coker College	South Carolina	South Atlantic Conference	20	20	23	22	4	4	4	4	4	23	23	1435\|60	3.01\|25	470\|20	674\|28	300\|0	4.00\|96	716329\|36	22.50\|78	1435/957/22	BelowAverage	7	50	2.80	0	1165	54	31900	35874	True
23	19.80	Private	Newberry College	South Carolina	South Atlantic Conference	23	23	24	25	4	4	4	4	4	24	25	1380\|58	3.06\|23	360\|15	571\|24	300\|0	4.00\|96	695425\|35	23.50\|77	1380/920/21	BelowAverage	21	64	2.80	0	1093	0	31900	41100	True
24	20.00	Public	South Carolina State University	South Carolina	Mid Eastern Athletic Conference	27	27	17	26	3	3	3	3	3	5	13	1247\|52	3.15\|21	933\|39	559\|23	182\|40	3.00\|97	1253714\|63	14.50\|86	1247/831/19	BelowAverage	62	63	2.80	9	2791	540	42900	37856	True
25	20.20	Public	University of South Carolina-Beaufort	South Carolina	No Conference Affiliation	24	25	25	23	4	4	4	4	4	4	13	1375\|57	3.08\|23	350\|15	590\|25	300\|0	4.00\|96	1272419\|64	14.50\|86	1375/917/21	BelowAverage	6	78	2.80	0	1794	0	43900	31685	True
26	20.60	Private	Southern Wesleyan University	South Carolina	Southern States Athletic Conference	25	24	26	24	4	4	4	4	4	22	27	1374\|57	3.07\|23	348\|15	576\|24	300\|0	4.00\|96	720425\|36	24.00\|76	1374/916/21	BelowAverage	13	57	2.80	0	1418	360	31900	34850	True
27	22.00	Private	Claflin University	South Carolina	Southern Intercollegiate Athle...	26	26	27	27	4	4	4	4	4	20	25	1315\|55	3.12\|22	230\|10	485\|20	300\|0	4.00\|96	729625\|36	23.50\|77	1315/877/20	BelowAverage	20	57	2.80	0	1803	63	31900	32550	True

2016 Top 10 South Carolina 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

1.67

Public

Clemson University

South Carolina

Atlantic Coast Conference

1795/1197/27

AboveAverage

2.95

161

17260

4597

51900

47166

1.67

Public

University of South Carolina-Columbia

South Carolina

Southeastern Conference

1785/1190/27

AboveAverage

2.95

215

24866

8105

43900

43847

3.00

Private

Furman University

South Carolina

Southern Conference

1858/1239/28

Good

3.10

2810

163

42800

59051

3.33

Public

College of Charleston

South Carolina

Colonial Athletic Association

1745/1163/26

AboveAverage

2.95

10440

1016

41800

44332

5.50

Private

Wofford College

South Carolina

Southern Conference

1740/1160/26

AboveAverage

2.95

1658

46200

51504

6.17

Private

North Greenville University

South Carolina

Division II Independents / Con...

1680/1120/25

AboveAverage

2.95

2359

210

31900

31000

6.17

Public

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

South Carolina

Southern Conference

1590/1060/24

Average

2.80

2763

829

31900

45982

6.44

Public

Winthrop University

South Carolina

Big South Conference

1545/1030/23

Average

2.80

4974

1050

38700

39148

6.53

Private

Anderson University

South Carolina

South Atlantic Conference

1590/1060/24

Average

2.80

2780

332

39900

38324

6.60

Public

Coastal Carolina University

South Carolina

Big South Conference

1485/990/22

BelowAverage

2.80

9364

612

41600

36854

University Benchmarks

Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

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2016 Top 10 South Carolina University Academic Rankings

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