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 Virginia University Academic Rankings

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

2016 Virginia University Academic Rankings

2016 Virginia 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
PublicUniversity of VirginiaVirginiaAtlantic Coast Conference311112222412038|851.88|532149|902100|8752|832.00|981446974|722.50|982038/1359/31Excellent2663.203171648372495470056196True
22.83
PublicCollege of William and MaryVirginiaColonial Athletic Association222344366542052|862.06|492086|871946|81118|613.67|961352642|683.50|972052/1368/31Excellent1693.2557629921385070053435True
33.00
PublicVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginiaAtlantic Coast Conference553221111321834|762.66|342045|851989|8382|731.00|991492212|753.00|971834/1222/28Good38173.204342424769775450041868True
45.67
PublicGeorge Mason UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 Conference784456655651720|722.69|331965|821894|79156|485.33|951337588|675.00|951720/1147/26AboveAverage20322.958722349113805140045648True
56.00
PrivateWashington and Lee UniversityVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference1310787777122091|872.22|441781|741854|77300|07.00|931677302|843.00|972091/1394/31Elite1793.40018903745470060084True
66.50
PrivateUniversity of RichmondVirginiaColonial Athletic Association ...447987777981991|832.36|411932|801759|73300|07.00|931238950|627.50|931991/1327/30Excellent14173.25033468364820059630True
78.00
PublicJames Madison UniversityVirginiaColonial Athletic Association7155687777771720|722.79|301947|811867|78300|07.00|931292507|657.00|931720/1147/26AboveAverage10183.0001914417114910038872True
88.17
PublicChristopher Newport UniversityVirginiaUSA South Athletic Conference ...6611118777714101735|722.66|341756|731505|63300|07.00|931093299|5511.00|891735/1157/26AboveAverage22362.95050961254410036960True
88.17
PublicVirginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 Conference1116883333316111645|692.80|301924|801848|77113|633.00|971050568|5312.00|881645/1097/25AboveAverage25432.952022366171874380047104True
1011.33
PublicVirginia Military InstituteVirginiaBig South Conference99201587777261695|712.70|33990|411154|48300|07.00|931580211|796.00|941695/1130/25AboveAverage31292.950170005490049096True
1111.50
PublicUniversity of Mary WashingtonVirginiaCapital Athletic Conference10181313877771091655|692.82|301625|681360|57300|07.00|931184687|5910.50|901655/1103/25AboveAverage17292.95041673684480038354True
1212.00
PrivateHampden-Sydney CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference12721178777740231638|682.69|33875|361034|43300|07.00|93557570|2826.00|741638/1092/25Average19332.800110503190054266True
1312.45
PublicOld Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USA19209106554412121540|642.84|291834|761738|72181|404.33|961133706|5712.50|881540/1027/23Average19462.801012011548174310039248True
1413.00
PrivateLiberty UniversityVirginiaBig South Conference2224658777720131525|642.90|281945|811883|78300|07.00|93913366|4617.00|831525/1017/23Average3502.80049744317153830034000True
1513.33
PrivateRoanoke CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference131222188777739281620|682.73|32840|351028|43300|07.00|93561230|2827.00|731620/1080/24Average13312.800205003190053351True
1613.83
PrivateRandolph CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference131122228777735221620|682.73|32840|35969|40300|07.00|93583194|2925.50|751620/1080/24Average15372.800675183190047860True
1613.83
PrivateHollins UniversityVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference131022238777737251620|682.72|32840|35955|40300|07.00|93576894|2926.50|741620/1080/24Average18372.8005961743190049435True
1815.20
PrivateRegent UniversityVirginiaNo Conference Affiliation181718167777726191595|662.81|301139|471074|45200|337.00|93658522|3322.00|781595/1063/24Average0582.800237435403190029028True
1915.83
PublicLongwood UniversityVirginiaBig South Conference252714148777717161505|632.91|271501|631174|49300|07.00|931024278|5118.00|821505/1003/23Average8392.80045745223950038324True
2015.89
PrivateRandolph-Macon CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference161325208777736291610|672.75|31820|34995|41300|07.00|93577274|2928.00|721610/1073/24Average12402.800139403190049340True
2116.00
PrivateSweet Briar CollegeVirginiaNo Conference Affiliation171426248777738311598|672.75|31796|33931|39300|07.00|93570886|2929.50|711598/1065/24Average20302.80069193190050937True
2216.17
PrivateHampton UniversityVirginiaMid Eastern Athletic Conference252315198777713151505|632.89|281398|581004|42300|07.00|931095421|5517.50|831505/1003/23Average17352.80035038903990035352True
2317.20
PrivateMarymount UniversityVirginiaCapital Athletic Conference191919218777711131540|642.82|291031|43981|41300|07.00|931180354|5917.00|831540/1027/23Average25502.800236310784640044016True
2418.13
PublicRadford UniversityVirginiaBig South Conference313112128777715171470|612.96|261641|681368|57300|07.00|931060942|5319.50|811470/980/22BelowAverage14432.80088859134200034006True
2520.75
PrivateBridgewater CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference242129278777721201520|632.87|28640|27846|35300|07.00|93895703|4523.00|771520/1013/23Average16412.800178503730044880True
2620.80
PrivateVirginia Wesleyan CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference212227268777734321536|642.89|28671|28866|36300|07.00|93588314|2930.00|701536/1024/23Average6512.800150103190046580True
2722.83
PrivateEastern Mennonite UniversityVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference292932328777731301482|622.95|26564|24761|32300|07.00|93599994|3029.00|711482/988/22BelowAverage12332.80012274683190043660True
2823.00
PrivateSouthern Virginia UniversityVirginiaCapital Athletic Conference232628308777724231521|632.91|27641|27791|33300|07.00|93668634|3326.00|741521/1014/23Average7732.80070503190026500True
2923.19
PrivateLynchburg CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference282531298777718211490|622.90|27580|24801|33300|07.00|931011112|5123.50|771490/993/22Average19482.80021615754110045925True
3024.20
PrivateShenandoah UniversityVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference272830288777732341495|622.93|27590|25804|34300|07.00|93598570|3031.00|691495/997/22Average13542.800189218013190044016True
3124.60
PublicNorfolk State UniversityVirginiaMid Eastern Athletic Conference373716258777722251300|543.12|221353|56931|39300|07.00|93872343|4426.50|741300/867/20BelowAverage44642.80053566714160035098True
3225.22
PrivateEmory & Henry CollegeVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference303033338777733371475|612.95|26550|23737|31300|07.00|93595498|3032.50|681475/983/22BelowAverage17412.8001012263190044784True
3326.70
PrivateMary Baldwin CollegeVirginiaUSA South Athletic Conference323334358777729341420|593.03|24440|18658|27300|07.00|93608454|3031.00|691420/947/21BelowAverage6422.80014233313190041545True
3426.80
PublicVirginia State UniversityVirginiaCentral Intercollegiate Athlet...393917318777719251213|513.21|201201|50769|32300|07.00|93937453|4726.50|741213/808/18BelowAverage16602.80044985273900030941True
3528.80
PublicThe University of Virginia's College at WiseVirginiaMountain East Conference33343534877778181410|593.04|24420|18661|28300|07.00|931280873|6421.50|791410/940/21BelowAverage10602.800218305590038279True
3528.80
PrivateJefferson College of Health SciencesVirginiaNo Conference Affiliation333235368777728361410|592.98|26420|18609|25300|07.00|93621322|3131.50|691410/940/21BelowAverage100902.8008762553190038328True
3730.40
PrivateAverett UniversityVirginiaUSA South Athletic Conference353537378777723321375|573.08|23350|15544|23300|07.00|93811347|4130.00|701375/917/21BelowAverage6572.800852204040040920True
3831.20
PrivateBluefield CollegeVirginiaMid - South Conference363638388777727371350|563.09|23300|13505|21300|07.00|93629566|3132.50|681350/900/20BelowAverage21642.800928163190036267True
3932.20
PrivateFerrum CollegeVirginiaUSA South Athletic Conference373839398777730401300|543.15|21200|8446|19300|07.00|93605694|3034.50|661300/867/20BelowAverage5692.800145103190042235True
4033.60
PrivateVirginia Union UniversityVirginiaCentral Intercollegiate Athlet...404040408777725371130|473.27|18-140|0138|6300|07.00|93662074|3332.50|681130/753/17BelowAverage14702.80013233923190028140True

Common Questions...

What are the best colleges in Virginia?

1. University of Virginia

2. College of William and Mary

3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

4. George Mason University

5. Washington and Lee University

6. University of Richmond

7. James Madison University

2016 Top 10 Virginia University Academic Rankings

2016 Top 10 Virginia 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
11.50PublicUniversity of VirginiaVirginiaAtlantic Coast Conference311112312038/1359/31Excellent2663.203171648372495470056196
22.83PublicCollege of William and MaryVirginiaColonial Athletic Association222344442052/1368/31Excellent1693.2557629921385070053435
33.00PublicVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVirginiaAtlantic Coast Conference553221221834/1222/28Good38173.204342424769775450041868
45.33PrivateWashington and Lee UniversityVirginiaOld Dominion Athletic Conference139766122091/1394/31Elite1793.40018903745470060084
45.33PublicGeorge Mason UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 Conference774455551720/1147/26AboveAverage20322.958722349113805140045648
66.00PrivateUniversity of RichmondVirginiaColonial Athletic Association ...447966761991/1327/30Excellent14173.25033468364820059630
76.33PublicJames Madison UniversityVirginiaColonial Athletic Association785666661720/1147/26AboveAverage10183.0001914417114910038872
86.67PublicVirginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 Conference998833981645/1097/25AboveAverage25432.952022366171874380047104
97.33PublicChristopher Newport UniversityVirginiaUSA South Athletic Conference ...66101066881735/1157/26AboveAverage22362.95050961254410036960
107.40PrivateLiberty UniversityVirginiaBig South Conference1010656610101525/1017/23Average3502.80049744317153830034000