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 Wisconsin University Academic Rankings

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

2016 Wisconsin University Academic Rankings

2016 Wisconsin 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	1.17	Public	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin	Big Ten Conference	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	4	2	1945\|81	2.28\|43	2131\|89	2092\|87	29\|91	1.00\|99	1463214\|73	2.50\|98	1945/1296/29	Excellent	33	17	3.25	1104	30694	11904	49600	40644	True
2	3.00	Private	Marquette University	Wisconsin	Big East Conference	4	4	2	3	2	3	3	3	3	3	2	1750\|73	2.61\|35	1860\|78	1667\|69	118\|61	3.00\|97	1498123\|75	2.50\|98	1750/1167/26	AboveAverage	26	18	2.95	18	8410	3335	50900	50237	True
3	4.67	Private	Milwaukee School of Engineering	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	2	1	9	6	6	4	4	4	4	1	1	1865\|78	2.14\|47	1675\|70	1537\|64	300\|0	4.00\|96	1609534\|80	2.00\|98	1865/1243/28	Good	87	43	3.10	0	2596	214	61500	47528	True
4	5.00	Public	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	7	5	4	4	6	4	4	4	4	9	5	1633\|68	2.69\|33	1791\|75	1571\|65	300\|0	4.00\|96	1265437\|63	6.50\|94	1633/1089/25	Average	22	31	2.80	0	9820	849	42100	25650	True
5	6.67	Public	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	10	10	5	5	6	4	4	4	4	7	4	1600\|67	2.76\|31	1771\|74	1543\|64	300\|0	4.00\|96	1319611\|66	6.00\|94	1600/1067/24	Average	16	33	2.80	0	10196	525	44000	26641	True
6	7.33	Private	Beloit College	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	3	3	18	10	6	4	4	4	4	16	8	1859\|77	2.56\|36	1318\|55	1436\|60	300\|0	4.00\|96	1175896\|59	11.00\|89	1859/1239/28	Good	19	23	3.10	0	1303	0	38400	52270	True
7	8.81	Public	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	13	13	6	7	6	4	4	4	4	8	6	1565\|65	2.82\|29	1757\|73	1520\|63	300\|0	4.00\|96	1302777\|65	7.50\|93	1565/1043/23	Average	12	44	2.80	0	10988	1188	42500	24917	True
8	9.33	Private	Ripon College	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	5	6	20	15	6	4	4	4	4	25	15	1715\|71	2.71\|32	1030\|43	1159\|48	300\|0	4.00\|96	1038870\|52	16.50\|84	1715/1143/26	AboveAverage	19	28	2.95	0	840	0	40600	44917	True
9	9.50	Public	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	14	16	8	9	6	4	4	4	4	15	9	1533\|64	2.85\|29	1695\|71	1442\|60	300\|0	4.00\|96	1178452\|59	12.00\|88	1533/1022/23	Average	18	36	2.80	0	9006	324	40800	24556	True
10	10.54	Private	Carthage College	Wisconsin	College Conference of Illinois...	9	9	15	16	6	4	4	4	4	23	15	1620\|68	2.73\|32	1423\|59	1158\|48	300\|0	4.00\|96	1053173\|53	16.50\|84	1620/1080/24	Average	15	40	2.80	0	2856	92	40700	50240	True
11	11.00	Private	Saint Norbert College	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	7	7	23	19	6	4	4	4	4	33	23	1633\|68	2.71\|32	867\|36	1052\|44	300\|0	4.00\|96	678983\|34	22.00\|78	1633/1089/25	Average	13	29	2.80	0	2112	57	31900	43528	True
12	11.13	Public	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	Wisconsin	Horizon League	14	14	11	13	6	4	4	4	4	26	19	1533\|64	2.82\|29	1630\|68	1276\|53	300\|0	4.00\|96	1035363\|52	19.00\|81	1533/1022/23	Average	29	43	2.80	0	6674	253	35500	25623	True
13	11.17	Private	Northland College	Wisconsin	Upper Midwest Athletic Conference	6	8	22	21	6	4	4	4	4	32	24	1653\|69	2.72\|32	905\|38	1012\|42	300\|0	4.00\|96	681943\|34	22.50\|78	1653/1102/25	AboveAverage	45	51	2.95	0	584	0	31900	42788	True
14	11.80	Public	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Wisconsin	Horizon League	24	27	3	2	3	2	2	2	2	11	10	1467\|61	2.96\|26	1805\|75	1709\|71	157\|48	2.00\|98	1237584\|62	12.50\|88	1467/978/22	BelowAverage	25	55	2.80	66	22674	4922	43700	32020	True
15	11.87	Public	University of Wisconsin-Platteville	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	20	15	10	11	6	4	4	4	4	5	7	1500\|63	2.83\|29	1644\|68	1368\|57	300\|0	4.00\|96	1427332\|71	10.00\|90	1500/1000/23	Average	42	44	2.80	0	8047	854	54800	25814	True
16	11.99	Private	Carroll University	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	11	12	16	18	6	4	4	4	4	19	17	1567\|65	2.82\|30	1392\|58	1082\|45	300\|0	4.00\|96	1152934\|58	17.50\|83	1567/1044/24	Average	13	41	2.80	0	3015	431	37700	41614	True
17	13.38	Public	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	24	25	7	8	6	4	4	4	4	13	12	1467\|61	2.96\|26	1717\|72	1454\|61	300\|0	4.00\|96	1184200\|59	15.00\|85	1467/978/22	BelowAverage	14	47	2.80	0	13311	1230	44600	25492	True
18	14.16	Private	Viterbo University	Wisconsin	Midwest Classic Conference	11	11	24	22	6	4	4	4	4	20	19	1567\|65	2.81\|30	733\|31	933\|39	300\|0	4.00\|96	1135756\|57	19.00\|81	1567/1044/24	Average	17	49	2.80	0	2034	770	42400	35230	True
19	14.77	Public	University of Wisconsin-Stout	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	24	24	12	12	6	4	4	4	4	6	10	1467\|61	2.96\|26	1622\|68	1342\|56	300\|0	4.00\|96	1326306\|66	12.50\|88	1467/978/22	BelowAverage	19	45	2.80	0	8279	1115	47800	26747	True
20	15.00	Private	Concordia University-Wisconsin	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	23	26	14	17	6	4	4	4	4	10	12	1472\|61	2.96\|26	1451\|60	1118\|47	300\|0	4.00\|96	1248958\|62	15.00\|85	1472/981/22	BelowAverage	9	37	2.80	0	4377	3784	40900	39855	True
21	15.01	Public	University of Wisconsin-River Falls	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	24	22	13	14	6	4	4	4	4	14	17	1467\|61	2.95\|26	1532\|64	1166\|49	300\|0	4.00\|96	1181723\|59	17.50\|83	1467/978/22	BelowAverage	25	47	2.80	0	5740	458	39000	25518	True
22	15.67	Private	Wisconsin Lutheran College	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	17	17	26	24	6	4	4	4	4	28	27	1523\|63	2.88\|28	645\|27	826\|34	300\|0	4.00\|96	702275\|35	25.00\|75	1523/1015/23	Average	14	36	2.80	0	1074	105	31900	37705	True
23	16.33	Private	Bellin College	Wisconsin	No Conference Affiliation	14	19	25	30	6	4	4	4	4	31	29	1533\|64	2.90\|28	667\|28	667\|28	300\|0	4.00\|96	688163\|34	27.00\|73	1533/1022/23	Average	0	22	2.80	0	305	46	31900	0	True
24	17.67	Private	Cardinal Stritch University	Wisconsin	Chicagoland Collegiate Athleti...	22	23	30	23	4	4	4	4	4	18	21	1485\|62	2.95\|26	570\|24	873\|36	200\|33	4.00\|96	1164022\|58	21.00\|79	1485/990/22	BelowAverage	3	39	2.80	0	2308	1503	48900	39732	True
25	18.30	Private	Edgewood College	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	20	18	29	26	4	4	4	4	4	30	31	1500\|63	2.88\|28	600\|25	814\|34	200\|33	4.00\|96	700059\|35	27.50\|73	1500/1000/23	Average	22	48	2.80	0	1935	1045	31900	38259	True
26	18.88	Private	Maranatha Baptist University	Wisconsin	Independent Midwest Region	19	21	28	27	6	4	4	4	4	27	28	1505\|63	2.93\|27	610\|25	786\|33	300\|0	4.00\|96	751855\|38	26.50\|74	1505/1003/23	Average	3	44	2.80	0	947	117	31900	25310	True
27	19.80	Private	Mount Mary University	Wisconsin	Division III Independents	18	20	27	28	6	4	4	4	4	21	26	1508\|63	2.92\|27	616\|26	780\|32	300\|0	4.00\|96	1091778\|55	24.00\|76	1508/1005/23	Average	11	52	2.80	0	802	583	39000	40292	True
28	20.20	Public	University of Wisconsin-Parkside	Wisconsin	Great Lakes Valley Conference	29	29	17	20	6	4	4	4	4	17	24	1400\|58	3.03\|24	1382\|58	1021\|43	300\|0	4.00\|96	1172312\|59	22.50\|78	1400/933/21	BelowAverage	32	68	2.80	0	4407	136	40800	26091	True
29	21.60	Public	University of Wisconsin-Superior	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	28	28	21	25	6	4	4	4	4	2	14	1433\|60	3.00\|25	1004\|42	824\|34	300\|0	4.00\|96	1537831\|77	15.50\|85	1433/956/22	BelowAverage	24	53	2.80	0	2466	134	49600	26072	True
30	23.40	Private	Lakeland College	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	33	30	19	29	6	4	4	4	4	24	29	1330\|55	3.06\|23	1135\|47	714\|30	300\|0	4.00\|96	1046082\|52	27.00\|73	1330/887/20	BelowAverage	83	56	2.80	0	3138	835	42800	36588	True
31	24.91	Private	Marian University	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	31	33	32	32	6	4	4	4	4	12	22	1333\|56	3.11\|22	267\|11	512\|21	300\|0	4.00\|96	1200120\|60	21.50\|79	1333/889/20	BelowAverage	5	46	2.80	0	1628	502	41600	36640	True
32	26.20	Private	Silver Lake College of the Holy Family	Wisconsin	No Conference Affiliation	30	31	31	33	6	4	4	4	4	29	33	1381\|58	3.07\|23	362\|15	362\|15	300\|0	4.00\|96	701871\|35	30.50\|70	1381/921/21	BelowAverage	6	55	2.80	0	436	193	31900	37806	True
33	26.40	Private	Alverno College	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	31	32	32	31	6	4	4	4	4	22	31	1333\|56	3.11\|22	267\|11	515\|21	300\|0	4.00\|96	1083414\|54	27.50\|73	1333/889/20	BelowAverage	16	54	2.80	0	1723	666	40600	36154	True

What are the best colleges in Wisconsin?

1. University of Wisconsin-Madison

2. Marquette University

3. Milwaukee School of Engineering

4. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

5. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

6. Beloit College

7. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

2016 Top 10 Wisconsin University Academic Rankings

2016 Top 10 Wisconsin 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	1.17	Public	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin	Big Ten Conference	1	2	1	1	1	1	3	1	1945/1296/29	Excellent	33	17	3.25	1104	30694	11904	49600	40644
2	3.00	Private	Marquette University	Wisconsin	Big East Conference	4	4	2	3	2	3	2	1	1750/1167/26	AboveAverage	26	18	2.95	18	8410	3335	50900	50237
3	3.83	Private	Milwaukee School of Engineering	Wisconsin	Northern Athletics Collegiate ...	2	1	6	6	4	4	1	1	1865/1243/28	Good	87	43	3.10	0	2596	214	61500	47528
4	4.67	Private	Beloit College	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	3	3	7	7	4	4	7	5	1859/1239/28	Good	19	23	3.10	0	1303	0	38400	52270
4	4.67	Public	University of Wisconsin-La Crosse	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	7	5	4	4	4	4	5	4	1633/1089/25	Average	22	31	2.80	0	9820	849	42100	25650
6	5.60	Public	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Wisconsin	Horizon League	10	10	3	2	3	2	6	6	1467/978/22	BelowAverage	25	55	2.80	66	22674	4922	43700	32020
7	5.83	Private	Ripon College	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	5	6	8	8	4	4	8	8	1715/1143/26	AboveAverage	19	28	2.95	0	840	0	40600	44917
8	6.00	Public	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire	Wisconsin	Wisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf	9	9	5	5	4	4	4	6	1600/1067/24	Average	16	33	2.80	0	10196	525	44000	26641
9	6.83	Private	Northland College	Wisconsin	Upper Midwest Athletic Conference	6	8	9	10	4	4	9	9	1653/1102/25	AboveAverage	45	51	2.95	0	584	0	31900	42788
9	6.83	Private	Saint Norbert College	Wisconsin	Midwest Conference	7	7	10	9	4	4	10	10	1633/1089/25	Average	13	29	2.80	0	2112	57	31900	43528

University Benchmarks

Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

Notes:

Ranking Fields

The 2016 University Academic Rankings

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2016 Wisconsin University Academic Rankings

Common Questions...

What are the best colleges in Wisconsin?

2016 Top 10 Wisconsin University Academic Rankings

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