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 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
11.17
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsinBig Ten Conference121111111421945|812.28|432131|892092|8729|911.00|991463214|732.50|981945/1296/29Excellent33173.25110430694119044960040644True
23.00
PrivateMarquette UniversityWisconsinBig East Conference442323333321750|732.61|351860|781667|69118|613.00|971498123|752.50|981750/1167/26AboveAverage26182.9518841033355090050237True
34.67
PrivateMilwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...219664444111865|782.14|471675|701537|64300|04.00|961609534|802.00|981865/1243/28Good87433.10025962146150047528True
45.00
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-La CrosseWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf754464444951633|682.69|331791|751571|65300|04.00|961265437|636.50|941633/1089/25Average22312.80098208494210025650True
56.67
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf10105564444741600|672.76|311771|741543|64300|04.00|961319611|666.00|941600/1067/24Average16332.800101965254400026641True
67.33
PrivateBeloit CollegeWisconsinMidwest Conference331810644441681859|772.56|361318|551436|60300|04.00|961175896|5911.00|891859/1239/28Good19233.100130303840052270True
78.81
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf13136764444861565|652.82|291757|731520|63300|04.00|961302777|657.50|931565/1043/23Average12442.8001098811884250024917True
89.33
PrivateRipon CollegeWisconsinMidwest Conference5620156444425151715|712.71|321030|431159|48300|04.00|961038870|5216.50|841715/1143/26AboveAverage19282.95084004060044917True
99.50
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens PointWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf141689644441591533|642.85|291695|711442|60300|04.00|961178452|5912.00|881533/1022/23Average18362.80090063244080024556True
1010.54
PrivateCarthage CollegeWisconsinCollege Conference of Illinois...9915166444423151620|682.73|321423|591158|48300|04.00|961053173|5316.50|841620/1080/24Average15402.8002856924070050240True
1111.00
PrivateSaint Norbert CollegeWisconsinMidwest Conference7723196444433231633|682.71|32867|361052|44300|04.00|96678983|3422.00|781633/1089/25Average13292.8002112573190043528True
1211.13
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-Green BayWisconsinHorizon League141411136444426191533|642.82|291630|681276|53300|04.00|961035363|5219.00|811533/1022/23Average29432.80066742533550025623True
1311.17
PrivateNorthland CollegeWisconsinUpper Midwest Athletic Conference6822216444432241653|692.72|32905|381012|42300|04.00|96681943|3422.50|781653/1102/25AboveAverage45512.95058403190042788True
1411.80
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWisconsinHorizon League2427323222211101467|612.96|261805|751709|71157|482.00|981237584|6212.50|881467/978/22BelowAverage25552.80662267449224370032020True
1511.87
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-PlattevilleWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf2015101164444571500|632.83|291644|681368|57300|04.00|961427332|7110.00|901500/1000/23Average42442.80080478545480025814True
1611.99
PrivateCarroll UniversityWisconsinMidwest Conference111216186444419171567|652.82|301392|581082|45300|04.00|961152934|5817.50|831567/1044/24Average13412.80030154313770041614True
1713.38
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-OshkoshWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf2425786444413121467|612.96|261717|721454|61300|04.00|961184200|5915.00|851467/978/22BelowAverage14472.8001331112304460025492True
1814.16
PrivateViterbo UniversityWisconsinMidwest Classic Conference111124226444420191567|652.81|30733|31933|39300|04.00|961135756|5719.00|811567/1044/24Average17492.80020347704240035230True
1914.77
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-StoutWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf24241212644446101467|612.96|261622|681342|56300|04.00|961326306|6612.50|881467/978/22BelowAverage19452.800827911154780026747True
2015.00
PrivateConcordia University-WisconsinWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...232614176444410121472|612.96|261451|601118|47300|04.00|961248958|6215.00|851472/981/22BelowAverage9372.800437737844090039855True
2115.01
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-River FallsWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf242213146444414171467|612.95|261532|641166|49300|04.00|961181723|5917.50|831467/978/22BelowAverage25472.80057404583900025518True
2215.67
PrivateWisconsin Lutheran CollegeWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...171726246444428271523|632.88|28645|27826|34300|04.00|96702275|3525.00|751523/1015/23Average14362.80010741053190037705True
2316.33
PrivateBellin CollegeWisconsinNo Conference Affiliation141925306444431291533|642.90|28667|28667|28300|04.00|96688163|3427.00|731533/1022/23Average0222.80030546319000True
2417.67
PrivateCardinal Stritch UniversityWisconsinChicagoland Collegiate Athleti...222330234444418211485|622.95|26570|24873|36200|334.00|961164022|5821.00|791485/990/22BelowAverage3392.800230815034890039732True
2518.30
PrivateEdgewood CollegeWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...201829264444430311500|632.88|28600|25814|34200|334.00|96700059|3527.50|731500/1000/23Average22482.800193510453190038259True
2618.88
PrivateMaranatha Baptist UniversityWisconsinIndependent Midwest Region192128276444427281505|632.93|27610|25786|33300|04.00|96751855|3826.50|741505/1003/23Average3442.8009471173190025310True
2719.80
PrivateMount Mary UniversityWisconsinDivision III Independents182027286444421261508|632.92|27616|26780|32300|04.00|961091778|5524.00|761508/1005/23Average11522.8008025833900040292True
2820.20
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-ParksideWisconsinGreat Lakes Valley Conference292917206444417241400|583.03|241382|581021|43300|04.00|961172312|5922.50|781400/933/21BelowAverage32682.80044071364080026091True
2921.60
PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-SuperiorWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf28282125644442141433|603.00|251004|42824|34300|04.00|961537831|7715.50|851433/956/22BelowAverage24532.80024661344960026072True
3023.40
PrivateLakeland CollegeWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...333019296444424291330|553.06|231135|47714|30300|04.00|961046082|5227.00|731330/887/20BelowAverage83562.80031388354280036588True
3124.91
PrivateMarian UniversityWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...313332326444412221333|563.11|22267|11512|21300|04.00|961200120|6021.50|791333/889/20BelowAverage5462.80016285024160036640True
3226.20
PrivateSilver Lake College of the Holy FamilyWisconsinNo Conference Affiliation303131336444429331381|583.07|23362|15362|15300|04.00|96701871|3530.50|701381/921/21BelowAverage6552.8004361933190037806True
3326.40
PrivateAlverno CollegeWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...313232316444422311333|563.11|22267|11515|21300|04.00|961083414|5427.50|731333/889/20BelowAverage16542.80017236664060036154True

Common Questions...

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
11.17PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonWisconsinBig Ten Conference121111311945/1296/29Excellent33173.25110430694119044960040644
23.00PrivateMarquette UniversityWisconsinBig East Conference442323211750/1167/26AboveAverage26182.9518841033355090050237
33.83PrivateMilwaukee School of EngineeringWisconsinNorthern Athletics Collegiate ...216644111865/1243/28Good87433.10025962146150047528
44.67PrivateBeloit CollegeWisconsinMidwest Conference337744751859/1239/28Good19233.100130303840052270
44.67PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-La CrosseWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf754444541633/1089/25Average22312.80098208494210025650
65.60PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeWisconsinHorizon League10103232661467/978/22BelowAverage25552.80662267449224370032020
75.83PrivateRipon CollegeWisconsinMidwest Conference568844881715/1143/26AboveAverage19282.95084004060044917
86.00PublicUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireWisconsinWisconsin Intercollegiate Ath Conf995544461600/1067/24Average16332.800101965254400026641
96.83PrivateNorthland CollegeWisconsinUpper Midwest Athletic Conference6891044991653/1102/25AboveAverage45512.95058403190042788
96.83PrivateSaint Norbert CollegeWisconsinMidwest Conference771094410101633/1089/25Average13292.8002112573190043528