Skiena Rankings

Skiena's Guide to Colleges and Universities

Data Driven College Rankings


There are thousands of wonderful schools in the United States, ranging from the Ivy League to community colleges. Some are public universities and some private colleges. Some are exclusive, where others are accessible. Some focus on teaching while others are substantially research institutions: Universities have seemingly orthogonal missions, such as education and scholarship, that mesh together in many different ways.

Here we assemble data about major American colleges and universities, and try to put it all in context. How do colleges compare to their peers? For each school from Harvard on down, we show which other institutions are most similar to it, and what are the outstanding features where they stand out, for better or worse. We even provide a short writeup about each school to provide some additional context.

Another product of this analysis is a collection of data-driven rankings of colleges on both major dimensions (
prestige, research/scholarship, visibility, and social good), along with a host of minor ones (e.g. sports performance, social media visibility). Together with our blog, they provide an overview of the landscape of higher education in the United States.



College Rankings



School Name Prestige
Ranking
Research and
Scholarship
Ranking
Visibility
Ranking
Social Good
Ranking
Harvard University 1 1 1 73
Stanford University 2 2 4 46
Yale University 3 21 5 22
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology 4 3 2 16
Princeton University 5 31 10 21
University of Pennsylvania 6 11 9 67
University of Michigan 7 5 3 41
Columbia University 8 8 6 43
Duke University 9 17 29 115
Brown University 10 69 35 176
California Institute of Technology 11 50 48 19
Northwestern University 12 25 39 229
Univ. of California, Los Angeles 13 7 8 30
Dartmouth College 14 104 53 133
University of Notre Dame 15 88 18 155
University of California, Berkeley 16 4 7 18
The Ohio State University 17 12 14 181
University of Chicago 18 29 24 198
Cornell University 19 20 11 201
University of Southern California 20 22 16 100
Vanderbilt University 21 49 45 208
University of Virginia 22 43 23 105
William Marsh Rice University 23 79 84 207
UNC Chapel Hill 24 26 22 148
The University of Texas at Austin 25 19 17 106
University of Florida 26 18 25 50
New York University 27 14 15 226
University of Wisconsin-Madison 28 10 27 188
Washington University in St. Louis 29 37 74 248
Johns Hopkins University 30 6 20 238
Texas A&M University 31 15 12 150
Williams College 32 286 160 101
Emory University 33 41 72 412
Michigan State University 34 33 37 193
Georgetown University 35 81 41 141
Purdue University 36 30 19 164
University of Washington 37 16 30 111
University of Pittsburgh 38 35 52 405
Carnegie Mellon University 39 46 47 62
Rutgers University 40 28 32 71
Univ. of Minnesota-Twin Cities 41 13 46 292
Boston University 42 39 31 362
University of Georgia 43 44 21 289
Northeastern University 44 97 76 287
Pomona College 45 321 225 203
Florida State University 46 55 28 77
Univ. of California, San Diego 47 9 40 9
Georgia Institute of Technology 48 24 38 36
Boston College 49 124 90 170
Tulane University 50 106 112 525
Amherst College 51 308 181 121
College of William & Mary 52 171 94 328
Tufts University 53 93 66 339
Indiana University Bloomington 54 54 54 72
Swarthmore College 55 314 211 147
Washington and Lee University 56 363 244 270
Bowdoin College 57 349 215 202
Univ. of Illinois,Urbana-Champaign 58 23 36 129
University of California, Irvine 59 36 65 15
University of Maryland 60 32 34 76
Colby College 61 339 285 407
Univ. of California, Santa Barbara 62 51 82 74
George Washington University 63 80 61 293
Penn State University 64 40 26 540
Middlebury College 65 289 221 350
University of Richmond 66 306 239 349
Case Western Reserve University 67 56 113 357
The University of Alabama 68 113 70 374
North Carolina State University 69 42 59 151
Baylor University 70 144 80 429
Hamilton College 71 390 228 288
University of Rochester 72 59 98 250
University of Miami 73 58 77 195
Arizona State University 74 34 13 55
Wellesley College 75 265 171 372
University of Delaware 76 78 99 206
University of California, Davis 77 27 49 45
Grinnell College 78 405 319 402
Villanova University 79 214 144 285
University of Central Florida 80 84 50 59
Colgate University 81 337 241 390
Wake Forest University 82 135 115 409
Brigham Young University 83 130 43 38
University of Iowa 84 45 60 245
Virginia Tech 85 47 75 107
The University of Arizona 86 38 42 218
University of South Carolina 87 66 67 399
Harvey Mudd College 88 322 386 42
Clemson University 89 92 51 214
Wesleyan University 90 251 134 319
Liberty University 91 115 57 315
Vassar College 92 331 180 488
Davidson College 93 393 263 341
University of Cincinnati 94 85 110 191
Syracuse University 95 216 58 265
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville 96 53 95 385
Carleton College 97 317 286 325
San Diego State University 98 163 97 51
Fordham University 99 176 78 260
University of Kansas 100 67 100 173
The University of Utah 101 48 64 96
Southern Methodist University 102 143 133 300
University of Louisville 103 114 159 348
Haverford College 104 352 360 345
University of South Florida 105 52 88 75
Claremont McKenna College 106 335 375 127
Smith College 107 293 176 411
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 108 118 136 236
Lehigh University 109 154 195 189
University of Kentucky 110 57 85 244
Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst 111 63 86 186
University at Buffalo, SUNY 112 64 108 103
Louisiana State University 113 83 33 317
Texas Christian University 114 218 111 478
University of Oregon 115 102 89 239
Lafayette College 116 336 278 254
University of Houston 117 61 55 56
University of Connecticut 118 68 73 126
Santa Clara University 119 235 207 135
University of Missouri 120 73 81 346
Auburn University 121 90 83 309
Rochester Institute of Technology 122 167 158 352
United States Naval Academy 123 270 96 494
Temple University 124 76 79 190
Iowa State University 125 62 63 143
Bucknell University 126 298 210 313
Saint Louis University 127 129 208 454
University of Colorado Boulder 128 100 56 353
University of Vermont 129 125 154 502
Cal. State, San Luis Obispo 130 276 139 44
Oberlin College 131 379 177 514
Brandeis University 132 155 140 400
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 133 74 69 321
Trinity College 134 389 292 263
Barnard College 135 381 187 308
University of Arkansas 136 111 120 267
Miami University 137 187 119 299
The University of Oklahoma 138 98 68 128
Virginia Commonwealth University 139 71 127 251
Colorado College 140 409 356 491
Texas Tech University 141 87 62 110
Franklin and Marshall College 142 355 341 366
Bryn Mawr College 143 325 249 453
Bates College 144 369 237 371
College of the Holy Cross 145 380 219 338
Oklahoma State University 146 107 117 175
Union College 147 365 280 395
Kenyon College 148 378 291 518
Dickinson College 149 359 328 465
Denison University 150 422 270 472
Cal. State, Long Beach 151 292 150 11
Furman University 152 375 302 538
American University 153 181 121 332
Hillsdale College 154 492 182 544
Oregon State University 155 65 101 221
University of Denver 156 169 200 464
Stony Brook University 157 75 102 12
United States Military Academy 158 304 44 426
Univ. of California, Riverside 159 70 116 27
St John's College 160 508 413 504
Macalester College 161 374 396 440
The University of Tulsa 162 219 316 375
Ohio University 163 153 123 432
Univ. of California, Santa Cruz 164 86 103 158
Florida International University 165 99 93 13
West Virginia University 166 108 71 233
United States Air Force Academy 167 438 107 534
Colorado State University 168 60 87 303
Drexel University 169 95 125 314
Mount Holyoke College 170 341 269 425
Pepperdine University 171 261 175 337
Washington State University 172 72 92 144
Mississippi State University 173 119 114 241
Reed College 174 358 230 533
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 175 185 293 276
Binghamton University, SUNY 176 134 157 31
Loyola University Chicago 177 162 155 307
Stevens Institute of Technology 178 193 267 159
Southern New Hampshire University 179 452 167 95
Whitman College 180 428 415 498
Scripps College 181 493 450 435
University of Mississippi 182 123 91 329
San José State University 183 284 109 4
Loyola Marymount University 184 285 178 274
Cal. State, Fullerton 185 294 151 10
Grand Canyon University 186 116 135 117
Howard University 187 188 122 171
Babson College 188 311 326 92
University of Dayton 189 189 190 416
Berea College 190 498 411 124
Connecticut College 191 432 377 466
Occidental College 192 356 262 363
Hampshire College 193 420 355 505
University of North Texas 194 110 126 119
University of San Francisco 195 268 236 273
University of Illinois at Chicago 196 120 142 70
Marquette University 197 186 161 283
Rhodes College 198 397 332 471
Skidmore College 199 343 337 419
Gettysburg College 200 408 312 479
Pitzer College 201 475 423 382
Kansas State University 202 127 132 156
DePaul University 203 210 146 153
St. John's University 204 205 179 109
Hofstra University 205 253 213 256
University of San Diego 206 258 294 301
Chapman University 207 207 223 487
Utah State University 208 109 148 168
The University of Texas at Dallas 209 101 118 91
St. Olaf College 210 406 283 512
College of Charleston 211 291 304 474
Georgia State University 212 89 105 242
Seton Hall University 213 263 220 123
Rhode Island School of Design 214 477 296 470
DePauw University 215 444 330 380
University at Albany, SUNY 216 131 153 60
Gonzaga University 217 345 183 410
Florida Atlantic University 218 138 145 66
George Mason University 219 94 104 20
Cal. State, Northridge 220 243 106 7
University of the Pacific 221 224 358 104
St. Lawrence University 222 433 393 511
Colorado School of Mines 223 149 338 86
Texas State University 224 182 128 187
Creighton University 225 196 308 421
Clark University 226 242 257 431
Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham 227 82 164 272
Hobart and William Smith Colleges 228 392 307 441
Centre College 229 454 397 369
Lawrence University 230 461 454 436
Mercer University 231 241 216 393
Univ. of North Carolina,Charlotte 232 228 172 102
University of Nevada, Reno 233 122 203 97
Thomas Jefferson University 234 139 306 184
University of New Hampshire 235 133 173 391
University of Texas at Arlington 236 112 141 58
Earlham College 237 468 480 455
Wofford College 238 540 392 457
University of Rhode Island 239 136 268 230
Virginia Military Institute 240 443 310 266
Cal. State, Pomona 241 332 169 5
Wheaton College 242 364 245 376
Allegheny College 243 447 405 438
Wabash College 244 482 457 517
Quinnipiac University 245 277 248 443
University of New Mexico 246 91 124 61
Wayne State University 247 96 147 162
University of Wyoming 248 137 222 83
Sewanee: University of the South 249 434 361 515
Transylvania University 250 503 417 463
Hampden-Sydney College 251 517 420 543
The College of Wooster 252 424 369 503
The New School 253 222 137 423
San Francisco State University 254 236 197 24
Northern Arizona University 255 147 188 286
Southwestern University 256 446 425 434
Bard College 257 328 234 398
James Madison University 258 248 129 279
Western Michigan University 259 183 192 185
Appalachian State University 260 247 194 291
Boise State University 261 190 224 296
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 262 132 163 37
New Jersey Institute of Technology 263 142 254 23
Muhlenberg College 264 484 448 492
Marist College 265 404 246 386
Indiana/Purdue University 266 105 277 140
Washington College 267 506 471 370
Illinois Institute of Technology 268 161 240 161
Elon University 269 354 261 446
Yeshiva University 270 213 309 450
Univ. of Texas at San Antonio 271 128 130 39
Kent State University 272 145 143 383
Kalamazoo College 273 466 421 336
New Mexico State University 274 141 206 48
University of Akron 275 173 235 324
Northern Illinois University 276 180 226 85
Ithaca College 277 351 273 462
Duquesne University 278 209 284 442
Drake University 279 346 329 433
Missouri Univ. of Sci and Tech 280 168 303 99
Lewis & Clark College 281 347 439 528
University of St. Thomas 282 279 385 388
Cal. State, Fresno 283 402 191 8
Georgia Southern University 284 206 202 340
Illinois Wesleyan University 285 431 487 392
University of Toledo 286 158 209 87
Illinois State University 287 300 185 249
Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore 288 146 166 200
East Carolina University 289 172 156 243
The University of Memphis 290 148 196 196
Michigan Technological University 291 159 265 209
Central Michigan University 292 199 229 408
The University of Maine 293 249 227 368
Kennesaw State University 294 230 174 116
Belmont University 295 437 314 530
Bowling Green State University 296 197 138 430
Knox College 297 526 504 334
Willamette University 298 401 428 459
University of Idaho 299 156 253 211
Augustana College 300 485 477 467
Moravian College 301 510 456 448
Hampton University 302 312 288 322
Washington & Jefferson College 303 532 344 169
Valparaiso University 304 403 340 359
University of Massachusetts Lowell 305 160 276 204
Montana State University 306 151 198 304
Spelman College 307 415 255 205
Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale 308 174 300 219
Eastern Michigan University 309 262 266 294
Ball State University 310 217 168 406
Centenary College of Louisiana 311 528 541 449
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 312 126 186 172
Samford University 313 357 353 521
Lycoming College 314 504 533 312
Hendrix College 315 457 508 415
Austin College 316 525 478 282
Gustavus Adolphus College 317 470 440 522
Wichita State University 318 203 242 68
Sarah Lawrence College 319 497 252 536
Mississippi College 320 440 472 481
Old Dominion University 321 140 162 142
Marshall University 322 252 204 177
Univ. of North Carolina,Greensboro 323 166 231 167
Univ. of North Carolina Wilmington 324 240 295 424
Ohio Wesleyan University 325 469 334 500
University of Puget Sound 326 400 376 483
Seattle University 327 342 418 379
Brigham Young University-Idaho 328 476 279 34
Univ. of Louisiana at Lafayette 329 198 238 212
Towson University 330 266 214 258
The University of Texas at El Paso 331 157 199 3
Beloit College 332 495 463 356
Hanover College 333 521 476 516
Cal. State, Sacramento 334 287 165 14
Hollins University 335 512 486 489
Louisiana Tech University 336 231 189 227
Pace University 337 264 218 52
Union University 338 453 506 456
Rowan University 339 208 232 118
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. 340 237 272 278
University of Hawaii at Manoa 341 175 149 231
University of Missouri-Kansas City 342 164 275 157
Wheaton College, Massachusetts 343 435 449 493
The Catholic University of America 344 288 212 360
Georgetown College 345 534 520 495
Middle Tennessee State University 346 244 217 93
Calvin University 347 377 331 461
Grand Valley State University 348 272 201 389
Clarkson University 349 232 362 378
University of North Dakota 350 184 264 262
Hope College 351 324 398 484
University of Northern Iowa 352 307 321 330
California State University, Chico 353 360 271 69
Luther College 354 464 462 539
Western Kentucky University 355 290 289 120
University of North Florida 356 257 287 40
Albion College 357 429 488 311
North Dakota State University 358 150 193 125
The University of Montana 359 256 299 178
University of Tennessee at Martin 360 479 406 323
Sam Houston State University 361 225 274 79
Agnes Scott College 362 519 470 445
Lake Forest College 363 496 493 396
Cornell College 364 514 485 485
Florida A&M Univ. 365 259 243 108
Stonehill College 366 418 501 506
Florida Institute of Technology 367 204 372 347
Saint Anselm College 368 524 380 537
Ursinus College 369 500 426 355
Sacred Heart University 370 395 347 428
Saint Mary's College 371 523 521 507
University of Southern Mississippi 372 170 256 114
Univ. of Alabama in Huntsville 373 275 395 183
Long Island University 374 260 422 271
University of South Alabama 375 212 374 237
Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga 376 273 348 377
Adelphi University 377 299 357 137
North Carolina A&T State Univ. 378 211 170 78
Oregon Health & Science University 379 103 250 468
Coe College 380 518 509 394
Lehman College, CUNY 381 373 447 1
Berklee College of Music 382 520 131 460
Susquehanna University 383 442 489 529
Oakland University 384 195 290 232
Roanoke College 385 531 427 535
University of South Dakota 386 223 399 404
South Dakota State University 387 191 297 342
Western Washington University 388 271 281 215
University of Maryland, Baltimore 389 77 359 527
Lipscomb University 390 370 401 497
Missouri State University 391 296 205 297
East Tennessee State University 392 201 322 257
Bennington College 393 537 345 541
Hartwick College 394 516 537 381
Indiana State University 395 281 315 216
Arkansas State University 396 301 320 210
University of Hartford 397 320 388 217
Nova Southeastern University 398 121 233 174
University of Massachusetts Boston 399 165 152 132
Lindenwood University 400 445 325 295
Portland State University 401 152 184 29
Juniata College 402 471 511 444
Stephen F. Austin State University 403 350 390 160
Monmouth University 404 367 364 344
Grove City College 405 543 441 532
Gallaudet University 406 323 258 146
University of Michigan-Dearborn 407 386 436 63
Univ. of Texas Rio Grande Valley 408 202 305 2
Goucher College 409 499 408 367
Montclair State University 410 215 298 98
University of Nebraska at Omaha 411 221 323 81
Cal. State, San Bernardino 412 361 327 6
Biola University 413 340 301 439
Drew University 414 372 383 247
Oglethorpe University 415 541 524 361
Eastern Kentucky University 416 394 339 192
Spring Hill College 417 544 510 480
Dillard University 418 483 474 47
Harding University 419 478 400 508
Texas A&M University-Commerce 420 295 379 130
Suffolk University 421 318 403 234
Bellarmine University 422 450 402 531
Saint Vincent College 423 513 530 509
Loyola University New Orleans 424 427 368 387
Tennessee Tech University 425 282 371 259
Whittier College 426 491 444 305
Simmons University 427 333 424 354
University of La Verne 428 368 443 89
Morgan State University 429 226 282 240
Purchase College, SUNY 430 480 351 261
University of Northern Colorado 431 233 367 246
Savannah College of Art and Design 432 535 247 298
Westminster College, Pennsylvania 433 542 538 477
Saint Michael's College 434 502 515 475
Carson-Newman University 435 463 529 437
Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock 436 246 433 194
Widener University 437 316 430 401
Ferris State University 438 388 342 152
University of Detroit Mercy 439 362 404 222
Wittenberg University 440 509 491 403
Ripon College 441 501 532 458
Wartburg College 442 530 535 524
University of Colorado Denver 443 117 317 134
University of New England 444 269 464 523
Gordon College 445 473 507 510
Delaware State University 446 305 469 284
Wright State University 447 200 313 182
Campbell University 448 467 366 197
Valdosta State University 449 348 336 320
Westmont College 450 456 459 496
Northern Kentucky University 451 310 352 139
Cleveland State University 452 220 324 80
University of Missouri-St. Louis 453 194 394 275
Central College 454 533 483 513
Regis University 455 426 458 281
University of California, Merced 456 178 251 33
Concordia University Wisconsin 457 449 495 473
St. Norbert College 458 436 490 520
St. Mary's College of Maryland 459 416 467 343
Eckerd College 460 417 460 542
Chatham University 461 459 527 499
Jackson State University 462 234 260 84
University of New Orleans 463 255 370 49
University of Central Arkansas 464 302 365 179
Loma Linda University 465 192 389 486
Oklahoma City University 466 488 455 422
Augusta University 467 179 381 268
Southern Illinois Univ. Edwrdsvlle 468 280 311 253
Guilford College 469 536 522 335
Saint Benedict/Saint John's Univ. 470 472 453 501
Univ. of Massachusetts Dartmouth 471 227 384 113
University of Alaska Fairbanks 472 177 391 165
Linfield University 473 481 519 364
New College of Florida 474 448 475 351
Sweet Briar College 475 494 484 490
Univ. North Carolina, Asheville 476 387 479 290
Andrews University 477 303 414 277
University of West Georgia 478 315 412 373
Indiana University of Pennsylvania 479 274 378 316
St. Catherine University 480 414 531 326
Washburn University 481 441 465 223
University of the Incarnate Word 482 423 354 82
Clark Atlanta University 483 313 346 112
Barry University 484 385 446 131
Benedictine University 485 451 481 235
Lamar University 486 254 259 57
Pacific University 487 334 451 384
Sonoma State University 488 330 373 94
Seattle Pacific University 489 329 445 358
St. John Fisher College 490 399 499 452
Azusa Pacific University 491 297 335 318
Elizabethtown College 492 490 536 469
Morehead State University 493 430 434 280
Roosevelt University 494 421 468 225
Texas A&M Univ.-Corpus Christi 495 238 387 149
Humboldt State University 496 353 343 90
SUNY College of ESF 497 245 442 414
Univ. of Colorado Colorado Springs 498 239 409 180
Gardner-Webb University 499 411 419 420
Meredith College 500 511 540 427
Bethel University 501 460 492 519
Maryville University 502 344 410 333
Lesley University 503 419 473 199
University of Louisiana at Monroe 504 319 431 145
University of Findlay 505 486 512 482
The College of St. Scholastica 506 522 517 418
Simpson College 507 529 523 417
Warren Wilson College 508 539 516 526
Western New England University 509 382 482 331
University of Indianapolis 510 383 437 302
The University of Texas at Tyler 511 309 438 25
Robert Morris University 512 326 526 327
Texas Woman's University 513 250 349 28
Lincoln Memorial University 514 366 496 365
Gannon University 515 407 498 447
Texas A&M University-Kingsville 516 278 363 17
Texas Southern University 517 391 318 32
Idaho State University 518 229 333 310
University of Michigan-Flint 519 398 497 228
Touro College 520 462 429 220
University of Bridgeport 521 384 461 255
Shenandoah University 522 327 518 476
University of Mary 523 505 513 413
Baker University 524 487 539 269
Tennessee State University 525 267 350 122
Shepherd University 526 489 525 65
Fisk University 527 439 416 154
Wilkes University 528 338 407 252
Bethune-Cookman University 529 515 432 53
Tougaloo College 530 455 528 88
George Fox University 531 413 466 451
University of Wisconsin-Parkside 532 425 505 54
Colorado Technical University 533 538 435 35
Fort Lewis College 534 410 514 224
Wilmington University 535 371 494 64
Metropolitan State University 536 412 502 138
Regent University 537 283 382 166
Aurora University 538 458 500 213
Keiser University 539 396 452 136
National Louis University 540 376 503 26
Husson University 541 507 534 397
University of Wisconsin-Superior 542 474 542 306
The Sage Colleges 543 465 543 163
University of Maine at Machias 544 527 544 264