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Academic rankings

The University of Minnesota is a leading public research University with a wide range of academic strengths. We are making new investments, focusing on areas of depth and promise, and redesigning a number of our academic units. Our goal is to be one of the top three public research universities in the world within a decade.


National Research Council (NRC) Assessment of Doctoral Programs (2010)

The University of Minnesota performed well in the federally chartered, non-profit National Research Council’s (NRC) assessment of doctoral programs, which it disseminated in 2010. The assessment ranked 69 of the University’s more than 100 doctoral programs, the second highest of any university out of the 212 that participated in the study, showing the breadth and quality of the institution. The assessment placed over 60 percent of the University’s doctoral programs crossing the top 25 percent nationally, across a wide range of doctoral programs in agriculture, engineering, humanities, sciences and social sciences.

While the assessment was based on data from 2005, it serves as a valuable measurement starting point as 2005 was just at the beginning of the University’s strategic positioning work, which included restructuring of a number of colleges and graduate education. Among the top assessed programs were Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics; Chemical Engineering; Chemistry; Child Psychology; Civil Engineering; Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Entomology; Food Science; Germanic Studies; Kinesiology; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Natural Resource Science and Management; and Psychology. Additional detailed information is available here.

Science and Engineering Research Expenditures (2009 Survey)

The University of Minnesota ranked 8th among U.S. public research universities and 10th among all U.S. universities in the 2009 National Science Foundation Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges. Total research and design expenditures increased nearly 19% between 2004-2007, the second-largest growth rate among top-20 public research universities. In FY2010, grants and contracts awarded to University faculty topped $823 million, marking a 36 percent increase over the previous year. Even after excluding the contribution of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, the FY2010 sponsored awards total increased 23 percent.

The Top American Research Universities, 2010 Annual Report

Below are the 2010 rankings of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus among all private research universities and public research universities (based on the Top American Research Universities report).

 
Private U
Rank1
Public U
Rank2
Total Research Expenditures
12th
8th
Federal Research Expenditures
18th
9th
National Academy Members
27th
11th
Faculty Awards
29th
16th
Doctoral Degrees Awarded 
12th
10th
Post-doctoral Appointees
21st
11th
Endowment Assets 
25th
6th
Annual Giving
18th
7th
SAT/ACT Range
162nd
32nd
 
 
 1 Rank among all US private research universities.

 2 Rank among all US public research universities

 

Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2011 (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

The University of Minnesota--Twin Cities ranked 28th in the world and 9th among U.S. public research universities out of 500 universities worldwide.

See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2011.html

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings are based on the following:

  1. Alumni of an institution winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals (10% of score);
  2. Staff of an institution winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals Award (20%)
  3. Highly cited researchers in 21 broad subject categories (20%)
  4. Articles published in Nature and Science (20%)
  5. Articles in Science Citation Index-expanded, Social Science Citation Index (20%)
  6. Academic performance with respect to the size of an institution (10%)

Five academic fields were also ranked in 2011. For the methodology see:

http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU-FIELD-Methodology-2011.html

In Clinical Medicine and Pharmacy, UMTC ranks 14th in the world and ranks 6th among US public universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldMED2011.html

In Engineering, Technology and Computer Science, UMTC ranks 27th in the world and ranks 13th among US public universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldENG2011.html

In Life and Agricultural Sciences, UMTC ranks 35th in the world and ranks 12th among US public universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldLIFE2011.html

In Natural Sciences and Mathematics, UMTC ranks 39th in the world and ranks 13th among US public universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/FieldSCI2011.html

In Social Sciences, UMTC ranks 14th in the world and ranks 4th among US public universities. See: http://www.arwu.org/FieldSOC2010.jsp

Five subject fields were newly ranked in 2011. For the methodology see: http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU-SUBJECT-Methodology-2011.html

In Chemistry, UMTC ranks 26th in the world and 9th among US public research universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/SubjectChemistry2011.html

In Computer Science, UMTC is ranked in a range from 51st to 75th. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/SubjectCS2011.html

In Economics/Business, UMTC ranks 14th in the world and 2nd among US public research universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/SubjectEcoBus2011.html

In Mathematics, UMTC ranks 11th in the world and 3rd among US public research universities. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/SubjectMathematics2011.html

In Physics UMTC is ranked in a range from 76th to 100th. See: http://www.shanghairanking.com/SubjectPhysics2011.html

National Merit Scholars in the 1st-year class (Fall 2010)

The number of National Merit Scholars in the freshman class has increased from 40 in fall 2003 to over 100 in Fall 2010.

The University of Minnesota led Big Ten public universities in the number of new National Merit Scholars in fall 2010, with 101 National Merit Scholars.

 

ISI-Thomson Scientific Essential Science Indicators

ISI-Thomson Scientific publishes “Essential Science Indicators” tracking science, mathematics, engineering and social science citation counts for individuals and for universities and other research institutions worldwide. The University of Minnesota ranks 21st (for all 22 fields) overall in the world and ranks 9th among U.S. public research universities.

Based on total number of papers published the University of Minnesota ranks 18th and 8th among U.S. public research universities.

Of the 22 fields the University ranks in the top 25 in the world (based on the total number of citations) in just under half (11) of the fields. These are:

Field World Rank U.S. Public Univ.
     
Mathematics 6 3
Environment/Ecology 8 3
Agricultural Sciences 14 6
Social Sciences/General 15 9
Chemistry 16 4
Computer Science 18 7
Economics/Business 18 8
Plant & Animal Science 18 9
Psychiatry/Psychology 21 10
Clinical Medicine 22 9
Multidisciplinary 25 8

2010 Times Higher Education World University Rankings

The University of Minnesota ranks 52nd in the world, and 11th among US public research universities.

See: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/top-200.html

2011 Times Higher Education World University Rankings (Based on reputation)

The University of Minnesota ranks 43rd in the world, and 13th among US public research universities.

See: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2010-2011/reputation-rankings.html

 

The Scientist Magazine: Patent Powerhouses

The Scientist Magazine publishes “Patent Powerhouses." Based on this ranking the University of Minnesota ranks 4th among U.S. research universities.

Science Magazine Table
Table Source: The Scientist Magazine

The Scientist Magazine: Best Places to Work in Academia (2010)

The University of Minnesota ranked 3d best among public research universities in the United States and 22nd overall when ranked as the best places for scientists to work. Job satisfaction and tenure and promotion policies were highlighted as particular strengths of the University of Minnesota. The University's ranking dramatically improved from 52nd overall in 2009. The ranking's methodology is available here.

See: http://www.the-scientist.com/fragments/bptw/2010/academia/bptw-academia-top30.jsp