Academic Influence is a U.S. based organization that providescollege rankings. It ranks colleges and universities based on measurable academic impact, rather than institutional prestige. The platform offers adata-driven approach to educationalevaluation.[citation needed]
Academic Influence uses a ranking system called the 'Influence Ranking engine' to evaluate colleges and universities.[3] The system includes key metrics such as "Concentrated Influence," which highlights the density of a university's academic impact, and the "Desirability Index," which assesses how desirable a school is by comparing which schools students choose when accepted into multiple universities.[4] In addition to rankings, it offers tools designed to assist students in selecting majors and evaluatingfinancial aid options.[5][6]
Academic Influence has introduced rankings in various areas, including:
Campus Safety:Purdue University's West Lafayette campus was ranked as the safest in America. This ranking was based on factors such as compliance with theClery Act, security features, crime statistics, and mental health services.[7][8][9][10]
Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs): The platform ranked what it considered the top 30 HBCUs from 2000 to 2020, with institutions likeHoward University andSpelman College being recognized for their influence.[11][12]
Technological Advancement: Academic Influence recognized institutions likeMIT,Stanford, andCarnegie Mellon as among "America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges".[13]
Liberal Arts and Online Programs:Swarthmore College was ranked as the bestliberal arts college in the U.S. due to the organization's "Concentrated Influence" metric.[citation needed] The platform also ranked top online degree programs in fields like cybersecurity.[14]
Academic Stewardship: The platform introduced a ranking for academicstewardship, evaluating how colleges use their resources to achieve academic impact. Smaller institutions, including several HBCUs, ranked highly for their effective use of limited resources, withFisk University leading the list.[15][16]
A noted limitation of Academic Influence's methodology is its reliance onmachine learning, which can occasionally produceoutlier outputs or anomalies. This necessitates careful monitoring of the platform's database to identify and address ML/AI incongruences.[17] Additionally, the methodology emphasizes academic impact, which may not always correspond directly with the demands of the job market. While the platform measures influence within academic circles, this does not necessarily translate to professional success or career outcomes for graduates.[18][19] However, there is supporting evidence that indicates the research activity of professors positively correlates with teaching effectiveness and mentorship opportunities.[20]
