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Let $p$ be an odd prime, let $N$ be a prime with $N \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$, and let $\zeta_p$ be a primitive $p$-th root of unity. We study the $p$-rank of the class group of $\mathbb{Q}(\zeta_p, N^{1/p})$ using Galois cohomological methods and obtain an exact formula for the $p$-rank in terms of the dimensions of certain Selmer groups. Using our formula, we provide a numerical criterion to establish upper and lower bounds for the $p$-rank, analogous to the numerical criteria provided by F.~Calegari--M.~Emerton and K.~Schaefer--E.~Stubley for the $p$-ranks of the class group of $\mathbb{Q}(N^{1/p})$. In the case $p=3$, we use Redei matrices to provide a numerical criterion to exactly calculate the $3$-rank, and also study the distribution of the $3$-ranks as $N$ varies through primes which are $4,7 \pmod{9}$., Comment: 44 pages