100 Best colleges for Astrobiology in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Astrobiology. A graph of 9.13M citations received by 221K academic papers made by 330 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Astrobiology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

2. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Astrobiology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Astrobiology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Astrobiology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

5. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Astrobiology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Astrobiology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Astrobiology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

8. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Astrobiology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

9. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Astrobiology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

10. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Astrobiology

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

11. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Astrobiology

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Astrobiology

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

13. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Astrobiology

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

14. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Astrobiology

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

15. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Astrobiology

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

16. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Astrobiology

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

17. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Astrobiology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

18. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Astrobiology

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

19. University of Texas at Austin

For Astrobiology

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

20. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Astrobiology

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

21. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Astrobiology

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

22. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Astrobiology

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

23. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Astrobiology

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

24. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Astrobiology

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

25. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Astrobiology

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

26. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Astrobiology

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

27. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Astrobiology

#28 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

28. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Astrobiology

#29 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

29. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Astrobiology

#30 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Astrobiology

#31 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

31. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Astrobiology

#32 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

32. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Astrobiology

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Astrobiology

#34 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

34. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Astrobiology

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

35. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Astrobiology

#36 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

36. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Astrobiology

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

37. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Astrobiology

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

38. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Astrobiology

#40 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

39. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Astrobiology

#41 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

40. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Astrobiology

#43 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

41. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Astrobiology

#44 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

42. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Astrobiology

#45 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

43. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Astrobiology

#46 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

44. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Astrobiology

#48 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

45. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Astrobiology

#49 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

46. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Astrobiology

#50 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

47. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Astrobiology

#52 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

48. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Astrobiology

#53 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

49. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Astrobiology

#54 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

50. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Astrobiology

#55 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

51. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Astrobiology

#57 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

52. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Astrobiology

#58 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

53. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Astrobiology

#59 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

54. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Astrobiology

#60 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

55. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Astrobiology

#61 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

56. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Astrobiology

#62 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

57. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Astrobiology

#63 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

58. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Astrobiology

#64 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

59. Catholic University of America

District of Columbia | Washington

For Astrobiology

#65 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $32,705
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $42,657

60. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Astrobiology

#66 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

61. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Astrobiology

#67 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

62. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Astrobiology

#69 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

63. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Astrobiology

#70 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

64. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Astrobiology

#71 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

65. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Astrobiology

#73 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

66. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Astrobiology

#74 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

67. University of Arkansas

Arkansas | Fayetteville

For Astrobiology

#75 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 77%

68. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Astrobiology

#76 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

69. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Astrobiology

#77 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

70. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Astrobiology

#78 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

71. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Astrobiology

#79 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

72. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Astrobiology

#80 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

73. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Astrobiology

#82 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

74. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Astrobiology

#83 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

75. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Astrobiology

#84 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

76. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Astrobiology

#85 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

77. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Astrobiology

#86 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

78. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Astrobiology

#87 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

79. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Astrobiology

#88 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Astrobiology

#89 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

81. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Astrobiology

#90 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

82. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Astrobiology

#91 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

83. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Astrobiology

#92 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

84. Berkeley College - Woodland Park

New Jersey | Woodland Park

For Astrobiology

#93 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $27,815
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $16,909

85. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Astrobiology

#95 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

86. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Astrobiology

#97 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

87. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Astrobiology

#98 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Astrobiology

#99 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

89. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Astrobiology

#100 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

90. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Astrobiology

#101 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Astrobiology

#102 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

92. Northern Arizona University

Arizona | Flagstaff

For Astrobiology

#103 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,085
Enrollment: 28,467

93. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Astrobiology

#104 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

94. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Astrobiology

#105 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

95. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Astrobiology

#106 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

96. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Astrobiology

#107 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

97. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Astrobiology

#108 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $36,948

98. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Astrobiology

#109 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Astrobiology

#110 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

100. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Astrobiology

#111 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

The best cities to study Astrobiology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Pasadena, Tucson, Berkeley, and Cambridge.