Best Universities for Paleontology in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Paleontology. A graph of 124M citations received by 3.46M academic papers made by 1,296 universities in North America 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. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Paleontology

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Stanford University

United States | California

For Paleontology

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

3. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Paleontology

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Paleontology

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

5. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Paleontology

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Paleontology

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

7. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#1 in Canada

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Paleontology

#7 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

9. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Paleontology

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Paleontology

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Paleontology

#10 in the United States

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Paleontology

#11 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

13. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Paleontology

#2 in Canada

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Paleontology

#12 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Paleontology

#13 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

16. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Paleontology

#14 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

17. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Paleontology

#15 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

18. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Paleontology

#16 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Paleontology

#17 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

20. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Paleontology

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

21. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Paleontology

#19 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

22. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Paleontology

#20 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

23. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Paleontology

#21 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

24. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Paleontology

#22 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

25. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Paleontology

#23 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

26. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Paleontology

#3 in Canada

#35 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

27. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Paleontology

#24 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

28. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Paleontology

#25 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

29. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Paleontology

#26 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

30. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Paleontology

#27 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Paleontology

#4 in Canada

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

32. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Paleontology

#28 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

33. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Paleontology

#29 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Paleontology

#30 in the United States

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

35. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Paleontology

#31 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

36. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Paleontology

#32 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

37. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Paleontology

#33 in the United States

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

38. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Paleontology

#34 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

39. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Paleontology

#35 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

40. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Paleontology

#36 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

41. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Paleontology

#37 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

42. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Paleontology

#38 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

43. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Paleontology

#39 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

44. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Paleontology

#40 in the United States

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

45. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Paleontology

#5 in Canada

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

46. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Paleontology

#41 in the United States

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

47. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Paleontology

#42 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

48. New York University

United States | New York State

For Paleontology

#43 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

49. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Paleontology

#44 in the United States

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

50. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Paleontology

#45 in the United States

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

51. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Paleontology

#46 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

52. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Paleontology

#47 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Paleontology

#48 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

54. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Paleontology

#49 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

55. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Paleontology

#50 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

56. University of Guelph

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#6 in Canada

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

57. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#7 in Canada

#113 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

58. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Paleontology

#51 in the United States

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

59. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Paleontology

#52 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

60. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Paleontology

#53 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

61. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Paleontology

#54 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

62. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Paleontology

#55 in the United States

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

63. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#8 in Canada

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

64. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Paleontology

#56 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

65. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Paleontology

#57 in the United States

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

66. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Paleontology

#58 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

67. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Paleontology

#59 in the United States

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

68. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Paleontology

#60 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

69. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Paleontology

#61 in the United States

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

70. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Paleontology

#62 in the United States

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

71. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Paleontology

#63 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

72. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Paleontology

#64 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

73. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Paleontology

#65 in the United States

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

74. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Paleontology

#66 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

75. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#9 in Canada

#162 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

76. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Paleontology

#67 in the United States

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

77. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Paleontology

#68 in the United States

#164 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

78. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Paleontology

#69 in the United States

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

79. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Paleontology

#10 in Canada

#169 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

80. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Paleontology

#70 in the United States

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

81. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Paleontology

#71 in the United States

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

82. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#11 in Canada

#177 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

83. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Paleontology

#72 in the United States

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

84. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Paleontology

#73 in the United States

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

85. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Paleontology

#12 in Canada

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

86. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Paleontology

#74 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

87. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Paleontology

#75 in the United States

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Paleontology

#76 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

89. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Paleontology

#77 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

90. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Paleontology

#13 in Canada

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

91. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Paleontology

#78 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

92. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Paleontology

#79 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

93. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Paleontology

#14 in Canada

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

94. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Paleontology

#15 in Canada

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

95. University of Saskatchewan

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Paleontology

#16 in Canada

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,953
Founded: 1907

96. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Paleontology

#80 in the United States

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

97. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Paleontology

#81 in the United States

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

98. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Paleontology

#82 in the United States

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

99. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Paleontology

#83 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

100. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Paleontology

#84 in the United States

#218 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943