100 Best colleges for Paleontology 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 Paleontology. A graph of 150M citations received by 3.41M academic papers made by 1,266 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. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Paleontology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Paleontology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Paleontology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Paleontology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Paleontology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Paleontology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Paleontology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Paleontology

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Paleontology

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Paleontology

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

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

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Paleontology

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Paleontology

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Paleontology

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Paleontology

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Paleontology

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Paleontology

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Paleontology

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. University of Texas at Austin

For Paleontology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Paleontology

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Paleontology

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

21. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Paleontology

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

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

22. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Paleontology

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

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

23. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Paleontology

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Paleontology

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

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

25. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Paleontology

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

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

26. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Paleontology

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

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

27. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Paleontology

#30 in North America

#43 in the World

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

28. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Paleontology

#31 in North America

#49 in the World

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

29. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Paleontology

#33 in North America

#52 in the World

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

30. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Paleontology

#34 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

31. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Paleontology

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

32. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Paleontology

#36 in North America

#57 in the World

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

33. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Paleontology

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

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

34. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Paleontology

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Paleontology

#39 in North America

#62 in the World

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

36. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Paleontology

#40 in North America

#63 in the World

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

37. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Paleontology

#41 in North America

#65 in the World

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

38. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Paleontology

#42 in North America

#70 in the World

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

39. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Paleontology

#43 in North America

#71 in the World

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

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Paleontology

#44 in North America

#72 in the World

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

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Paleontology

#45 in North America

#73 in the World

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

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Paleontology

#47 in North America

#79 in the World

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

43. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Paleontology

#48 in North America

#80 in the World

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

44. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Paleontology

#49 in North America

#82 in the World

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

45. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Paleontology

#50 in North America

#84 in the World

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

46. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Paleontology

#51 in North America

#93 in the World

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

47. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Paleontology

#52 in North America

#96 in the World

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

48. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Paleontology

#53 in North America

#97 in the World

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

49. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Paleontology

#55 in North America

#107 in the World

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

50. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Paleontology

#56 in North America

#108 in the World

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

51. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Paleontology

#57 in North America

#110 in the World

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

52. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Paleontology

#59 in North America

#116 in the World

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

53. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Paleontology

#60 in North America

#118 in the World

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

54. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Paleontology

#61 in North America

#122 in the World

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

55. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Paleontology

#62 in North America

#123 in the World

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

56. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Paleontology

#64 in North America

#128 in the World

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

57. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Paleontology

#65 in North America

#132 in the World

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

58. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Paleontology

#66 in North America

#137 in the World

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

59. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Paleontology

#67 in North America

#139 in the World

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

60. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Paleontology

#68 in North America

#148 in the World

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

61. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Paleontology

#69 in North America

#149 in the World

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

62. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Paleontology

#70 in North America

#150 in the World

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

63. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Paleontology

#71 in North America

#152 in the World

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

64. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Paleontology

#73 in North America

#161 in the World

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

65. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Paleontology

#74 in North America

#162 in the World

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

66. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Paleontology

#75 in North America

#163 in the World

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

67. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Paleontology

#76 in North America

#167 in the World

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

68. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Paleontology

#77 in North America

#170 in the World

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

69. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Paleontology

#79 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

70. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#81 in North America

#175 in the World

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

71. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Paleontology

#82 in North America

#178 in the World

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

72. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#83 in North America

#180 in the World

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

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Paleontology

#85 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Paleontology

#86 in North America

#186 in the World

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

75. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Paleontology

#89 in North America

#193 in the World

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

76. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Paleontology

#91 in North America

#199 in the World

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

77. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Paleontology

#92 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

78. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Paleontology

#93 in North America

#206 in the World

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

79. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Paleontology

#94 in North America

#213 in the World

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

80. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Paleontology

#95 in North America

#215 in the World

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

81. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Paleontology

#97 in North America

#217 in the World

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

82. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Paleontology

#98 in North America

#222 in the World

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

83. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Paleontology

#99 in North America

#229 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

84. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Paleontology

#100 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

85. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Paleontology

#101 in North America

#242 in the World

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

86. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Paleontology

#102 in North America

#244 in the World

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

87. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Paleontology

#103 in North America

#246 in the World

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

88. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Paleontology

#104 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

89. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Paleontology

#105 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

90. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Paleontology

#106 in North America

#262 in the World

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

91. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#107 in North America

#265 in the World

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

92. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Paleontology

#108 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Paleontology

#110 in North America

#271 in the World

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

94. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Paleontology

#111 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

95. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Paleontology

#112 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

96. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Paleontology

#113 in North America

#290 in the World

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

97. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Paleontology

#114 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

98. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Paleontology

#115 in North America

#303 in the World

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

99. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#116 in North America

#306 in the World

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

100. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Paleontology

#117 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

The best cities to study Paleontology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Stanford, Seattle, and Berkeley.