100 Best colleges for Paleontology in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 110M citations received by 3.02M academic papers made by 1,219 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Paleontology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Paleontology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Paleontology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Paleontology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Paleontology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Paleontology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Paleontology

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Paleontology

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Paleontology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Paleontology

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Paleontology

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
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: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

14. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Paleontology

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Paleontology

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
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: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Paleontology

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Paleontology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. University of Texas at Austin

For Paleontology

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

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

20. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Paleontology

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

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

21. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Paleontology

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

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

22. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Paleontology

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

23. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Paleontology

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Paleontology

#27 in North America

#41 in the World

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

25. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Paleontology

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

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

26. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Paleontology

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

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

27. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Paleontology

#30 in North America

#47 in the World

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

28. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Paleontology

#32 in North America

#51 in the World

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

29. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Paleontology

#33 in North America

#52 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Paleontology

#34 in North America

#55 in the World

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

31. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Paleontology

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

32. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Paleontology

#36 in North America

#58 in the World

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

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Paleontology

#37 in North America

#59 in the World

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

34. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Paleontology

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Paleontology

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Paleontology

#40 in North America

#64 in the World

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

37. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Paleontology

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

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

38. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Paleontology

#42 in North America

#67 in the World

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

39. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Paleontology

#43 in North America

#68 in the World

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

40. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Paleontology

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

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

41. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Paleontology

#46 in North America

#76 in the World

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

42. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Paleontology

#47 in North America

#77 in the World

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

43. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Paleontology

#48 in North America

#80 in the World

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

44. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Paleontology

#49 in North America

#81 in the World

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

45. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Paleontology

#50 in North America

#89 in the World

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

46. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Paleontology

#51 in North America

#90 in the World

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

47. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Paleontology

#52 in North America

#91 in the World

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

48. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Paleontology

#53 in North America

#93 in the World

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

49. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Paleontology

#54 in North America

#100 in the World

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

50. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Paleontology

#55 in North America

#102 in the World

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

51. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Paleontology

#58 in North America

#114 in the World

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

52. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Paleontology

#59 in North America

#118 in the World

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

53. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Paleontology

#60 in North America

#120 in the World

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

54. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Paleontology

#61 in North America

#122 in the World

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

55. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Paleontology

#62 in North America

#126 in the World

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

56. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Paleontology

#64 in North America

#130 in the World

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

57. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Paleontology

#65 in North America

#132 in the World

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

58. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Paleontology

#66 in North America

#134 in the World

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

59. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Paleontology

#67 in North America

#139 in the World

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

60. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Paleontology

#68 in North America

#140 in the World

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

61. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Paleontology

#69 in North America

#142 in the World

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

62. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Paleontology

#70 in North America

#144 in the World

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

63. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Paleontology

#71 in North America

#145 in the World

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

64. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Paleontology

#72 in North America

#146 in the World

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

65. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Paleontology

#73 in North America

#149 in the World

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

66. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Paleontology

#74 in North America

#157 in the World

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

67. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Paleontology

#76 in North America

#163 in the World

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

68. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#77 in North America

#164 in the World

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

69. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Paleontology

#78 in North America

#166 in the World

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

70. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Paleontology

#80 in North America

#170 in the World

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

71. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Paleontology

#81 in North America

#171 in the World

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

72. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#83 in North America

#178 in the World

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

73. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Paleontology

#84 in North America

#179 in the World

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

74. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Paleontology

#86 in North America

#181 in the World

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

75. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Paleontology

#87 in North America

#183 in the World

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

76. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Paleontology

#88 in North America

#184 in the World

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

77. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Paleontology

#89 in North America

#186 in the World

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

78. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Paleontology

#91 in North America

#193 in the World

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

79. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Paleontology

#92 in North America

#197 in the World

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

80. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Paleontology

#96 in North America

#211 in the World

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

81. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Paleontology

#97 in North America

#214 in the World

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

82. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Paleontology

#98 in North America

#215 in the World

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

83. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Paleontology

#99 in North America

#216 in the World

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

84. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Paleontology

#100 in North America

#218 in the World

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

85. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Paleontology

#101 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

86. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Paleontology

#102 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

87. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Paleontology

#103 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

88. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Paleontology

#104 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

89. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Paleontology

#105 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Paleontology

#106 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

91. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Paleontology

#107 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

92. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Paleontology

#108 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

93. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Paleontology

#110 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

94. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Paleontology

#111 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

95. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Paleontology

#112 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

96. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Paleontology

#113 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%

97. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Paleontology

#114 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Paleontology

#115 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

99. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Paleontology

#116 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1901

100. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Paleontology

#117 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
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.