Best Universities for Geotechnical Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Geotechnical Engineering. A graph of 21.1M citations received by 553K academic papers made by 556 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. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in the United States

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

4. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in the United States

#15 in the World

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

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

8. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

9. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in the United States

#21 in the World

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

10. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Canada

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

12. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Geotechnical Engineering

#11 in the United States

#28 in the World

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

13. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in the United States

#31 in the World

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

14. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#13 in the United States

#32 in the World

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

15. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in Canada

#33 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

16. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in Canada

#35 in the World

Founded: 1957

17. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Geotechnical Engineering

#14 in the United States

#36 in the World

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

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Geotechnical Engineering

#15 in the United States

#37 in the World

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

19. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Geotechnical Engineering

#16 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

20. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Geotechnical Engineering

#17 in the United States

#49 in the World

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

21. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Canada

#51 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

22. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Geotechnical Engineering

#18 in the United States

#53 in the World

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

23. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Geotechnical Engineering

#19 in the United States

#55 in the World

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

24. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#20 in the United States

#56 in the World

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

25. Colorado School of Mines

United States | Colorado

For Geotechnical Engineering

#21 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 98%

26. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Geotechnical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#58 in the World

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

27. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#23 in the United States

#60 in the World

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

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Geotechnical Engineering

#24 in the United States

#62 in the World

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

29. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Geotechnical Engineering

#25 in the United States

#63 in the World

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

30. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Geotechnical Engineering

#26 in the United States

#64 in the World

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

31. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Geotechnical Engineering

#27 in the United States

#65 in the World

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

32. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#28 in the United States

#66 in the World

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

33. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Geotechnical Engineering

#29 in the United States

#68 in the World

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

34. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in Canada

#71 in the World

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

35. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in Canada

#74 in the World

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

36. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#30 in the United States

#76 in the World

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

37. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Geotechnical Engineering

#31 in the United States

#78 in the World

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

38. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#32 in the United States

#87 in the World

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

39. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#33 in the United States

#88 in the World

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

40. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Geotechnical Engineering

#34 in the United States

#91 in the World

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

41. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#35 in the United States

#96 in the World

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

42. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Geotechnical Engineering

#36 in the United States

#99 in the World

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

43. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#101 in the World

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

44. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Geotechnical Engineering

#38 in the United States

#103 in the World

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

45. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Geotechnical Engineering

#39 in the United States

#117 in the World

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

46. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#118 in the World

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

47. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#41 in the United States

#124 in the World

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

48. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Geotechnical Engineering

#42 in the United States

#125 in the World

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

49. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Geotechnical Engineering

#43 in the United States

#130 in the World

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

50. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#44 in the United States

#139 in the World

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

51. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Geotechnical Engineering

#45 in the United States

#140 in the World

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

52. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in Canada

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

53. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in Canada

#159 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

54. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in Canada

#161 in the World

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

55. University of Saskatchewan

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in Canada

#163 in the World

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

56. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#46 in the United States

#164 in the World

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

57. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Geotechnical Engineering

#47 in the United States

#165 in the World

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

58. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Geotechnical Engineering

#48 in the United States

#167 in the World

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

59. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#49 in the United States

#168 in the World

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

60. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#50 in the United States

#178 in the World

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

61. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Geotechnical Engineering

#51 in the United States

#180 in the World

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

62. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Geotechnical Engineering

#52 in the United States

#183 in the World

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

63. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#53 in the United States

#185 in the World

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

64. Missouri University of Science and Technology

United States | Missouri

For Geotechnical Engineering

#54 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

65. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Geotechnical Engineering

#55 in the United States

#191 in the World

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

66. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Geotechnical Engineering

#56 in the United States

#195 in the World

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

67. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#57 in the United States

#199 in the World

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

68. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Geotechnical Engineering

#58 in the United States

#204 in the World

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

69. Utah State University

United States | Utah

For Geotechnical Engineering

#59 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 92%

70. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#11 in Canada

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

71. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#60 in the United States

#211 in the World

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

72. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#61 in the United States

#214 in the World

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

73. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Geotechnical Engineering

#62 in the United States

#217 in the World

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

74. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#63 in the United States

#219 in the World

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

75. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Geotechnical Engineering

#64 in the United States

#224 in the World

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

76. University of Wyoming

United States | Wyoming

For Geotechnical Engineering

#65 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,212
Enrollment: 10,813

77. University of Guelph

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in Canada

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

78. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Geotechnical Engineering

#66 in the United States

#229 in the World

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

79. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Geotechnical Engineering

#67 in the United States

#235 in the World

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

80. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Geotechnical Engineering

#13 in Canada

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

81. Polytechnic School of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#14 in Canada

#248 in the World

Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1873

82. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Geotechnical Engineering

#68 in the United States

#255 in the World

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

83. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Geotechnical Engineering

#69 in the United States

#257 in the World

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

84. Kansas State University

United States | Kansas State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#70 in the United States

#259 in the World

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

85. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Geotechnical Engineering

#71 in the United States

#271 in the World

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

86. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Geotechnical Engineering

#72 in the United States

#273 in the World

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

87. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Geotechnical Engineering

#73 in the United States

#274 in the World

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

88. University of Alaska Fairbanks

United States | Alaska

For Geotechnical Engineering

#74 in the United States

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $10,424
Enrollment: 6,893

89. University of Nevada - Reno

United States | Nevada

For Geotechnical Engineering

#75 in the United States

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

90. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Geotechnical Engineering

#76 in the United States

#286 in the World

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

91. Drexel University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Geotechnical Engineering

#77 in the United States

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

92. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#15 in Canada

#292 in the World

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

93. University of New Hampshire

United States | New Hampshire

For Geotechnical Engineering

#78 in the United States

#296 in the World

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

94. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Geotechnical Engineering

#16 in Canada

#302 in the World

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

95. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Geotechnical Engineering

#79 in the United States

#307 in the World

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

96. West Virginia University

United States | West Virginia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#80 in the United States

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

97. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Geotechnical Engineering

#81 in the United States

#315 in the World

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

98. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#82 in the United States

#319 in the World

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

99. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#83 in the United States

#324 in the World

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

100. Oklahoma State University

United States | Oklahoma State

For Geotechnical Engineering

#84 in the United States

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Aerospace Engineering864

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Civil Engineering627

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Mechanical Engineering1111

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Optical Engineering1067

Petroleum Engineering258

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Systems Engineering613

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321