100 Best colleges for Geotechnical Engineering 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 Geotechnical Engineering. A graph of 18.3M citations received by 470K academic papers made by 502 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. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#3 in North America

#8 in the World

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

4. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in North America

#9 in the World

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

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in North America

#10 in the World

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

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in North America

#15 in the World

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

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in North America

#16 in the World

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

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in North America

#17 in the World

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

9. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in North America

#21 in the World

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

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#11 in North America

#24 in the World

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

11. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in North America

#28 in the World

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

12. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Geotechnical Engineering

#13 in North America

#31 in the World

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

13. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Geotechnical Engineering

#14 in North America

#32 in the World

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

14. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Geotechnical Engineering

#17 in North America

#36 in the World

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

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Geotechnical Engineering

#18 in North America

#37 in the World

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

16. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Geotechnical Engineering

#19 in North America

#40 in the World

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

17. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Geotechnical Engineering

#20 in North America

#49 in the World

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

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Geotechnical Engineering

#22 in North America

#53 in the World

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

19. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#23 in North America

#55 in the World

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

20. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Geotechnical Engineering

#24 in North America

#56 in the World

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

21. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Geotechnical Engineering

#25 in North America

#57 in the World

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

22. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#26 in North America

#58 in the World

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

23. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Geotechnical Engineering

#27 in North America

#60 in the World

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

24. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Geotechnical Engineering

#28 in North America

#62 in the World

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

25. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Geotechnical Engineering

#29 in North America

#63 in the World

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

26. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#30 in North America

#64 in the World

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

27. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#31 in North America

#65 in the World

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

28. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Geotechnical Engineering

#32 in North America

#66 in the World

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

29. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#33 in North America

#68 in the World

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

30. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Geotechnical Engineering

#36 in North America

#76 in the World

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

31. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#37 in North America

#78 in the World

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

32. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Geotechnical Engineering

#38 in North America

#87 in the World

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

33. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Geotechnical Engineering

#39 in North America

#88 in the World

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

34. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#40 in North America

#91 in the World

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

35. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#41 in North America

#96 in the World

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

36. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Geotechnical Engineering

#42 in North America

#99 in the World

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

37. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Geotechnical Engineering

#43 in North America

#101 in the World

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

38. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Geotechnical Engineering

#44 in North America

#103 in the World

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

39. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Geotechnical Engineering

#45 in North America

#117 in the World

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

40. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Geotechnical Engineering

#46 in North America

#118 in the World

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

41. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Geotechnical Engineering

#47 in North America

#124 in the World

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

42. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Geotechnical Engineering

#48 in North America

#125 in the World

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

43. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Geotechnical Engineering

#49 in North America

#130 in the World

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

44. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Geotechnical Engineering

#50 in North America

#139 in the World

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

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Geotechnical Engineering

#51 in North America

#140 in the World

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

46. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Geotechnical Engineering

#56 in North America

#164 in the World

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

47. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Geotechnical Engineering

#57 in North America

#165 in the World

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

48. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Geotechnical Engineering

#58 in North America

#167 in the World

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

49. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Geotechnical Engineering

#59 in North America

#168 in the World

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

50. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Geotechnical Engineering

#60 in North America

#178 in the World

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

51. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Geotechnical Engineering

#61 in North America

#180 in the World

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

52. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Geotechnical Engineering

#62 in North America

#183 in the World

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

53. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Geotechnical Engineering

#63 in North America

#185 in the World

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

54. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Geotechnical Engineering

#64 in North America

#187 in the World

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

55. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Geotechnical Engineering

#65 in North America

#191 in the World

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

56. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#66 in North America

#195 in the World

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

57. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Geotechnical Engineering

#67 in North America

#199 in the World

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

58. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#68 in North America

#204 in the World

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

59. Utah State University

Utah | Logan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#69 in North America

#205 in the World

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

60. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#71 in North America

#211 in the World

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

61. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#72 in North America

#214 in the World

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

62. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#73 in North America

#217 in the World

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

63. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#74 in North America

#219 in the World

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

64. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Geotechnical Engineering

#75 in North America

#224 in the World

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

65. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Geotechnical Engineering

#76 in North America

#225 in the World

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

66. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Geotechnical Engineering

#78 in North America

#229 in the World

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

67. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#79 in North America

#235 in the World

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

68. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#82 in North America

#255 in the World

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

69. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Geotechnical Engineering

#83 in North America

#257 in the World

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

70. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#84 in North America

#259 in the World

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

71. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Geotechnical Engineering

#85 in North America

#271 in the World

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

72. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#86 in North America

#273 in the World

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

73. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Geotechnical Engineering

#87 in North America

#274 in the World

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

74. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Geotechnical Engineering

#88 in North America

#277 in the World

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

75. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Geotechnical Engineering

#89 in North America

#281 in the World

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

76. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Geotechnical Engineering

#90 in North America

#286 in the World

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

77. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#91 in North America

#288 in the World

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

78. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#93 in North America

#296 in the World

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

79. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#95 in North America

#307 in the World

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

80. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Geotechnical Engineering

#96 in North America

#313 in the World

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

81. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Geotechnical Engineering

#97 in North America

#315 in the World

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

82. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Geotechnical Engineering

#98 in North America

#319 in the World

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

83. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Geotechnical Engineering

#99 in North America

#324 in the World

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

84. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Geotechnical Engineering

#100 in North America

#327 in the World

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

85. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Geotechnical Engineering

#101 in North America

#339 in the World

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

86. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#102 in North America

#340 in the World

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

87. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#103 in North America

#342 in the World

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

88. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Geotechnical Engineering

#104 in North America

#343 in the World

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

89. University of Idaho

Idaho | Moscow

For Geotechnical Engineering

#105 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

90. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#106 in North America

#358 in the World

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

91. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Geotechnical Engineering

#108 in North America

#366 in the World

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

92. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#109 in North America

#368 in the World

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

93. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#110 in North America

#370 in the World

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

94. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#112 in North America

#376 in the World

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

95. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico | Socorro

For Geotechnical Engineering

#114 in North America

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

96. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Geotechnical Engineering

#115 in North America

#396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

97. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Geotechnical Engineering

#116 in North America

#397 in the World

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

98. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Geotechnical Engineering

#117 in North America

#401 in the World

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

99. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#118 in North America

#403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

100. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Geotechnical Engineering

#119 in North America

#404 in the World

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

The best cities to study Geotechnical Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Austin, Stanford, and College Station.