100 Best colleges for Geotechnical Engineering in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 17.3M citations received by 462K academic papers made by 498 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: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

2. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Geotechnical Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

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: $17,998

4. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#5 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

6. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Geotechnical Engineering

#6 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Geotechnical Engineering

#7 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

8. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

9. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#9 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

11. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Geotechnical Engineering

#13 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

13. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Geotechnical Engineering

#14 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

14. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Geotechnical Engineering

#17 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

15. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Geotechnical Engineering

#18 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Geotechnical Engineering

#19 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

17. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Geotechnical Engineering

#20 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Geotechnical Engineering

#21 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

19. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#23 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

20. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Geotechnical Engineering

#24 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

21. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#25 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

22. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Geotechnical Engineering

#26 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

23. Colorado School of Mines

Colorado | Golden

For Geotechnical Engineering

#27 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 97%

24. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Geotechnical Engineering

#28 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

25. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#29 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Geotechnical Engineering

#30 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

27. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#31 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

28. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Geotechnical Engineering

#32 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

29. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#33 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

30. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#36 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

31. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Geotechnical Engineering

#37 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

32. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Geotechnical Engineering

#38 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

33. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Geotechnical Engineering

#39 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

34. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#40 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

35. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#41 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

36. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Geotechnical Engineering

#42 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

37. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Geotechnical Engineering

#43 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

38. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Geotechnical Engineering

#44 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

39. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Geotechnical Engineering

#45 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

40. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Geotechnical Engineering

#46 in North America

#116 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

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

42. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Geotechnical Engineering

#48 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

43. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Geotechnical Engineering

#49 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Geotechnical Engineering

#50 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

45. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Geotechnical Engineering

#51 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

46. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Geotechnical Engineering

#53 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

47. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Geotechnical Engineering

#54 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

48. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Geotechnical Engineering

#58 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

49. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Geotechnical Engineering

#59 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

50. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Geotechnical Engineering

#60 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

51. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Geotechnical Engineering

#61 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

52. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Geotechnical Engineering

#62 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

53. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Geotechnical Engineering

#63 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

54. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Geotechnical Engineering

#64 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

55. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Geotechnical Engineering

#65 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

56. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#66 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

57. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Geotechnical Engineering

#67 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

58. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#68 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

59. Utah State University

Utah | Logan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#69 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

60. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#70 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

61. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#72 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

62. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#73 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

63. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Geotechnical Engineering

#74 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

64. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Geotechnical Engineering

#75 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

65. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Geotechnical Engineering

#77 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,761
Enrollment: 10,913

66. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Geotechnical Engineering

#78 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

67. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#79 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

68. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#82 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

69. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Geotechnical Engineering

#83 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

70. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Geotechnical Engineering

#84 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

71. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Geotechnical Engineering

#85 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

72. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Geotechnical Engineering

#86 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#87 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Geotechnical Engineering

#88 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,102
Enrollment: 6,640

75. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Geotechnical Engineering

#89 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

76. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Geotechnical Engineering

#90 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $6,658
Enrollment: 21,778

77. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#91 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 96%

78. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Geotechnical Engineering

#92 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

79. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Geotechnical Engineering

#95 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

80. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Geotechnical Engineering

#96 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

81. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Geotechnical Engineering

#97 in North America

#305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Geotechnical Engineering

#98 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

83. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Geotechnical Engineering

#99 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

84. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Geotechnical Engineering

#100 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

85. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Geotechnical Engineering

#101 in North America

#327 in the World

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

86. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Geotechnical Engineering

#102 in North America

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

87. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Geotechnical Engineering

#103 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

88. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Geotechnical Engineering

#104 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

89. University of Idaho

Idaho | Moscow

For Geotechnical Engineering

#105 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#106 in North America

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

91. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#107 in North America

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

92. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Geotechnical Engineering

#108 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

93. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#110 in North America

#367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

94. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Geotechnical Engineering

#111 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

95. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Geotechnical Engineering

#113 in North America

#379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,289

96. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

New Mexico | Socorro

For Geotechnical Engineering

#114 in North America

#381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 99%

97. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Geotechnical Engineering

#116 in North America

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Geotechnical Engineering

#117 in North America

#394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

99. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Geotechnical Engineering

#118 in North America

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 79%

100. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Geotechnical Engineering

#119 in North America

#400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

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.