100 Best colleges for Remote Sensing 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 Remote Sensing. A graph of 9.87M citations received by 265K academic papers made by 356 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. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Remote Sensing

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

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

2. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Remote Sensing

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Remote Sensing

#3 in North America

#5 in the World

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

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Remote Sensing

#4 in North America

#6 in the World

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

5. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Remote Sensing

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Remote Sensing

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Remote Sensing

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Remote Sensing

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Remote Sensing

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Remote Sensing

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Remote Sensing

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

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

12. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Remote Sensing

#12 in North America

#19 in the World

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

13. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Remote Sensing

#13 in North America

#22 in the World

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

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Remote Sensing

#14 in North America

#28 in the World

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

15. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Remote Sensing

#15 in North America

#31 in the World

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

16. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Remote Sensing

#16 in North America

#33 in the World

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

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Remote Sensing

#17 in North America

#34 in the World

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

18. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Remote Sensing

#18 in North America

#35 in the World

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

19. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Remote Sensing

#19 in North America

#36 in the World

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

20. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Remote Sensing

#20 in North America

#38 in the World

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

21. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Remote Sensing

#21 in North America

#40 in the World

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

22. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Remote Sensing

#22 in North America

#42 in the World

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

23. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Remote Sensing

#23 in North America

#45 in the World

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

24. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Remote Sensing

#24 in North America

#47 in the World

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

25. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Remote Sensing

#25 in North America

#49 in the World

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

26. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Remote Sensing

#26 in North America

#50 in the World

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

27. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Remote Sensing

#28 in North America

#53 in the World

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

28. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Remote Sensing

#29 in North America

#54 in the World

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

29. University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Maryland | Baltimore

For Remote Sensing

#30 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 93%

30. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Remote Sensing

#32 in North America

#59 in the World

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

31. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Remote Sensing

#33 in North America

#61 in the World

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

32. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Remote Sensing

#35 in North America

#65 in the World

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

33. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Remote Sensing

#36 in North America

#67 in the World

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

34. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Remote Sensing

#37 in North America

#79 in the World

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

35. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Remote Sensing

#38 in North America

#80 in the World

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

36. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Remote Sensing

#40 in North America

#86 in the World

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

37. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Remote Sensing

#41 in North America

#90 in the World

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

38. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Remote Sensing

#42 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

39. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Remote Sensing

#43 in North America

#93 in the World

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

40. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Remote Sensing

#44 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

41. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Remote Sensing

#45 in North America

#104 in the World

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

42. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Remote Sensing

#46 in North America

#105 in the World

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

43. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Remote Sensing

#47 in North America

#107 in the World

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

44. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Remote Sensing

#48 in North America

#108 in the World

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

45. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Remote Sensing

#50 in North America

#117 in the World

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

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Remote Sensing

#51 in North America

#121 in the World

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

47. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Remote Sensing

#52 in North America

#126 in the World

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

48. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Remote Sensing

#53 in North America

#131 in the World

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

49. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Remote Sensing

#55 in North America

#139 in the World

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

50. Rochester Institute of Technology

New York State | Rochester

For Remote Sensing

#56 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,534

51. Utah State University

Utah | Logan

For Remote Sensing

#57 in North America

#145 in the World

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

52. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Remote Sensing

#58 in North America

#158 in the World

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

53. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Remote Sensing

#59 in North America

#167 in the World

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

54. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Remote Sensing

#60 in North America

#168 in the World

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

55. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Remote Sensing

#61 in North America

#170 in the World

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

56. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Remote Sensing

#62 in North America

#172 in the World

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

57. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Remote Sensing

#65 in North America

#179 in the World

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

58. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Remote Sensing

#66 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

59. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Remote Sensing

#67 in North America

#184 in the World

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

60. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Remote Sensing

#68 in North America

#188 in the World

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

61. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Remote Sensing

#69 in North America

#189 in the World

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

62. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Remote Sensing

#71 in North America

#196 in the World

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

63. South Dakota State University

South Dakota | Brookings

For Remote Sensing

#72 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

64. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Remote Sensing

#73 in North America

#218 in the World

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

65. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Remote Sensing

#74 in North America

#219 in the World

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

66. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Remote Sensing

#75 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

67. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Remote Sensing

#76 in North America

#224 in the World

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

68. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Remote Sensing

#77 in North America

#225 in the World

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

69. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Remote Sensing

#78 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,799

70. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Remote Sensing

#79 in North America

#230 in the World

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

71. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Remote Sensing

#80 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

72. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Remote Sensing

#81 in North America

#233 in the World

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

73. University of Idaho

Idaho | Moscow

For Remote Sensing

#82 in North America

#234 in the World

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

74. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Remote Sensing

#83 in North America

#235 in the World

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

75. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Remote Sensing

#84 in North America

#238 in the World

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

76. University of Maine

Maine | Orono

For Remote Sensing

#85 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,909
Enrollment: 12,029

77. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Remote Sensing

#87 in North America

#248 in the World

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

78. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Remote Sensing

#89 in North America

#254 in the World

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

79. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Remote Sensing

#91 in North America

#261 in the World

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

80. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Remote Sensing

#94 in North America

#270 in the World

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

81. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Remote Sensing

#95 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

82. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Remote Sensing

#96 in North America

#279 in the World

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

83. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Remote Sensing

#97 in North America

#283 in the World

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

84. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Remote Sensing

#98 in North America

#284 in the World

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

85. University of South Florida - St Petersburg

Florida | St. Petersburg

For Remote Sensing

#100 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $9,152
Enrollment: 4,500

86. University of Texas at Dallas

Texas | Richardson

For Remote Sensing

#101 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

87. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Remote Sensing

#102 in North America

#295 in the World

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

88. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Remote Sensing

#103 in North America

#299 in the World

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

89. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Remote Sensing

#104 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

90. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Remote Sensing

#105 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,441
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

91. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Remote Sensing

#108 in North America

#318 in the World

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

92. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Remote Sensing

#110 in North America

#321 in the World

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

93. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Remote Sensing

#112 in North America

#323 in the World

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

94. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Remote Sensing

#113 in North America

#326 in the World

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

95. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Remote Sensing

#114 in North America

#329 in the World

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

96. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Remote Sensing

#115 in North America

#332 in the World

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

97. New Mexico State University

New Mexico | Las Cruces

For Remote Sensing

#116 in North America

#343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 96%

98. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Remote Sensing

#117 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

99. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Remote Sensing

#118 in North America

#346 in the World

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

100. Michigan Technological University

Michigan | Houghton

For Remote Sensing

#119 in North America

#348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

The best cities to study Remote Sensing in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Pasadena, College Park, Boulder, and Cambridge.