100 Best colleges for Remote Sensing 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 Remote Sensing. A graph of 9.36M citations received by 259K academic papers made by 353 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: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

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: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

3. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Remote Sensing

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Remote Sensing

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Remote Sensing

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Remote Sensing

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Remote Sensing

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Remote Sensing

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Remote Sensing

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

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

10. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Remote Sensing

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

11. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Remote Sensing

#11 in North America

#18 in the World

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

12. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Remote Sensing

#12 in North America

#19 in the World

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

13. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Remote Sensing

#13 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Remote Sensing

#14 in North America

#24 in the World

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

15. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Remote Sensing

#15 in North America

#27 in the World

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

16. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Remote Sensing

#16 in North America

#32 in the World

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

17. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Remote Sensing

#17 in North America

#33 in the World

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

18. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Remote Sensing

#18 in North America

#35 in the World

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

19. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Remote Sensing

#19 in North America

#36 in the World

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

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: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

21. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Remote Sensing

#21 in North America

#39 in the World

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

22. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Remote Sensing

#22 in North America

#41 in the World

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

23. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Remote Sensing

#23 in North America

#42 in the World

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

24. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Remote Sensing

#24 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

25. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Remote Sensing

#25 in North America

#45 in the World

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

26. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Remote Sensing

#26 in North America

#46 in the World

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

27. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Remote Sensing

#28 in North America

#50 in the World

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

28. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Remote Sensing

#29 in North America

#51 in the World

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

29. University of Maryland - Baltimore County

Maryland | Baltimore

For Remote Sensing

#30 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Remote Sensing

#32 in North America

#57 in the World

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

31. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Remote Sensing

#33 in North America

#60 in the World

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

32. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Remote Sensing

#35 in North America

#63 in the World

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

33. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Remote Sensing

#36 in North America

#64 in the World

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

34. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Remote Sensing

#37 in North America

#77 in the World

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

35. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Remote Sensing

#38 in North America

#78 in the World

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

36. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Remote Sensing

#39 in North America

#81 in the World

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

37. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Remote Sensing

#41 in North America

#84 in the World

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

38. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Remote Sensing

#42 in North America

#89 in the World

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

39. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Remote Sensing

#43 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

40. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Remote Sensing

#44 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

41. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Remote Sensing

#45 in North America

#99 in the World

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

42. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Remote Sensing

#46 in North America

#100 in the World

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

43. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Remote Sensing

#47 in North America

#101 in the World

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

44. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Remote Sensing

#48 in North America

#104 in the World

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

45. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Remote Sensing

#50 in North America

#114 in the World

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

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Remote Sensing

#51 in North America

#117 in the World

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

47. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Remote Sensing

#52 in North America

#126 in the World

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

48. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Remote Sensing

#53 in North America

#127 in the World

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

49. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Remote Sensing

#55 in North America

#135 in the World

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

50. Rochester Institute of Technology

New York State | Rochester

For Remote Sensing

#56 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,753

51. Utah State University

Utah | Logan

For Remote Sensing

#57 in North America

#142 in the World

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

52. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Remote Sensing

#58 in North America

#155 in the World

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

53. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Remote Sensing

#59 in North America

#164 in the World

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

54. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Remote Sensing

#60 in North America

#165 in the World

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

55. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Remote Sensing

#61 in North America

#168 in the World

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

56. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Remote Sensing

#62 in North America

#170 in the World

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

57. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Remote Sensing

#63 in North America

#171 in the World

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

58. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Remote Sensing

#66 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

59. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Remote Sensing

#67 in North America

#179 in the World

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

60. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Remote Sensing

#68 in North America

#182 in the World

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

61. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Remote Sensing

#70 in North America

#184 in the World

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

62. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Remote Sensing

#71 in North America

#187 in the World

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

63. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Remote Sensing

#72 in North America

#208 in the World

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

64. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Remote Sensing

#73 in North America

#209 in the World

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

65. South Dakota State University

South Dakota | Brookings

For Remote Sensing

#74 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

66. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Remote Sensing

#75 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1318
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

67. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Remote Sensing

#76 in North America

#221 in the World

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

68. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Remote Sensing

#77 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

69. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Remote Sensing

#78 in North America

#225 in the World

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

70. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Remote Sensing

#79 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $9,208

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Remote Sensing

#80 in North America

#227 in the World

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

72. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Remote Sensing

#81 in North America

#228 in the World

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

73. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Remote Sensing

#82 in North America

#230 in the World

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

74. University of Idaho

Idaho | Moscow

For Remote Sensing

#83 in North America

#231 in the World

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

75. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Remote Sensing

#84 in North America

#232 in the World

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

76. University of Maine

Maine | Orono

For Remote Sensing

#85 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,376
Enrollment: 11,760

77. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Remote Sensing

#87 in North America

#244 in the World

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

78. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Remote Sensing

#88 in North America

#247 in the World

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

79. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Remote Sensing

#90 in North America

#250 in the World

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

80. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Remote Sensing

#94 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

81. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Remote Sensing

#95 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

82. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Remote Sensing

#96 in North America

#270 in the World

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

83. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Remote Sensing

#97 in North America

#277 in the World

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

84. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Remote Sensing

#99 in North America

#280 in the World

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

85. University of South Florida - St Petersburg

Florida | St. Petersburg

For Remote Sensing

#100 in North America

#281 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

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

87. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Remote Sensing

#102 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,600
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

88. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Remote Sensing

#103 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

89. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Remote Sensing

#104 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

90. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Remote Sensing

#105 in North America

#295 in the World

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

91. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Remote Sensing

#108 in North America

#312 in the World

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

92. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Remote Sensing

#109 in North America

#313 in the World

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

93. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Remote Sensing

#110 in North America

#314 in the World

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

94. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Remote Sensing

#113 in North America

#323 in the World

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

95. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Remote Sensing

#114 in North America

#327 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

#328 in the World

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

97. New Mexico State University

New Mexico | Las Cruces

For Remote Sensing

#116 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 998
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

98. University of Nevada - Reno

Nevada | Reno

For Remote Sensing

#117 in North America

#342 in the World

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

99. Michigan Technological University

Michigan | Houghton

For Remote Sensing

#119 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

100. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Remote Sensing

#120 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

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.