Best Universities for Ecology in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Ecology. A graph of 185M citations received by 4.4M academic papers made by 1,387 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 Ecology

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

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

2. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

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

3. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Ecology

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Ecology

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

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

7. Stanford University

United States | California

For Ecology

#7 in the United States

#7 in the World

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

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Ecology

#8 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Ecology

#9 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

10. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Ecology

#1 in Canada

#10 in the World

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

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Ecology

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

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

12. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#2 in Canada

#13 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#11 in the United States

#14 in the World

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

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#13 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

16. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Ecology

#14 in the United States

#22 in the World

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

17. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Ecology

#15 in the United States

#23 in the World

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

18. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Ecology

#16 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

19. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Ecology

#17 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

20. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Ecology

#18 in the United States

#28 in the World

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

21. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Ecology

#19 in the United States

#29 in the World

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

22. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Ecology

#20 in the United States

#31 in the World

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

23. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Ecology

#21 in the United States

#33 in the World

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

24. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Ecology

#22 in the United States

#34 in the World

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

25. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#23 in the United States

#36 in the World

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

26. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Ecology

#24 in the United States

#38 in the World

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

27. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Ecology

#25 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

28. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Ecology

#26 in the United States

#41 in the World

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

29. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Ecology

#27 in the United States

#42 in the World

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

30. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Ecology

#3 in Canada

#43 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

31. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Ecology

#28 in the United States

#44 in the World

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

32. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Ecology

#29 in the United States

#45 in the World

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

33. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Ecology

#30 in the United States

#48 in the World

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

34. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Ecology

#31 in the United States

#49 in the World

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

35. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Ecology

#32 in the United States

#54 in the World

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

36. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Ecology

#4 in Canada

#55 in the World

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

37. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Ecology

#33 in the United States

#57 in the World

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

38. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Ecology

#34 in the United States

#58 in the World

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

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Ecology

#35 in the United States

#63 in the World

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

40. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Ecology

#36 in the United States

#64 in the World

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

41. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Ecology

#37 in the United States

#67 in the World

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

42. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#38 in the United States

#68 in the World

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

43. University of Guelph

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#5 in Canada

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

44. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Ecology

#39 in the United States

#71 in the World

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

45. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Ecology

#40 in the United States

#74 in the World

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

46. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#41 in the United States

#76 in the World

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

47. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Ecology

#42 in the United States

#80 in the World

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

48. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Ecology

#43 in the United States

#90 in the World

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

49. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Ecology

#44 in the United States

#91 in the World

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

50. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Ecology

#45 in the United States

#93 in the World

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

51. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#46 in the United States

#96 in the World

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

52. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Ecology

#47 in the United States

#97 in the World

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

53. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Ecology

#48 in the United States

#102 in the World

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

54. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Ecology

#49 in the United States

#104 in the World

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

55. New York University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#50 in the United States

#105 in the World

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

56. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#6 in Canada

#106 in the World

Founded: 1957

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#51 in the United States

#109 in the World

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

58. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#52 in the United States

#110 in the World

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

59. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Ecology

#53 in the United States

#113 in the World

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

60. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Ecology

#7 in Canada

#116 in the World

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

61. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#54 in the United States

#117 in the World

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

62. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Ecology

#55 in the United States

#120 in the World

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

63. Kansas State University

United States | Kansas State

For Ecology

#56 in the United States

#125 in the World

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

64. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Ecology

#57 in the United States

#126 in the World

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

65. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Ecology

#58 in the United States

#130 in the World

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

66. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Ecology

#59 in the United States

#133 in the World

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

67. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#60 in the United States

#138 in the World

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

68. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Ecology

#61 in the United States

#139 in the World

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

69. University of Saskatchewan

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Ecology

#8 in Canada

#144 in the World

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

70. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Ecology

#62 in the United States

#147 in the World

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

71. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#63 in the United States

#159 in the World

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

72. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#9 in Canada

#165 in the World

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

73. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Ecology

#10 in Canada

#167 in the World

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

74. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Ecology

#11 in Canada

#170 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

75. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Ecology

#64 in the United States

#171 in the World

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

76. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Ecology

#65 in the United States

#173 in the World

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

77. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#12 in Canada

#185 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

78. Utah State University

United States | Utah

For Ecology

#66 in the United States

#188 in the World

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

79. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Ecology

#67 in the United States

#189 in the World

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

80. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#13 in Canada

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

81. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Ecology

#68 in the United States

#198 in the World

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

82. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#14 in Canada

#199 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

83. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Ecology

#69 in the United States

#201 in the World

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

84. University of Hawaii at Manoa

United States | Hawaii

For Ecology

#70 in the United States

#208 in the World

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

85. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Ecology

#71 in the United States

#209 in the World

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

86. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#72 in the United States

#210 in the World

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

87. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Ecology

#15 in Canada

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

88. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Ecology

#73 in the United States

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

89. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#74 in the United States

#217 in the World

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

90. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Ecology

#16 in Canada

#218 in the World

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

91. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#75 in the United States

#220 in the World

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

92. University of Alaska Fairbanks

United States | Alaska

For Ecology

#76 in the United States

#230 in the World

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

93. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Ecology

#17 in Canada

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

94. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Ecology

#77 in the United States

#240 in the World

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

95. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Ecology

#78 in the United States

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

96. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Ecology

#79 in the United States

#248 in the World

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

97. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#18 in Canada

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 9,109
Founded: 1942

98. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Ecology

#19 in Canada

#259 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

99. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Ecology

#80 in the United States

#260 in the World

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

100. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#81 in the United States

#264 in the World

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

Environmental Science subfields in North America

Agricultural Science752

Earth science and Geophysics689

Environmental Chemistry599

Environmental Engineering398

Environmental Management734

Geography and Cartography1578

Geotechnical Engineering552

Hydrology and Water resources management144

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science829

Mining Engineering174

Oceanography862

Paleontology1335

Petrology and Geochemistry506

Urban and Regional planning237

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation711