Best Universities for Ecology in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 139M citations received by 3.92M academic papers made by 1,340 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: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

4. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Ecology

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

5. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Ecology

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

6. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#6 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

7. Stanford University

United States | California

For Ecology

#7 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

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: 74%

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Ecology

#9 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

10. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Ecology

#1 in Canada

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

11. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Ecology

#10 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

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: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

15. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#13 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

16. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Ecology

#14 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

17. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Ecology

#15 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

18. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Ecology

#16 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

19. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Ecology

#17 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

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: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

21. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Ecology

#19 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

22. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Ecology

#20 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

23. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Ecology

#21 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

24. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Ecology

#22 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

25. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Ecology

#23 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

26. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#24 in the United States

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

27. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Ecology

#25 in the United States

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

28. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Ecology

#26 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

29. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Ecology

#27 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

30. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Ecology

#3 in Canada

#44 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

31. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Ecology

#28 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

32. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Ecology

#29 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

33. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Ecology

#30 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

34. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Ecology

#4 in Canada

#51 in the World

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

35. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Ecology

#31 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Ecology

#32 in the United States

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

37. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Ecology

#33 in the United States

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

38. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Ecology

#34 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

39. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Ecology

#35 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

40. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Ecology

#36 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

41. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Ecology

#37 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

42. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Ecology

#38 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

43. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Ecology

#39 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

44. University of Guelph

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#5 in Canada

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

45. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#40 in the United States

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

46. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Ecology

#41 in the United States

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

47. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#42 in the United States

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

48. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Ecology

#43 in the United States

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

49. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Ecology

#44 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

50. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Ecology

#45 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

51. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Ecology

#46 in the United States

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

52. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#47 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

53. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#6 in Canada

#100 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

54. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Ecology

#48 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

55. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Ecology

#49 in the United States

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

56. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#50 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

57. New York University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#51 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

58. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Ecology

#7 in Canada

#112 in the World

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

59. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#52 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

60. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Ecology

#53 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

61. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Ecology

#54 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

62. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Ecology

#55 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Ecology

#56 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

64. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Ecology

#57 in the United States

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

65. Kansas State University

United States | Kansas State

For Ecology

#58 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

66. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Ecology

#59 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

67. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Ecology

#60 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Ecology

#61 in the United States

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

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

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

71. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#63 in the United States

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

72. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Ecology

#9 in Canada

#161 in the World

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

73. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Ecology

#64 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

74. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Ecology

#10 in Canada

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

75. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#11 in Canada

#172 in the World

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

76. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Ecology

#65 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#12 in Canada

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

78. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Ecology

#66 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

79. Utah State University

United States | Utah

For Ecology

#67 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

80. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Ecology

#68 in the United States

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

81. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#13 in Canada

#192 in the World

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

82. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Ecology

#69 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

83. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Ecology

#70 in the United States

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#14 in Canada

#200 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

85. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Ecology

#15 in Canada

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

86. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Ecology

#71 in the United States

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

87. University of Hawaii at Manoa

United States | Hawaii

For Ecology

#72 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%

88. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Ecology

#73 in the United States

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

89. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Ecology

#74 in the United States

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

90. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Ecology

#75 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

91. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Ecology

#16 in Canada

#219 in the World

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

92. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Ecology

#76 in the United States

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

93. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Ecology

#17 in Canada

#232 in the World

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

94. University of Alaska Fairbanks

United States | Alaska

For Ecology

#77 in the United States

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,704
Enrollment: 6,607

95. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Ecology

#78 in the United States

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

96. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Ecology

#79 in the United States

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

97. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Ecology

#80 in the United States

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

98. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Ecology

#81 in the United States

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

99. Carleton University

Canada | Ontario

For Ecology

#18 in Canada

#263 in the World

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

100. Clemson University

United States | South Carolina

For Ecology

#82 in the United States

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

Environmental Science subfields in North America

Agricultural Science718

Earth science and Geophysics660

Environmental Chemistry573

Environmental Engineering377

Environmental Management706

Geography and Cartography1527

Geotechnical Engineering526

Hydrology and Water resources management160

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science750

Mining Engineering185

Oceanography805

Paleontology1296

Petrology and Geochemistry470

Urban and Regional planning220

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation682