100 Best colleges for Ecology 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 Ecology. A graph of 171M citations received by 3.89M academic papers made by 1,319 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 Ecology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Ecology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Ecology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Ecology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Ecology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Ecology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Ecology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Ecology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

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

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Ecology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

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

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Ecology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Ecology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Ecology

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Ecology

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Ecology

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

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

15. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Ecology

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

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

16. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Ecology

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

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

17. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Ecology

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

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

18. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Ecology

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

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

19. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Ecology

#21 in North America

#31 in the World

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

20. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Ecology

#22 in North America

#33 in the World

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

21. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Ecology

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

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

22. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Ecology

#24 in North America

#38 in the World

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

23. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Ecology

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

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

24. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Ecology

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

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

25. University of Texas at Austin

For Ecology

#27 in North America

#41 in the World

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

26. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Ecology

#28 in North America

#42 in the World

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

27. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Ecology

#30 in North America

#44 in the World

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

28. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Ecology

#31 in North America

#45 in the World

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

29. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Ecology

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

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

30. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Ecology

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

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

31. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Ecology

#34 in North America

#54 in the World

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

32. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Ecology

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

33. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Ecology

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

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

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Ecology

#38 in North America

#59 in the World

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

35. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Ecology

#39 in North America

#66 in the World

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

36. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Ecology

#40 in North America

#68 in the World

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

37. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Ecology

#41 in North America

#69 in the World

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

38. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Ecology

#42 in North America

#70 in the World

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

39. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Ecology

#44 in North America

#74 in the World

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

40. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Ecology

#45 in North America

#76 in the World

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

41. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Ecology

#46 in North America

#77 in the World

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

42. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Ecology

#47 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

43. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Ecology

#48 in North America

#92 in the World

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

44. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Ecology

#49 in North America

#93 in the World

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

45. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Ecology

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

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

46. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Ecology

#51 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

47. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Ecology

#52 in North America

#100 in the World

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

48. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Ecology

#53 in North America

#102 in the World

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

49. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Ecology

#54 in North America

#105 in the World

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

50. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Ecology

#55 in North America

#106 in the World

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

51. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Ecology

#57 in North America

#111 in the World

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

52. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Ecology

#58 in North America

#113 in the World

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

53. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Ecology

#60 in North America

#120 in the World

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

54. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Ecology

#61 in North America

#121 in the World

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

55. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Ecology

#62 in North America

#123 in the World

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

56. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Ecology

#63 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

57. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Ecology

#64 in North America

#129 in the World

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

58. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Ecology

#65 in North America

#138 in the World

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

59. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Ecology

#66 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

60. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Ecology

#67 in North America

#143 in the World

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

61. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Ecology

#68 in North America

#146 in the World

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

62. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Ecology

#70 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

63. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Ecology

#72 in North America

#168 in the World

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

64. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Ecology

#75 in North America

#179 in the World

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

65. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Ecology

#76 in North America

#180 in the World

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

66. Utah State University

For Ecology

#78 in North America

#193 in the World

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

67. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Ecology

#79 in North America

#197 in the World

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

68. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Ecology

#80 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

69. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Ecology

#83 in North America

#208 in the World

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

70. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Ecology

#84 in North America

#211 in the World

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

71. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Ecology

#85 in North America

#213 in the World

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

72. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Ecology

#87 in North America

#219 in the World

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

73. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Ecology

#88 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

74. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Ecology

#90 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

75. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Ecology

#91 in North America

#230 in the World

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

76. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Ecology

#92 in North America

#237 in the World

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

77. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Ecology

#94 in North America

#245 in the World

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

78. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Ecology

#95 in North America

#249 in the World

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

79. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Ecology

#97 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

80. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Ecology

#99 in North America

#273 in the World

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

81. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Ecology

#100 in North America

#275 in the World

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

82. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Ecology

#101 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

83. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Ecology

#102 in North America

#277 in the World

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

84. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Ecology

#103 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Ecology

#104 in North America

#295 in the World

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

86. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Ecology

#105 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

87. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Ecology

#106 in North America

#308 in the World

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

88. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Ecology

#107 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

89. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Ecology

#108 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

90. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Ecology

#109 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

91. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Ecology

#110 in North America

#314 in the World

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

92. University of Idaho

For Ecology

#111 in North America

#316 in the World

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

93. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Ecology

#112 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

94. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Ecology

#114 in North America

#325 in the World

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

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Ecology

#115 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

96. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Ecology

#116 in North America

#340 in the World

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

97. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Ecology

#117 in North America

#343 in the World

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

98. University of Maine

For Ecology

#118 in North America

#345 in the World

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

99. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Ecology

#119 in North America

#346 in the World

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

100. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Ecology

#120 in North America

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

The best cities to study Ecology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Cambridge, Ithaca, and Davis.

Environmental Science subfields in the United States

Agricultural Science689

Earth science and Geophysics637

Environmental Chemistry547

Environmental Engineering354

Environmental Management673

Geography and Cartography1500

Geotechnical Engineering502

Hydrology and Water resources management128

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science775

Mining Engineering146

Oceanography798

Paleontology1266

Petrology and Geochemistry456

Urban and Regional planning208

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation658