100 Best colleges for Ecology 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 Ecology. A graph of 163M citations received by 3.81M academic papers made by 1,305 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: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Ecology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Ecology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Ecology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Ecology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Ecology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

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: $17,998

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Ecology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

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

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Ecology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

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

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Ecology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Ecology

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

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

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Ecology

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Ecology

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

14. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Ecology

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

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

15. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Ecology

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

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

16. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Ecology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

17. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Ecology

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

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

18. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Ecology

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

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

19. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Ecology

#21 in North America

#29 in the World

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

20. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Ecology

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

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

21. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Ecology

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

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

22. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Ecology

#24 in North America

#34 in the World

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

23. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Ecology

#25 in North America

#36 in the World

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

24. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Ecology

#26 in North America

#38 in the World

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

25. University of Texas at Austin

For Ecology

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

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

26. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Ecology

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

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

27. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Ecology

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

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

28. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Ecology

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

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

29. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Ecology

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

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

30. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Ecology

#33 in North America

#48 in the World

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

31. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Ecology

#34 in North America

#49 in the World

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

32. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Ecology

#35 in North America

#54 in the World

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

33. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Ecology

#37 in North America

#57 in the World

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

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Ecology

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

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

35. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Ecology

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Ecology

#40 in North America

#64 in the World

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

37. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Ecology

#41 in North America

#67 in the World

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

38. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Ecology

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

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

39. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Ecology

#44 in North America

#71 in the World

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

40. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Ecology

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

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

41. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Ecology

#46 in North America

#76 in the World

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

42. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Ecology

#47 in North America

#80 in the World

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

43. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Ecology

#48 in North America

#90 in the World

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

44. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Ecology

#49 in North America

#91 in the World

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

45. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Ecology

#50 in North America

#93 in the World

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

46. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Ecology

#51 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Ecology

#52 in North America

#97 in the World

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

48. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Ecology

#53 in North America

#102 in the World

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

49. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Ecology

#54 in North America

#104 in the World

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

50. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Ecology

#55 in North America

#105 in the World

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

51. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Ecology

#57 in North America

#109 in the World

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

52. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Ecology

#58 in North America

#110 in the World

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

53. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Ecology

#59 in North America

#113 in the World

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

54. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Ecology

#61 in North America

#117 in the World

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

55. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Ecology

#62 in North America

#120 in the World

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

56. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Ecology

#63 in North America

#125 in the World

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

57. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Ecology

#64 in North America

#126 in the World

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

58. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Ecology

#65 in North America

#130 in the World

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

59. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Ecology

#66 in North America

#133 in the World

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

60. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Ecology

#67 in North America

#138 in the World

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

61. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Ecology

#68 in North America

#139 in the World

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

62. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Ecology

#70 in North America

#147 in the World

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

63. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Ecology

#71 in North America

#159 in the World

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

64. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Ecology

#75 in North America

#171 in the World

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

65. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Ecology

#76 in North America

#173 in the World

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

66. Utah State University

For Ecology

#78 in North America

#188 in the World

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

67. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Ecology

#79 in North America

#189 in the World

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

68. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Ecology

#81 in North America

#198 in the World

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

69. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Ecology

#83 in North America

#201 in the World

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

70. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Ecology

#84 in North America

#208 in the World

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

71. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Ecology

#85 in North America

#209 in the World

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

72. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Ecology

#86 in North America

#210 in the World

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

73. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Ecology

#88 in North America

#214 in the World

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

74. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Ecology

#89 in North America

#217 in the World

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

75. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Ecology

#91 in North America

#220 in the World

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

76. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Ecology

#92 in North America

#230 in the World

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

77. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Ecology

#94 in North America

#240 in the World

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

78. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Ecology

#95 in North America

#244 in the World

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

79. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Ecology

#96 in North America

#248 in the World

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

80. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Ecology

#99 in North America

#260 in the World

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

81. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Ecology

#100 in North America

#264 in the World

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

82. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Ecology

#101 in North America

#269 in the World

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

83. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Ecology

#102 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

84. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Ecology

#103 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Ecology

#104 in North America

#288 in the World

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

86. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Ecology

#105 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

87. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Ecology

#106 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

88. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Ecology

#107 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

89. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Ecology

#108 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

90. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Ecology

#109 in North America

#306 in the World

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

91. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Ecology

#110 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

92. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Ecology

#111 in North America

#312 in the World

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

93. University of Idaho

For Ecology

#112 in North America

#315 in the World

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

94. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Ecology

#113 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

95. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Ecology

#114 in North America

#318 in the World

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

96. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Ecology

#116 in North America

#337 in the World

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

97. University of Maine

For Ecology

#117 in North America

#339 in the World

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

98. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Ecology

#118 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

99. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Ecology

#119 in North America

#341 in the World

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

100. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Ecology

#120 in North America

#344 in the World

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

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 Science686

Earth science and Geophysics628

Environmental Chemistry543

Environmental Engineering351

Environmental Management666

Geography and Cartography1490

Geotechnical Engineering498

Hydrology and Water resources management122

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science766

Mining Engineering145

Oceanography795

Paleontology1257

Petrology and Geochemistry452

Urban and Regional planning203

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation649