100 Best colleges for Ecology in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 123M citations received by 3.39M academic papers made by 1,262 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: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Ecology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Ecology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Ecology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Ecology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Ecology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
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: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

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: 74%

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Ecology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

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

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Ecology

#11 in North America

#11 in the World

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

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Ecology

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

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

12. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Ecology

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Ecology

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Ecology

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

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

15. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Ecology

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Ecology

#18 in North America

#25 in the World

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

17. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Ecology

#19 in North America

#26 in the World

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

18. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Ecology

#20 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

19. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Ecology

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

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

20. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Ecology

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

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

21. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Ecology

#23 in North America

#32 in the World

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

22. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Ecology

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

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

23. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Ecology

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

24. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Ecology

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Ecology

#27 in North America

#38 in the World

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

26. University of Texas at Austin

For Ecology

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

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

27. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Ecology

#29 in North America

#43 in the World

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

28. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Ecology

#31 in North America

#45 in the World

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

29. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Ecology

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

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

30. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Ecology

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

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

31. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Ecology

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Ecology

#36 in North America

#59 in the World

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

33. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Ecology

#37 in North America

#60 in the World

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

34. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Ecology

#38 in North America

#62 in the World

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

35. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Ecology

#39 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Ecology

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

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

37. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Ecology

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

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

38. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Ecology

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

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

39. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Ecology

#43 in North America

#69 in the World

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

40. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Ecology

#45 in North America

#72 in the World

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

41. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Ecology

#46 in North America

#78 in the World

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

42. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Ecology

#47 in North America

#82 in the World

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

43. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Ecology

#48 in North America

#87 in the World

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

44. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Ecology

#49 in North America

#91 in the World

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

45. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Ecology

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

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

46. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Ecology

#51 in North America

#97 in the World

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

47. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Ecology

#52 in North America

#98 in the World

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

48. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Ecology

#54 in North America

#102 in the World

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

49. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Ecology

#55 in North America

#104 in the World

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

50. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Ecology

#56 in North America

#107 in the World

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

51. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Ecology

#57 in North America

#109 in the World

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

52. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Ecology

#59 in North America

#113 in the World

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

53. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Ecology

#60 in North America

#118 in the World

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

54. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Ecology

#61 in North America

#122 in the World

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

55. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Ecology

#62 in North America

#123 in the World

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

56. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Ecology

#63 in North America

#125 in the World

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

57. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Ecology

#64 in North America

#127 in the World

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

58. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Ecology

#65 in North America

#128 in the World

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

59. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Ecology

#66 in North America

#130 in the World

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

60. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Ecology

#67 in North America

#135 in the World

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

61. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Ecology

#68 in North America

#136 in the World

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

62. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Ecology

#70 in North America

#153 in the World

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

63. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Ecology

#71 in North America

#155 in the World

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

64. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Ecology

#73 in North America

#162 in the World

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

65. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Ecology

#76 in North America

#176 in the World

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

66. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Ecology

#78 in North America

#184 in the World

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

67. Utah State University

For Ecology

#79 in North America

#186 in the World

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

68. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Ecology

#80 in North America

#189 in the World

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

69. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Ecology

#82 in North America

#195 in the World

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

70. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Ecology

#83 in North America

#199 in the World

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

71. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Ecology

#86 in North America

#211 in the World

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

72. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Ecology

#87 in North America

#212 in the World

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

73. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Ecology

#88 in North America

#214 in the World

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

74. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Ecology

#89 in North America

#215 in the World

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

75. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Ecology

#90 in North America

#217 in the World

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

76. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Ecology

#92 in North America

#223 in the World

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

77. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Ecology

#94 in North America

#240 in the World

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

78. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Ecology

#95 in North America

#241 in the World

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

79. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Ecology

#96 in North America

#250 in the World

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

80. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Ecology

#97 in North America

#251 in the World

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

81. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Ecology

#98 in North America

#255 in the World

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

82. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Ecology

#100 in North America

#273 in the World

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

83. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Ecology

#101 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

84. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Ecology

#103 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Ecology

#104 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

86. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Ecology

#105 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

87. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Ecology

#106 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,645
Enrollment: 9,955

88. Mississippi State University

Mississippi | Starkville

For Ecology

#107 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

89. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Ecology

#108 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

90. Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State | Stillwater

For Ecology

#109 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

91. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Ecology

#110 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $8,942
Enrollment: 11,100

92. University of Idaho

For Ecology

#111 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

93. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Ecology

#112 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

94. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Ecology

#113 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

95. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Ecology

#114 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

96. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Ecology

#116 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

97. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Ecology

#117 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

98. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Ecology

#118 in North America

#332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

99. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Ecology

#119 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

100. University of Maine

For Ecology

#120 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

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

Environmental Science subfields in the United States

Agricultural Science652

Earth science and Geophysics599

Environmental Chemistry518

Environmental Engineering330

Environmental Management639

Geography and Cartography1440

Geotechnical Engineering472

Hydrology and Water resources management136

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science689

Mining Engineering154

Oceanography738

Paleontology1219

Petrology and Geochemistry417

Urban and Regional planning191

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation621