100 Best colleges for Geology 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 Geology. A graph of 159M citations received by 4.57M academic papers made by 1,324 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. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Geology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Geology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Geology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Geology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Geology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Geology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Geology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Geology

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Geology

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Geology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Geology

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Geology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Geology

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Geology

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Geology

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. University of Texas at Austin

For Geology

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Geology

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

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

18. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Geology

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

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

19. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Geology

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

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

20. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Geology

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

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

21. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Geology

#23 in North America

#31 in the World

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

22. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Geology

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

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

23. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Geology

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

24. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Geology

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

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

25. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Geology

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

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

26. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Geology

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

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

27. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Geology

#30 in North America

#44 in the World

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

28. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Geology

#31 in North America

#48 in the World

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

29. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Geology

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

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

30. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Geology

#34 in North America

#57 in the World

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

31. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Geology

#35 in North America

#59 in the World

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

32. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Geology

#36 in North America

#63 in the World

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

33. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Geology

#37 in North America

#64 in the World

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

34. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Geology

#38 in North America

#65 in the World

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

35. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Geology

#39 in North America

#66 in the World

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

36. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Geology

#40 in North America

#67 in the World

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

37. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Geology

#41 in North America

#69 in the World

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

38. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Geology

#42 in North America

#70 in the World

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

39. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Geology

#43 in North America

#72 in the World

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

40. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Geology

#44 in North America

#74 in the World

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

41. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Geology

#45 in North America

#76 in the World

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

42. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Geology

#46 in North America

#79 in the World

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

43. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Geology

#47 in North America

#80 in the World

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

44. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Geology

#48 in North America

#82 in the World

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

45. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Geology

#49 in North America

#84 in the World

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

46. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Geology

#50 in North America

#88 in the World

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

47. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Geology

#52 in North America

#94 in the World

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

48. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Geology

#53 in North America

#95 in the World

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

49. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Geology

#54 in North America

#97 in the World

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

50. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Geology

#55 in North America

#98 in the World

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

51. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Geology

#56 in North America

#100 in the World

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

52. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Geology

#57 in North America

#107 in the World

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

53. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Geology

#58 in North America

#112 in the World

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

54. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Geology

#60 in North America

#123 in the World

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

55. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Geology

#61 in North America

#130 in the World

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

56. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Geology

#62 in North America

#132 in the World

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

57. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Geology

#64 in North America

#136 in the World

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

58. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Geology

#65 in North America

#137 in the World

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

59. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Geology

#68 in North America

#150 in the World

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

60. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Geology

#69 in North America

#151 in the World

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

61. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Geology

#70 in North America

#157 in the World

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

62. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Geology

#71 in North America

#161 in the World

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

63. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Geology

#72 in North America

#162 in the World

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

64. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Geology

#73 in North America

#163 in the World

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

65. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Geology

#74 in North America

#168 in the World

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

66. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Geology

#76 in North America

#172 in the World

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

67. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Geology

#78 in North America

#174 in the World

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

68. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Geology

#79 in North America

#178 in the World

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

69. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Geology

#80 in North America

#181 in the World

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

70. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Geology

#81 in North America

#188 in the World

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

71. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Geology

#83 in North America

#192 in the World

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

72. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Geology

#84 in North America

#198 in the World

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

73. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Geology

#86 in North America

#200 in the World

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

74. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Geology

#87 in North America

#201 in the World

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

75. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Geology

#88 in North America

#202 in the World

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

76. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Geology

#90 in North America

#210 in the World

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

77. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Geology

#92 in North America

#220 in the World

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

78. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Geology

#93 in North America

#225 in the World

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

79. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Geology

#95 in North America

#235 in the World

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

80. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Geology

#96 in North America

#236 in the World

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

81. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Geology

#97 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

82. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Geology

#98 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

83. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Geology

#99 in North America

#252 in the World

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

84. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Geology

#100 in North America

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

85. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Geology

#101 in North America

#254 in the World

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

86. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Geology

#102 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

87. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Geology

#103 in North America

#263 in the World

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

88. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Geology

#104 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

89. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Geology

#105 in North America

#271 in the World

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

90. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Geology

#106 in North America

#278 in the World

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

91. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Geology

#107 in North America

#279 in the World

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

92. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Geology

#108 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

93. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Geology

#109 in North America

#283 in the World

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

94. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Geology

#110 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Geology

#111 in North America

#292 in the World

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

96. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Geology

#112 in North America

#293 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

97. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Geology

#113 in North America

#303 in the World

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

98. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Geology

#116 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

99. Utah State University

For Geology

#117 in North America

#319 in the World

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

100. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Geology

#118 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

The best cities to study Geology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Berkeley, Stanford, and Seattle.

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