28 Best colleges for Earth science / Geoscience / Geophysics in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Earth science and Geophysics. A graph of 2.1M citations received by 39.4K academic papers made by 28 universities in Massachusetts 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. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Earth science and Geophysics

#2 in the United States

#2 in North America

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

2. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Earth science and Geophysics

#12 in the United States

#12 in North America

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

3. Boston University

Boston

For Earth science and Geophysics

#46 in the United States

#52 in North America

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

4. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Earth science and Geophysics

#63 in the United States

#73 in North America

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

5. Boston College

Boston

For Earth science and Geophysics

#143 in the United States

#170 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

6. Northeastern University

Boston

For Earth science and Geophysics

#146 in the United States

#174 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

7. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Earth science and Geophysics

#150 in the United States

#181 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

8. Tufts University

Medford

For Earth science and Geophysics

#151 in the United States

#182 in North America

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

9. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Earth science and Geophysics

#199 in the United States

#238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

10. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Earth science and Geophysics

#206 in the United States

#246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

11. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Earth science and Geophysics

#234 in the United States

#276 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

12. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Earth science and Geophysics

#241 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

13. Williams College

Williamstown

For Earth science and Geophysics

#251 in the United States

#294 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

14. Smith College

Northampton

For Earth science and Geophysics

#272 in the United States

#316 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

15. Clark University

Worcester

For Earth science and Geophysics

#277 in the United States

#322 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

16. Amherst College

Amherst

For Earth science and Geophysics

#295 in the United States

#342 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

17. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Earth science and Geophysics

#299 in the United States

#346 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

18. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Earth science and Geophysics

#307 in the United States

#354 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,526

19. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Earth science and Geophysics

#324 in the United States

#372 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

20. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Earth science and Geophysics

#370 in the United States

#419 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

21. Nichols College

Dudley

For Earth science and Geophysics

#426 in the United States

#477 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1132
Net Price: $32,337
Receiving Aid: 99%

22. Salem State University

Salem

For Earth science and Geophysics

#470 in the United States

#523 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $10,319
Enrollment: 6,230

23. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Earth science and Geophysics

#491 in the United States

#544 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

24. Hampshire College

Amherst

For Earth science and Geophysics

#520 in the United States

#574 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $27,895
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $46,145

25. Bentley University

Waltham

For Earth science and Geophysics

#528 in the United States

#582 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

26. Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Norton

For Earth science and Geophysics

#555 in the United States

#610 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $30,701

27. Endicott College

Beverly

For Earth science and Geophysics

#583 in the United States

#642 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1267
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,394

28. Dean College

Franklin

For Earth science and Geophysics

#585 in the United States

#644 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $32,085
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,958

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Earth science and Geophysics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	4	39
Connecticut	11	29
New Hampshire	4	71
Vermont	3	137
New York	65	10
New Jersey	14	27
Maine	7	87
Pennsylvania	37	11
Maryland	12	25
District of Columbia	6	162
Virginia	15	37
West Virginia	3	116
Ohio	25	26
North Carolina	16	41
Michigan	17	9
South Carolina	8	57
Indiana	14	24
Kentucky	7	82
Tennessee	13	61
Wisconsin	16	16
Georgia	15	32
Illinois	24	18
Alabama	9	102
Iowa	3	49
Missouri	10	76
Florida	23	35
Minnesota	11	19
Mississippi	5	138
Arkansas	7	126
Louisiana	12	44
Kansas	7	50
South Dakota	4	203
North Dakota	3	163
Nebraska	6	74
Oklahoma	5	58
Puerto Rico	4	227
Texas	43	6
Colorado	13	7
Montana	3	97
New Mexico	4	65
Utah	7	17
Idaho	3	98
Arizona	4	13
Washington	11	4
Oregon	8	21
California	53	1
Alaska	4	31
Hawaii	4	55