Best Universities for Oceanography in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Oceanography. A graph of 44.9M citations received by 1.22M academic papers made by 805 universities in North America 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 Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Oceanography

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

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

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Oceanography

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

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

3. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Oceanography

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

4. Stanford University

United States | California

For Oceanography

#4 in the United States

#5 in the World

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

5. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Oceanography

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Oceanography

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

7. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Oceanography

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

8. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Oceanography

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

9. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Oceanography

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Oceanography

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

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

11. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Oceanography

#11 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Oceanography

#12 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

13. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Oceanography

#1 in Canada

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

14. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Oceanography

#13 in the United States

#19 in the World

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

15. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Oceanography

#14 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Oceanography

#15 in the United States

#21 in the World

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

17. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Oceanography

#16 in the United States

#22 in the World

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

18. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Oceanography

#17 in the United States

#23 in the World

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

19. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Oceanography

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

20. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Oceanography

#19 in the United States

#25 in the World

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

21. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Oceanography

#20 in the United States

#26 in the World

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

22. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Oceanography

#21 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

23. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#2 in Canada

#28 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

24. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Oceanography

#22 in the United States

#30 in the World

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

25. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Oceanography

#23 in the United States

#31 in the World

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

26. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Oceanography

#24 in the United States

#36 in the World

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

27. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Oceanography

#25 in the United States

#39 in the World

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

28. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Oceanography

#26 in the United States

#43 in the World

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

29. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Oceanography

#27 in the United States

#45 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Oceanography

#28 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

31. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Oceanography

#29 in the United States

#48 in the World

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

32. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Oceanography

#3 in Canada

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Oceanography

#30 in the United States

#53 in the World

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

34. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Oceanography

#31 in the United States

#57 in the World

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

35. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Oceanography

#4 in Canada

#59 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

36. University of Hawaii at Manoa

United States | Hawaii

For Oceanography

#32 in the United States

#63 in the World

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

37. University of Alaska Fairbanks

United States | Alaska

For Oceanography

#33 in the United States

#67 in the World

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

38. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Oceanography

#34 in the United States

#74 in the World

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

39. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Oceanography

#35 in the United States

#75 in the World

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

40. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Oceanography

#36 in the United States

#76 in the World

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

41. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Oceanography

#37 in the United States

#77 in the World

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

42. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Oceanography

#5 in Canada

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

43. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Oceanography

#38 in the United States

#86 in the World

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

44. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Oceanography

#39 in the United States

#89 in the World

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

45. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Oceanography

#40 in the United States

#90 in the World

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

46. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Oceanography

#41 in the United States

#100 in the World

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

47. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Oceanography

#42 in the United States

#101 in the World

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

48. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Oceanography

#43 in the United States

#102 in the World

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

49. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Oceanography

#44 in the United States

#104 in the World

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

50. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Oceanography

#45 in the United States

#109 in the World

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

51. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Oceanography

#46 in the United States

#110 in the World

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

52. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Oceanography

#47 in the United States

#112 in the World

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

53. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Oceanography

#48 in the United States

#118 in the World

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

54. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#6 in Canada

#119 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

55. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Oceanography

#49 in the United States

#122 in the World

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

56. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Oceanography

#50 in the United States

#126 in the World

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

57. University of Oklahoma - Norman

United States | Oklahoma State

For Oceanography

#51 in the United States

#128 in the World

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

58. University of Rhode Island

United States | Rhode Island

For Oceanography

#52 in the United States

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

59. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Oceanography

#53 in the United States

#135 in the World

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

60. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Oceanography

#54 in the United States

#137 in the World

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

61. University of Victoria

Canada | British Columbia

For Oceanography

#7 in Canada

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 15,999
Founded: 1963

62. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Oceanography

#55 in the United States

#148 in the World

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

63. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Oceanography

#56 in the United States

#151 in the World

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

64. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Oceanography

#57 in the United States

#152 in the World

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

65. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Oceanography

#58 in the United States

#154 in the World

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

66. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Oceanography

#59 in the United States

#155 in the World

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

67. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Oceanography

#60 in the United States

#156 in the World

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

68. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Oceanography

#61 in the United States

#157 in the World

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

69. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Oceanography

#62 in the United States

#159 in the World

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

70. University of New Hampshire

United States | New Hampshire

For Oceanography

#63 in the United States

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

71. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Oceanography

#64 in the United States

#170 in the World

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

72. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Oceanography

#65 in the United States

#172 in the World

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

73. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Oceanography

#66 in the United States

#180 in the World

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

74. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Oceanography

#67 in the United States

#187 in the World

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

75. University of Maine

United States | Maine

For Oceanography

#68 in the United States

#191 in the World

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

76. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Oceanography

#8 in Canada

#193 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

77. University of Guelph

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#9 in Canada

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

78. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Oceanography

#10 in Canada

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

79. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#11 in Canada

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

80. New York University

United States | New York State

For Oceanography

#69 in the United States

#209 in the World

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

81. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#12 in Canada

#210 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

82. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Oceanography

#70 in the United States

#218 in the World

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

83. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Oceanography

#71 in the United States

#223 in the World

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

84. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#13 in Canada

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

85. College of William and Mary

United States | Virginia

For Oceanography

#72 in the United States

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1448
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 79%

86. Memorial University of Newfoundland

Canada | Newfoundland and Labrador

For Oceanography

#14 in Canada

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1925

87. University of Saskatchewan

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Oceanography

#15 in Canada

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,953
Founded: 1907

88. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Oceanography

#73 in the United States

#238 in the World

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

89. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Oceanography

#16 in Canada

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

90. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Oceanography

#17 in Canada

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

91. University of Kansas

United States | Kansas State

For Oceanography

#74 in the United States

#268 in the World

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

92. University of Wyoming

United States | Wyoming

For Oceanography

#75 in the United States

#269 in the World

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

93. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Oceanography

#76 in the United States

#273 in the World

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

94. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Oceanography

#77 in the United States

#274 in the World

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

95. Florida International University

United States | Florida

For Oceanography

#78 in the United States

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

96. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Oceanography

#79 in the United States

#277 in the World

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

97. Auburn University

United States | Alabama

For Oceanography

#80 in the United States

#279 in the World

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

98. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Oceanography

#81 in the United States

#282 in the World

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

99. Simon Fraser University

Canada | British Columbia

For Oceanography

#18 in Canada

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1965

100. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Oceanography

#82 in the United States

#286 in the World

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

Environmental Science subfields in North America

Agricultural Science718

Earth science and Geophysics660

Environmental Chemistry573

Environmental Engineering377

Environmental Management706

Geography and Cartography1527

Geotechnical Engineering526

Hydrology and Water resources management160

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science750

Mining Engineering185

Paleontology1296

Petrology and Geochemistry470

Urban and Regional planning220

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation682