100 Best colleges for Oceanography 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 Oceanography. A graph of 52M citations received by 1.21M academic papers made by 795 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 Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Oceanography

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Oceanography

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Oceanography

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Oceanography

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Oceanography

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Oceanography

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Oceanography

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Oceanography

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Oceanography

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Oceanography

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Oceanography

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Oceanography

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Oceanography

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Oceanography

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Oceanography

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Oceanography

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Oceanography

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Oceanography

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

21. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

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

22. University of Texas at Austin

For Oceanography

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

23. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Oceanography

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

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

24. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Oceanography

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Oceanography

#27 in North America

#38 in the World

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

26. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Oceanography

#28 in North America

#44 in the World

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

27. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Oceanography

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

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

28. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Oceanography

#30 in North America

#49 in the World

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

29. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Oceanography

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

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

30. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Oceanography

#32 in North America

#51 in the World

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

31. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Oceanography

#34 in North America

#54 in the World

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

32. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Oceanography

#35 in North America

#56 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Oceanography

#36 in North America

#57 in the World

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

34. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Oceanography

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

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

35. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Oceanography

#38 in North America

#61 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Oceanography

#40 in North America

#76 in the World

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

37. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Oceanography

#42 in North America

#86 in the World

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

38. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Oceanography

#43 in North America

#87 in the World

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

39. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Oceanography

#44 in North America

#93 in the World

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

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Oceanography

#45 in North America

#97 in the World

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

41. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Oceanography

#46 in North America

#98 in the World

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

42. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#47 in North America

#101 in the World

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

43. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Oceanography

#48 in North America

#102 in the World

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

44. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Oceanography

#49 in North America

#107 in the World

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

45. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Oceanography

#50 in North America

#108 in the World

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

46. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Oceanography

#51 in North America

#118 in the World

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

47. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Oceanography

#52 in North America

#119 in the World

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

48. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Oceanography

#53 in North America

#121 in the World

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

49. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Oceanography

#55 in North America

#123 in the World

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

50. University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island | Kingston

For Oceanography

#56 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 99%

51. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Oceanography

#57 in North America

#129 in the World

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

52. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Oceanography

#58 in North America

#132 in the World

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

53. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Oceanography

#59 in North America

#139 in the World

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

54. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oceanography

#61 in North America

#145 in the World

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

55. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Oceanography

#62 in North America

#148 in the World

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

56. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Oceanography

#63 in North America

#149 in the World

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

57. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Oceanography

#64 in North America

#155 in the World

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

58. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Oceanography

#65 in North America

#156 in the World

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

59. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Oceanography

#66 in North America

#158 in the World

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

60. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Oceanography

#67 in North America

#159 in the World

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

61. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Oceanography

#69 in North America

#165 in the World

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

62. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Oceanography

#70 in North America

#166 in the World

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

63. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Oceanography

#71 in North America

#175 in the World

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

64. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Oceanography

#72 in North America

#181 in the World

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

65. University of Maine

For Oceanography

#74 in North America

#188 in the World

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

66. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Oceanography

#75 in North America

#189 in the World

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

67. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Oceanography

#76 in North America

#191 in the World

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

68. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Oceanography

#77 in North America

#197 in the World

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

69. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Oceanography

#83 in North America

#225 in the World

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

70. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Oceanography

#85 in North America

#231 in the World

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

71. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Oceanography

#86 in North America

#232 in the World

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

72. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Oceanography

#88 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1438
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

73. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Oceanography

#89 in North America

#253 in the World

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

74. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Oceanography

#91 in North America

#261 in the World

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

75. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oceanography

#93 in North America

#270 in the World

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

76. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Oceanography

#94 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

77. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Oceanography

#95 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

78. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Oceanography

#96 in North America

#276 in the World

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

79. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Oceanography

#97 in North America

#281 in the World

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

80. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Oceanography

#98 in North America

#284 in the World

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

81. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Oceanography

#99 in North America

#289 in the World

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

82. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Oceanography

#100 in North America

#290 in the World

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

83. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Oceanography

#101 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,600
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

84. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Oceanography

#102 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

85. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Oceanography

#104 in North America

#306 in the World

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

86. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Oceanography

#105 in North America

#313 in the World

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

87. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Oceanography

#107 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

88. Utah State University

For Oceanography

#108 in North America

#327 in the World

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

89. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Oceanography

#109 in North America

#332 in the World

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

90. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Oceanography

#110 in North America

#337 in the World

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

91. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Oceanography

#111 in North America

#339 in the World

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

92. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Oceanography

#112 in North America

#341 in the World

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

93. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Oceanography

#113 in North America

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

94. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Oceanography

#115 in North America

#352 in the World

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

95. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Oceanography

#116 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

96. University of South Florida - St Petersburg

Florida | St. Petersburg

For Oceanography

#117 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $9,152
Enrollment: 4,500

97. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Oceanography

#118 in North America

#357 in the World

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

98. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Oceanography

#119 in North America

#361 in the World

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

99. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Oceanography

#120 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

100. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Oceanography

#121 in North America

#380 in the World

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

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

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

Paleontology1257

Petrology and Geochemistry452

Urban and Regional planning203

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation649