100 Best colleges for Oceanography in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 54.9M citations received by 1.23M academic papers made by 798 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: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

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: $25,078

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Oceanography

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Oceanography

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

6. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Oceanography

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Oceanography

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

8. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Oceanography

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

9. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Oceanography

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Oceanography

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Oceanography

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

12. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Oceanography

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Oceanography

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Oceanography

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

16. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Oceanography

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

17. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Oceanography

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

18. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Oceanography

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

19. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Oceanography

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Oceanography

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
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: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

22. University of Texas at Austin

For Oceanography

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

23. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Oceanography

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

24. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Oceanography

#26 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

25. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Oceanography

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

26. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Oceanography

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

27. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Oceanography

#29 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

28. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Oceanography

#30 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

29. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Oceanography

#32 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

30. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Oceanography

#33 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

31. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Oceanography

#34 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

32. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Oceanography

#35 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1187
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 76%

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Oceanography

#36 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

34. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Oceanography

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $10,424
Enrollment: 6,893

35. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Oceanography

#38 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Oceanography

#41 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Oceanography

#42 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

38. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Oceanography

#43 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

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: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

40. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Oceanography

#45 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

41. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Oceanography

#46 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

42. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#47 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

43. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Oceanography

#48 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

44. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Oceanography

#49 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

45. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Oceanography

#50 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

46. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Oceanography

#51 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

47. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Oceanography

#52 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

48. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Oceanography

#53 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

49. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Oceanography

#55 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

50. University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island | Kingston

For Oceanography

#56 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1150
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $12,578

51. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Oceanography

#57 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

52. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Oceanography

#58 in North America

#136 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

#60 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

54. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oceanography

#61 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

55. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Oceanography

#62 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

56. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Oceanography

#63 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

57. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Oceanography

#64 in North America

#157 in the World

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

58. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Oceanography

#65 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

59. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Oceanography

#66 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

60. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Oceanography

#67 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

61. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Oceanography

#69 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

62. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Oceanography

#70 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

63. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Oceanography

#71 in North America

#176 in the World

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

64. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Oceanography

#73 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

65. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Oceanography

#74 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

66. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Oceanography

#75 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

67. University of Maine

For Oceanography

#76 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $12,909
Enrollment: 12,029

68. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Oceanography

#77 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

69. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Oceanography

#84 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

70. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Oceanography

#85 in North America

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

71. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Oceanography

#87 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

72. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Oceanography

#88 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 55%

73. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Oceanography

#89 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

74. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Oceanography

#92 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oceanography

#93 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

76. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Oceanography

#94 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

77. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Oceanography

#95 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

78. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Oceanography

#96 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

79. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Oceanography

#97 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

80. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Oceanography

#98 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,212
Enrollment: 10,813

81. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Oceanography

#99 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

82. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Oceanography

#100 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

83. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Oceanography

#102 in North America

#307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

84. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Oceanography

#103 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,441
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

85. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Oceanography

#104 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

86. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Oceanography

#106 in North America

#322 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

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

88. Utah State University

For Oceanography

#108 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 92%

89. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Oceanography

#109 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

90. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Oceanography

#110 in North America

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

91. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Oceanography

#111 in North America

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Oceanography

#112 in North America

#348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

93. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Oceanography

#113 in North America

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

94. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Oceanography

#115 in North America

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Oceanography

#116 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. University of South Florida - St Petersburg

Florida | St. Petersburg

For Oceanography

#117 in North America

#364 in the World

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

97. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Oceanography

#118 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Oceanography

#119 in North America

#367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

99. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Oceanography

#120 in North America

#382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

100. University of Montana

Montana | Missoula

For Oceanography

#121 in North America

#384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,799

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 Science689

Earth science and Geophysics637

Environmental Chemistry547

Environmental Engineering354

Environmental Management673

Geography and Cartography1500

Geotechnical Engineering502

Hydrology and Water resources management128

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science775

Mining Engineering146

Paleontology1266

Petrology and Geochemistry456

Urban and Regional planning208

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation658