100 Best colleges for Oceanography 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 Oceanography. A graph of 39.6M citations received by 1.05M academic papers made by 738 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: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Oceanography

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Oceanography

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Oceanography

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Oceanography

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Oceanography

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Oceanography

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Oceanography

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Oceanography

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Oceanography

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

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

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Oceanography

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

13. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Oceanography

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Oceanography

#16 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Oceanography

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Oceanography

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Oceanography

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Oceanography

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

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

20. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Oceanography

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

21. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Oceanography

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

22. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

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

23. University of Texas at Austin

For Oceanography

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

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

24. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Oceanography

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Oceanography

#27 in North America

#39 in the World

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

26. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Oceanography

#28 in North America

#43 in the World

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

27. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Oceanography

#29 in North America

#45 in the World

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

28. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Oceanography

#30 in North America

#46 in the World

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

29. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Oceanography

#31 in North America

#48 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Oceanography

#33 in North America

#53 in the World

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

31. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Oceanography

#34 in North America

#57 in the World

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

32. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Oceanography

#36 in North America

#63 in the World

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

33. University of Alaska Fairbanks

Alaska | Fairbanks

For Oceanography

#37 in North America

#67 in the World

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

34. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Oceanography

#38 in North America

#74 in the World

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

35. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Oceanography

#39 in North America

#75 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Oceanography

#40 in North America

#76 in the World

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

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Oceanography

#41 in North America

#77 in the World

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

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Oceanography

#43 in North America

#86 in the World

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

39. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Oceanography

#44 in North America

#89 in the World

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

40. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Oceanography

#45 in North America

#90 in the World

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

41. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Oceanography

#46 in North America

#100 in the World

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

42. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#47 in North America

#101 in the World

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

43. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Oceanography

#48 in North America

#102 in the World

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

44. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Oceanography

#49 in North America

#104 in the World

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

45. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Oceanography

#50 in North America

#109 in the World

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

46. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Oceanography

#51 in North America

#110 in the World

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

47. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Oceanography

#52 in North America

#112 in the World

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

48. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Oceanography

#53 in North America

#118 in the World

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

49. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Oceanography

#55 in North America

#122 in the World

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

50. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Oceanography

#56 in North America

#126 in the World

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

51. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Oceanography

#57 in North America

#128 in the World

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

52. University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island | Kingston

For Oceanography

#58 in North America

#130 in the World

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

53. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Oceanography

#59 in North America

#135 in the World

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

54. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oceanography

#60 in North America

#137 in the World

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

55. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Oceanography

#62 in North America

#148 in the World

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

56. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Oceanography

#63 in North America

#151 in the World

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

57. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Oceanography

#64 in North America

#152 in the World

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

58. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Oceanography

#65 in North America

#154 in the World

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

59. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Oceanography

#66 in North America

#155 in the World

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

60. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Oceanography

#67 in North America

#156 in the World

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

61. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Oceanography

#68 in North America

#157 in the World

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

62. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Oceanography

#69 in North America

#159 in the World

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

63. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Oceanography

#70 in North America

#161 in the World

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

64. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Oceanography

#71 in North America

#170 in the World

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

65. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Oceanography

#72 in North America

#172 in the World

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

66. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Oceanography

#73 in North America

#180 in the World

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

67. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Oceanography

#74 in North America

#187 in the World

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

68. University of Maine

For Oceanography

#75 in North America

#191 in the World

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

69. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Oceanography

#80 in North America

#209 in the World

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

70. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Oceanography

#82 in North America

#218 in the World

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

71. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Oceanography

#83 in North America

#223 in the World

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

72. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Oceanography

#85 in North America

#227 in the World

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

73. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Oceanography

#88 in North America

#238 in the World

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

74. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Oceanography

#91 in North America

#268 in the World

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

75. University of Wyoming

Wyoming | Laramie

For Oceanography

#92 in North America

#269 in the World

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

76. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Oceanography

#93 in North America

#273 in the World

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

77. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Oceanography

#94 in North America

#274 in the World

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

78. Florida International University

Florida | Miami

For Oceanography

#95 in North America

#276 in the World

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

79. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oceanography

#96 in North America

#277 in the World

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

80. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Oceanography

#97 in North America

#279 in the World

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

81. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Oceanography

#98 in North America

#282 in the World

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

82. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Oceanography

#100 in North America

#286 in the World

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

83. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Oceanography

#101 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

84. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Oceanography

#102 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

85. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Oceanography

#103 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

86. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Oceanography

#104 in North America

#310 in the World

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

87. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Oceanography

#105 in North America

#313 in the World

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

88. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Oceanography

#106 in North America

#315 in the World

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

89. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Oceanography

#107 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

90. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Oceanography

#108 in North America

#319 in the World

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

91. Utah State University

For Oceanography

#109 in North America

#323 in the World

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

92. Naval Postgraduate School

California | Monterey

For Oceanography

#110 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,670
Male:Female: 78:22
Founded: 1909

93. University of South Florida - St Petersburg

Florida | St. Petersburg

For Oceanography

#111 in North America

#328 in the World

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

94. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Oceanography

#113 in North America

#335 in the World

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

95. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Oceanography

#114 in North America

#338 in the World

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

96. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Oceanography

#115 in North America

#340 in the World

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

97. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Oceanography

#117 in North America

#351 in the World

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

98. SUNY at Albany

New York State | Albany

For Oceanography

#118 in North America

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Oceanography

#119 in North America

#360 in the World

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

100. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Oceanography

#120 in North America

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

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

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

Paleontology1219

Petrology and Geochemistry417

Urban and Regional planning191

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation621