100 Best colleges for Archaeology 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 Archaeology. A graph of 68.9M citations received by 2.45M academic papers made by 1,308 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 California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Archaeology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Archaeology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Archaeology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Archaeology

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Archaeology

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

7. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Archaeology

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Archaeology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Archaeology

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Archaeology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Archaeology

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

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

14. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Archaeology

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Archaeology

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Archaeology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

17. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Archaeology

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

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

18. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Archaeology

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

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

19. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Archaeology

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

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

20. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Archaeology

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

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

21. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Archaeology

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

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

22. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Archaeology

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

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

23. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Archaeology

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

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

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Archaeology

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Archaeology

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Archaeology

#28 in North America

#38 in the World

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

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Archaeology

#29 in North America

#39 in the World

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

28. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Archaeology

#30 in North America

#40 in the World

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

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

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

30. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Archaeology

#34 in North America

#51 in the World

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

31. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Archaeology

#35 in North America

#52 in the World

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

32. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Archaeology

#36 in North America

#55 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Archaeology

#37 in North America

#56 in the World

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

34. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#38 in North America

#57 in the World

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

35. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Archaeology

#39 in North America

#62 in the World

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

36. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Archaeology

#40 in North America

#64 in the World

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

37. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Archaeology

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

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

38. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Archaeology

#42 in North America

#67 in the World

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

39. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Archaeology

#43 in North America

#74 in the World

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

40. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Archaeology

#44 in North America

#76 in the World

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

41. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Archaeology

#45 in North America

#78 in the World

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

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#46 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

43. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Archaeology

#48 in North America

#86 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Archaeology

#49 in North America

#87 in the World

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

45. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Archaeology

#50 in North America

#88 in the World

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

46. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Archaeology

#51 in North America

#94 in the World

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

47. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Archaeology

#52 in North America

#96 in the World

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

48. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Archaeology

#53 in North America

#98 in the World

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

49. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Archaeology

#54 in North America

#101 in the World

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

50. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Archaeology

#56 in North America

#108 in the World

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

51. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Archaeology

#58 in North America

#116 in the World

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

52. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Archaeology

#60 in North America

#122 in the World

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

53. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Archaeology

#61 in North America

#125 in the World

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

54. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Archaeology

#62 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

55. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Archaeology

#63 in North America

#132 in the World

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

56. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Archaeology

#64 in North America

#139 in the World

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

57. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Archaeology

#65 in North America

#140 in the World

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

58. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Archaeology

#67 in North America

#145 in the World

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

59. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Archaeology

#68 in North America

#146 in the World

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

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Archaeology

#69 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

61. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Archaeology

#70 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Archaeology

#71 in North America

#155 in the World

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

63. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Archaeology

#74 in North America

#167 in the World

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

64. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Archaeology

#75 in North America

#171 in the World

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

65. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Archaeology

#76 in North America

#172 in the World

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

66. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Archaeology

#77 in North America

#173 in the World

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

67. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Archaeology

#80 in North America

#182 in the World

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

68. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Archaeology

#81 in North America

#183 in the World

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

69. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Archaeology

#82 in North America

#184 in the World

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

70. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Archaeology

#83 in North America

#185 in the World

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

71. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Archaeology

#84 in North America

#187 in the World

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

72. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Archaeology

#86 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

73. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Archaeology

#87 in North America

#195 in the World

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

74. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Archaeology

#88 in North America

#197 in the World

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

75. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Archaeology

#90 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

76. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Archaeology

#91 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

77. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Archaeology

#92 in North America

#209 in the World

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

78. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Archaeology

#94 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

79. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Archaeology

#95 in North America

#232 in the World

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

80. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Archaeology

#96 in North America

#233 in the World

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

81. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Archaeology

#97 in North America

#235 in the World

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

82. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Archaeology

#98 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

83. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Archaeology

#99 in North America

#243 in the World

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

84. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Archaeology

#100 in North America

#248 in the World

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

85. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Archaeology

#101 in North America

#249 in the World

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

86. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Archaeology

#102 in North America

#258 in the World

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

87. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Archaeology

#103 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

88. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Archaeology

#104 in North America

#262 in the World

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

89. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Archaeology

#105 in North America

#270 in the World

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

90. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Archaeology

#107 in North America

#273 in the World

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

91. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Archaeology

#108 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Archaeology

#109 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

93. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#110 in North America

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Archaeology

#111 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Archaeology

#112 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $13,521

96. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Archaeology

#113 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

97. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#116 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

98. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Archaeology

#117 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

99. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Archaeology

#118 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

100. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Archaeology

#119 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

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