100 Best colleges for Archaeology 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 Archaeology. A graph of 101M citations received by 2.83M academic papers made by 1,360 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: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Archaeology

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Archaeology

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Archaeology

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Archaeology

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Archaeology

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Archaeology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Archaeology

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Archaeology

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Archaeology

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

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

14. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Archaeology

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Archaeology

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

16. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Archaeology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

17. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Archaeology

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

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

18. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Archaeology

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Archaeology

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

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

20. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Archaeology

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

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

21. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Archaeology

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

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

22. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Archaeology

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

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

23. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Archaeology

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

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

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Archaeology

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Archaeology

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

26. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Archaeology

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Archaeology

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

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

28. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Archaeology

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

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

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

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

30. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Archaeology

#33 in North America

#49 in the World

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

31. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Archaeology

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

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

32. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Archaeology

#36 in North America

#55 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Archaeology

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

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

34. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Archaeology

#38 in North America

#60 in the World

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

35. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#39 in North America

#62 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Archaeology

#40 in North America

#63 in the World

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

37. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Archaeology

#41 in North America

#69 in the World

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

38. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Archaeology

#42 in North America

#72 in the World

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

39. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Archaeology

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

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

40. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Archaeology

#44 in North America

#82 in the World

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

41. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#45 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Archaeology

#46 in North America

#85 in the World

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

43. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Archaeology

#47 in North America

#87 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Archaeology

#49 in North America

#93 in the World

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

45. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Archaeology

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

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

46. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Archaeology

#51 in North America

#98 in the World

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

47. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Archaeology

#52 in North America

#101 in the World

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

48. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Archaeology

#53 in North America

#104 in the World

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

49. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Archaeology

#54 in North America

#109 in the World

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

50. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Archaeology

#57 in North America

#114 in the World

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

51. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Archaeology

#59 in North America

#125 in the World

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

52. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Archaeology

#60 in North America

#128 in the World

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

53. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Archaeology

#62 in North America

#135 in the World

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

54. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Archaeology

#63 in North America

#138 in the World

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

55. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Archaeology

#64 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

56. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Archaeology

#65 in North America

#150 in the World

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

57. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Archaeology

#66 in North America

#153 in the World

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

58. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Archaeology

#67 in North America

#156 in the World

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

59. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Archaeology

#68 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Archaeology

#69 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

61. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Archaeology

#71 in North America

#162 in the World

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

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Archaeology

#72 in North America

#164 in the World

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

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Archaeology

#74 in North America

#171 in the World

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

64. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Archaeology

#76 in North America

#177 in the World

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

65. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Archaeology

#77 in North America

#179 in the World

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

66. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Archaeology

#78 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

67. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Archaeology

#79 in North America

#187 in the World

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

68. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Archaeology

#80 in North America

#188 in the World

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

69. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Archaeology

#82 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

70. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Archaeology

#83 in North America

#194 in the World

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

71. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Archaeology

#85 in North America

#197 in the World

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

72. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Archaeology

#86 in North America

#199 in the World

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

73. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Archaeology

#88 in North America

#206 in the World

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

74. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Archaeology

#89 in North America

#214 in the World

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

75. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Archaeology

#91 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

76. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Archaeology

#92 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

77. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Archaeology

#93 in North America

#238 in the World

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

78. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Archaeology

#94 in North America

#239 in the World

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

79. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Archaeology

#95 in North America

#241 in the World

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

80. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Archaeology

#96 in North America

#243 in the World

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

81. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Archaeology

#97 in North America

#247 in the World

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

82. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Archaeology

#98 in North America

#248 in the World

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

83. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Archaeology

#99 in North America

#257 in the World

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

84. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Archaeology

#100 in North America

#260 in the World

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

85. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Archaeology

#101 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

86. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Archaeology

#102 in North America

#267 in the World

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

87. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Archaeology

#103 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

88. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Archaeology

#104 in North America

#275 in the World

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

89. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Archaeology

#105 in North America

#278 in the World

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

90. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Archaeology

#107 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#108 in North America

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Archaeology

#110 in North America

#289 in the World

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

93. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Archaeology

#111 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

94. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Archaeology

#112 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Archaeology

#114 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

96. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Archaeology

#115 in North America

#303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

97. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Archaeology

#117 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

98. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Archaeology

#118 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

99. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#119 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

100. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Archaeology

#120 in North America

#330 in the World

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

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