100 Best colleges for Archaeology 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 Archaeology. A graph of 96.8M citations received by 2.78M academic papers made by 1,348 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: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

2. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

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: $17,998

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Archaeology

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Archaeology

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Archaeology

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Archaeology

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Archaeology

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

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

11. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Archaeology

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Archaeology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Archaeology

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Archaeology

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Archaeology

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

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

16. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Archaeology

#18 in North America

#24 in the World

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

17. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Archaeology

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

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

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: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Archaeology

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

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

20. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Archaeology

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

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

21. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Archaeology

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

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

22. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Archaeology

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

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

23. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Archaeology

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

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

24. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Archaeology

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

25. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Archaeology

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

26. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Archaeology

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

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

27. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Archaeology

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

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

28. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Archaeology

#30 in North America

#41 in the World

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

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#31 in North America

#42 in the World

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

30. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Archaeology

#33 in North America

#48 in the World

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

31. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Archaeology

#35 in North America

#51 in the World

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

32. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Archaeology

#36 in North America

#52 in the World

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

33. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Archaeology

#37 in North America

#54 in the World

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

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Archaeology

#38 in North America

#55 in the World

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

35. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#39 in North America

#60 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Archaeology

#40 in North America

#61 in the World

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

37. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Archaeology

#41 in North America

#66 in the World

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

38. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Archaeology

#42 in North America

#68 in the World

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

39. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Archaeology

#43 in North America

#76 in the World

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

40. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#44 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

41. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Archaeology

#45 in North America

#79 in the World

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

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Archaeology

#46 in North America

#81 in the World

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

43. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Archaeology

#47 in North America

#82 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Archaeology

#49 in North America

#90 in the World

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

45. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Archaeology

#50 in North America

#91 in the World

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

46. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Archaeology

#51 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Archaeology

#52 in North America

#99 in the World

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

48. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Archaeology

#53 in North America

#102 in the World

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

49. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Archaeology

#54 in North America

#106 in the World

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

50. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Archaeology

#57 in North America

#111 in the World

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

51. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Archaeology

#59 in North America

#122 in the World

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

52. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Archaeology

#60 in North America

#124 in the World

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

53. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Archaeology

#62 in North America

#134 in the World

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

54. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Archaeology

#63 in North America

#135 in the World

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

55. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Archaeology

#64 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

56. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Archaeology

#65 in North America

#141 in the World

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

57. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Archaeology

#66 in North America

#150 in the World

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

58. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Archaeology

#67 in North America

#152 in the World

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

59. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Archaeology

#68 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Archaeology

#69 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

61. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Archaeology

#70 in North America

#157 in the World

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

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Archaeology

#72 in North America

#159 in the World

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

63. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Archaeology

#74 in North America

#171 in the World

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

64. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Archaeology

#75 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

65. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Archaeology

#77 in North America

#174 in the World

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

66. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Archaeology

#78 in North America

#180 in the World

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

67. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Archaeology

#79 in North America

#183 in the World

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

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Archaeology

#80 in North America

#184 in the World

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

69. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Archaeology

#82 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

70. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Archaeology

#83 in North America

#190 in the World

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

71. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Archaeology

#85 in North America

#193 in the World

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

72. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Archaeology

#86 in North America

#195 in the World

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

73. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Archaeology

#88 in North America

#199 in the World

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

74. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Archaeology

#89 in North America

#211 in the World

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

75. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Archaeology

#90 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

76. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Archaeology

#92 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

77. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Archaeology

#93 in North America

#228 in the World

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

78. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Archaeology

#94 in North America

#233 in the World

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

79. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Archaeology

#95 in North America

#236 in the World

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

80. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Archaeology

#96 in North America

#238 in the World

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

81. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Archaeology

#97 in North America

#239 in the World

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

82. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Archaeology

#98 in North America

#241 in the World

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

83. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Archaeology

#99 in North America

#253 in the World

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

84. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Archaeology

#100 in North America

#254 in the World

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

85. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Archaeology

#101 in North America

#259 in the World

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

86. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Archaeology

#102 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

87. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Archaeology

#103 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

88. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Archaeology

#104 in North America

#271 in the World

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

89. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Archaeology

#105 in North America

#272 in the World

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

90. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Archaeology

#107 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

91. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Archaeology

#108 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 83%

92. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Archaeology

#109 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Archaeology

#110 in North America

#280 in the World

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

94. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Archaeology

#112 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $51,520

95. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Archaeology

#113 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $14,643

96. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Archaeology

#114 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

97. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Archaeology

#116 in North America

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

98. Boston College

Massachusetts | Boston

For Archaeology

#118 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

99. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Archaeology

#119 in North America

#321 in the World

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

100. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#120 in North America

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

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.