23 Best colleges for Applied/Engineering Physics in New York State

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in New York State ranked based on their research performance in Applied/Engineering Physics. A graph of 305K citations received by 9.34K academic papers made by 23 universities in New York State 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. Cornell University

Ithaca

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#13 in the United States

#13 in North America

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

2. Stony Brook University

Stony Brook

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#30 in the United States

#30 in North America

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

3. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#37 in the United States

#39 in North America

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

4. Columbia University

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#40 in the United States

#42 in North America

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

5. University of Rochester

Rochester

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#44 in the United States

#46 in North America

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

6. University at Buffalo

Buffalo

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#58 in the United States

#63 in North America

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

7. New York University

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#89 in the United States

#102 in North America

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

8. Binghamton University

Vestal

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#100 in the United States

#115 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 79%

9. Syracuse University

Syracuse

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#102 in the United States

#117 in North America

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

10. CUNY City College

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#103 in the United States

#119 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1250
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,763

11. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#106 in the United States

#124 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,534

12. Alfred University

Alfred

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#119 in the United States

#139 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1203
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,470

13. SUNY at Albany

Albany

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#124 in the United States

#145 in North America

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

14. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#149 in the United States

#174 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 9,536
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

15. SUNY Buffalo State

Buffalo

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#157 in the United States

#182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1110
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,697

16. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#162 in the United States

#188 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1198
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

17. Clarkson University

Potsdam

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#185 in the United States

#213 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,406

18. CUNY Hunter College

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#197 in the United States

#226 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1260
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,755

19. CUNY Queens College

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#210 in the United States

#240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1150
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $9,057

20. CUNY Brooklyn College

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#220 in the United States

#250 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1145
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,482

21. Rockefeller University

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#230 in the United States

#261 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 281
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1901

22. Vassar College

Poughkeepsie

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#241 in the United States

#272 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,981

23. College of Staten Island CUNY

New York City

For Applied/Engineering Physics

#243 in the United States

#274 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1070
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $8,526

Closest to New York states to learn Applied/Engineering Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Connecticut	3	46
Massachusetts	14	1
Pennsylvania	11	4
Rhode Island	3	49
New Jersey	5	23
Maryland	5	12
District of Columbia	4	147
Ohio	15	16
Virginia	9	28
Michigan	7	10
North Carolina	8	20
Indiana	5	11
Kentucky	2	77
Wisconsin	3	21
Illinois	9	5
Tennessee	2	39
Georgia	6	8
Alabama	5	71
Missouri	7	84
Mississippi	3	104
Florida	7	32
Kansas	2	92
Louisiana	3	115
Oklahoma	3	118
Texas	13	7
Colorado	6	38
New Mexico	3	66
Utah	3	52
Idaho	2	138
Arizona	2	19
Washington	4	22
Oregon	3	73
California	21	2