100 Best colleges for Applied/Engineering Physics in the United States
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Applied/Engineering Physics. A graph of 2.76M citations received by 84.5K academic papers made by 216 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
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $21,669
- Enrollment
- 45,307
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1555
- Average ACT
- 36
- Net Price
- $20,232
3. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,279
4. Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
5. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1415
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
6. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $21,766
- Enrollment
- 46,430
7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
8. University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Average SAT
- 1365
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
9. Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1460
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
10. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $20,755
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $59,192
11. Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,060
12. University of Maryland - College Park
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
13. Northwestern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $22,095
14. University of Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $36,991
15. Arizona State University - Tempe
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $12,381
- Enrollment
- 80,065
16. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $20,389
- Enrollment
- 26,420
17. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
18. Ohio State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
19. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
20. Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,698
21. Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
22. Purdue University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
23. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $20,782
- Enrollment
- 42,006
24. University of Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,123
25. University of Washington - Seattle
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $14,731
- Enrollment
- 52,319
26. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
27. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
28. Iowa State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
29. Harvard University
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,491
30. University of Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
31. University of Arizona
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
32. Texas A&M University - College Station
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
33. University of Houston
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
34. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $20,548
- Enrollment
- 39,679
35. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $39,127
36. Stony Brook University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1410
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
37. Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
38. Case Western Reserve University
- Acceptance Rate
- 27%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $38,279
39. Columbia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $22,058
40. Yale University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,647
41. University of Delaware
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
42. Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $33,499
43. University of Colorado Boulder
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
44. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $36,808
45. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1250
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
46. University of Rochester
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Average SAT
- 1465
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $39,775
47. University of Pittsburgh
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
48. University of Iowa
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
49. University of Central Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
50. Florida State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
51. Colorado State University - Fort Collins
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
52. University of Virginia
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 54%
53. University at Buffalo
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
54. Rice University
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,902
55. University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
56. Duke University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $23,694
57. University of Notre Dame
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $28,474
58. Clemson University
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
59. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
60. Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,723
61. Providence College
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,970
62. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $17,411
- Enrollment
- 35,937
63. University of Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
64. Washington State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
- Average Aid
- $10,689
- Enrollment
- 27,539
65. Auburn University
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
66. University of South Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
67. University of New Mexico
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Average ACT
- 22
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $9,280
68. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $21,202
- Enrollment
- 19,478
69. University of California - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $22,042
- Enrollment
- 26,809
70. University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
71. Johns Hopkins University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $24,034
72. University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
73. Drexel University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $39,267
74. Illinois Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $28,702
75. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
76. Oregon State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $9,260
- Enrollment
- 34,292
77. University of Illinois at Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
78. University of Toledo
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Average SAT
- 1170
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
79. Boston University
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,829
80. University of Kentucky
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
81. Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $25,606
82. University of Oregon
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
83. Colorado School of Mines
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Average SAT
- 1409
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
84. University of Arkansas
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1125
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
85. Northeastern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $35,827
86. Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $23,432
87. University of North Texas
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1120
- Average ACT
- 23
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
88. Lehigh University
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Average SAT
- 1415
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $30,453
89. Syracuse University
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,651
90. Kansas State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $8,537
- Enrollment
- 19,722
91. Boston College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1488
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $30,559
92. University of Missouri - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
93. Wright State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1041
- Average ACT
- 21
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
94. University of Cincinnati
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
95. Florida International University
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Average SAT
- 1155
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
96. New York University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,499
97. University of Texas at Arlington
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1120
- Average ACT
- 22
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
98. Texas Tech University
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Average SAT
- 1185
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
99. Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1272
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
100. University of Georgia
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1320
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
The best cities to study Applied/Engineering Physics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Cambridge, Stanford, and University Park.