Best Astrophysics and Astronomy colleges in the US [Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 81.4M citations received by 1.84M academic papers made by 919 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. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#5 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

13. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

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

15. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

16. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

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

17. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

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

18. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

19. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

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

21. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

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

22. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

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

23. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

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

24. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

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

25. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

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

26. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

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

27. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

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

28. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#29 in North America

#38 in the World

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

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

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

30. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

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

31. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#33 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

32. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#34 in North America

#51 in the World

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

33. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#35 in North America

#53 in the World

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

34. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#36 in North America

#54 in the World

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

35. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#37 in North America

#57 in the World

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

36. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#38 in North America

#59 in the World

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

37. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#40 in North America

#66 in the World

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

38. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#41 in North America

#70 in the World

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

39. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#42 in North America

#73 in the World

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

40. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#43 in North America

#77 in the World

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

41. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#44 in North America

#81 in the World

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

42. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#45 in North America

#88 in the World

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

43. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#46 in North America

#89 in the World

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

44. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#48 in North America

#97 in the World

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

45. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#49 in North America

#98 in the World

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

46. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#50 in North America

#100 in the World

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

47. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#51 in North America

#102 in the World

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

48. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#52 in North America

#107 in the World

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

49. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#53 in North America

#108 in the World

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

50. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#54 in North America

#115 in the World

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

51. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#57 in North America

#122 in the World

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

52. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#58 in North America

#124 in the World

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

53. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#60 in North America

#130 in the World

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

54. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#61 in North America

#135 in the World

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

55. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#62 in North America

#136 in the World

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

56. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#63 in North America

#138 in the World

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

57. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#64 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

58. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#66 in North America

#151 in the World

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

59. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#68 in North America

#154 in the World

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

60. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#69 in North America

#158 in the World

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

61. University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii | Honolulu

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#71 in North America

#170 in the World

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

62. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#72 in North America

#173 in the World

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

63. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#73 in North America

#178 in the World

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

64. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#74 in North America

#180 in the World

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

65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#75 in North America

#188 in the World

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

66. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#76 in North America

#190 in the World

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

67. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#77 in North America

#192 in the World

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

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#78 in North America

#198 in the World

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

69. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#79 in North America

#201 in the World

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

70. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#80 in North America

#206 in the World

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

71. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#81 in North America

#208 in the World

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

72. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#82 in North America

#209 in the World

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

73. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#83 in North America

#214 in the World

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

74. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#85 in North America

#220 in the World

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

75. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#86 in North America

#223 in the World

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

76. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#87 in North America

#235 in the World

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

77. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#88 in North America

#239 in the World

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

78. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#89 in North America

#247 in the World

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

79. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#90 in North America

#250 in the World

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

80. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#91 in North America

#251 in the World

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

81. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#92 in North America

#253 in the World

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

82. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#93 in North America

#254 in the World

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

83. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#94 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

84. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#95 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

85. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#97 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

86. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#98 in North America

#271 in the World

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

87. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#99 in North America

#280 in the World

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

88. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#100 in North America

#282 in the World

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

89. New Mexico State University

New Mexico | Las Cruces

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#102 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 998
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

90. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#103 in North America

#299 in the World

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

91. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#104 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1318
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

92. George Mason University

Virginia | Fairfax

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#106 in North America

#311 in the World

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

93. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#107 in North America

#313 in the World

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

94. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#108 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#109 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

96. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#110 in North America

#323 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

97. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#111 in North America

#326 in the World

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

98. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#112 in North America

#329 in the World

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

99. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#113 in North America

#331 in the World

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

100. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#114 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

Physics subfields in the United States