District of Columbia's best Physics schools [2025 Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in District of Columbia ranked based on their research performance in Physics. A graph of 2.4M citations received by 82.5K academic papers made by 9 universities in District of Columbia 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. George Washington University

Washington

For Physics

#111 in the United States

#129 in North America

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

2. Georgetown University

Washington

For Physics

#118 in the United States

#140 in North America

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

3. Catholic University of America

Washington

For Physics

#192 in the United States

#220 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $35,008
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $38,232

4. Howard University

Washington

For Physics

#218 in the United States

#249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1199
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $30,028

5. American University in Washington

Washington

For Physics

#252 in the United States

#288 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $40,189

6. National Defense University

Fort Lesley J McNair

For Physics

#599 in the United States

#654 in North America

Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 1976

7. University of the District of Columbia

Washington

For Physics

#626 in the United States

#684 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $5,527
Enrollment: 3,855

8. Gallaudet University

Washington

For Physics

#805 in the United States

#872 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 842
Average ACT: 16
Net Price: $15,025

9. Trinity Washington University

Washington

For Physics

#1524 in the United States

#1610 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $12,704
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $21,814

Closest to District of Columbia states to learn Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	27	18
Delaware	3	58
Virginia	41	45
Pennsylvania	103	12
New Jersey	27	11
West Virginia	17	113
North Carolina	39	36
Connecticut	20	26
New York	134	8
Ohio	59	24
Rhode Island	9	57
Massachusetts	69	1
South Carolina	27	82
Vermont	11	136
Kentucky	25	72
New Hampshire	11	96
Indiana	31	25
Tennessee	32	56
Georgia	45	17
Michigan	37	5
Maine	14	185
Illinois	68	6
Alabama	24	97
Wisconsin	32	14
Florida	55	29
Mississippi	14	142
Missouri	35	51
Iowa	29	41
Arkansas	18	121
Minnesota	26	16
Louisiana	24	75
Kansas	15	91
Oklahoma	19	93
Nebraska	11	83
South Dakota	8	250
North Dakota	8	174
Texas	76	13
Colorado	20	35
Puerto Rico	15	284
New Mexico	9	84
Montana	7	150
Utah	11	44
Idaho	7	157
Arizona	10	30
Nevada	6	129
Washington	31	10
Oregon	17	77
California	132	2
Alaska	4	180
Hawaii	7	114