23 Best colleges for Atomic and Molecular physics in Pennsylvania

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Pennsylvania ranked based on their research performance in Atomic and Molecular physics. A graph of 1.14M citations received by 26.5K academic papers made by 23 universities in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania State University

University Park

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#24 in the United States

#25 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#32 in the United States

#33 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

3. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#47 in the United States

#50 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

4. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#48 in the United States

#51 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

5. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#82 in the United States

#93 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

6. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#106 in the United States

#128 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

7. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#124 in the United States

#147 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

8. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#218 in the United States

#246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,469

9. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#258 in the United States

#292 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $33,221

10. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#269 in the United States

#307 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1387
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $43,987

11. Haverford College

Haverford

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#272 in the United States

#310 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,535

12. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#294 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,917

13. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#314 in the United States

#356 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,003

14. Villanova University

Villanova

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#318 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1453
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,201

15. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#321 in the United States

#363 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

16. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#323 in the United States

#365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1183
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,280

17. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#324 in the United States

#366 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,511

18. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#326 in the United States

#368 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $29,948
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,493

19. Lafayette College

Easton

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#400 in the United States

#447 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,442

20. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#405 in the United States

#452 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1293
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $32,158

21. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#407 in the United States

#454 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,769

22. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#412 in the United States

#459 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

23. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Atomic and Molecular physics

#441 in the United States

#489 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $34,739

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Atomic and Molecular physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	9	16
District of Columbia	5	103
New Jersey	8	4
New York	46	13
Connecticut	9	17
Virginia	13	41
Ohio	20	25
Massachusetts	20	2
Rhode Island	3	68
New Hampshire	3	113
North Carolina	13	28
Indiana	11	36
Kentucky	5	75
Michigan	13	14
South Carolina	4	91
Maine	4	160
Tennessee	10	39
Illinois	16	6
Georgia	10	31
Wisconsin	10	10
Alabama	9	86
Iowa	4	35
Missouri	9	55
Mississippi	4	143
Minnesota	6	8
Arkansas	4	87
Florida	14	30
Louisiana	7	56
Kansas	3	50
South Dakota	5	254
Nebraska	5	66
Oklahoma	4	93
North Dakota	2	163
Texas	30	12
Colorado	7	11
New Mexico	3	63
Puerto Rico	2	198
Utah	4	45
Idaho	3	110
Arizona	3	34
Washington	6	9
Oregon	7	69
California	40	1