Best Universities for Nuclear Physics in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Nuclear Physics. A graph of 40M citations received by 1.17M academic papers made by 659 universities in North America 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

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#1 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Nuclear Physics

#2 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

4. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Nuclear Physics

#4 in the United States

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

5. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#5 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

6. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Nuclear Physics

#6 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

7. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Nuclear Physics

#7 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Nuclear Physics

#8 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Nuclear Physics

#9 in the United States

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

10. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#10 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

11. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Nuclear Physics

#11 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

12. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#12 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

13. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Nuclear Physics

#13 in the United States

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

14. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#14 in the United States

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

15. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#15 in the United States

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

16. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#16 in the United States

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Nuclear Physics

#17 in the United States

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

18. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Nuclear Physics

#18 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

19. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Nuclear Physics

#19 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

20. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Nuclear Physics

#1 in Canada

#40 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

21. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Nuclear Physics

#20 in the United States

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

22. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Nuclear Physics

#21 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

23. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Nuclear Physics

#22 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

24. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Nuclear Physics

#23 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

25. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#24 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

26. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Nuclear Physics

#25 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

27. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Nuclear Physics

#26 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

28. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Nuclear Physics

#27 in the United States

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

29. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Nuclear Physics

#28 in the United States

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

30. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Nuclear Physics

#29 in the United States

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

31. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Nuclear Physics

#30 in the United States

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

32. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Nuclear Physics

#31 in the United States

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

33. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Nuclear Physics

#32 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

34. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#33 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

35. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Nuclear Physics

#34 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Nuclear Physics

#35 in the United States

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

37. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Nuclear Physics

#36 in the United States

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

38. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Nuclear Physics

#37 in the United States

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

39. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#38 in the United States

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

40. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Nuclear Physics

#39 in the United States

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

41. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#2 in Canada

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

42. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Nuclear Physics

#40 in the United States

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

43. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Nuclear Physics

#41 in the United States

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

44. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#42 in the United States

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

45. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Nuclear Physics

#43 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

46. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Nuclear Physics

#44 in the United States

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

47. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Nuclear Physics

#45 in the United States

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

48. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Nuclear Physics

#46 in the United States

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

49. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Nuclear Physics

#47 in the United States

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

50. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Nuclear Physics

#3 in Canada

#97 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

51. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Nuclear Physics

#48 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

52. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#49 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

53. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Nuclear Physics

#50 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

54. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Nuclear Physics

#4 in Canada

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

55. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Nuclear Physics

#51 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

56. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Nuclear Physics

#5 in Canada

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

57. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Nuclear Physics

#52 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

58. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Nuclear Physics

#53 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

59. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Nuclear Physics

#6 in Canada

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

60. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Nuclear Physics

#54 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

61. New York University

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#55 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

62. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#56 in the United States

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

63. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Nuclear Physics

#57 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

64. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Nuclear Physics

#58 in the United States

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

65. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Nuclear Physics

#7 in Canada

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

66. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#59 in the United States

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

67. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Nuclear Physics

#60 in the United States

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

68. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Nuclear Physics

#8 in Canada

#195 in the World

Enrollment: 35,900
Founded: 1957

69. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#61 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

70. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Nuclear Physics

#62 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

71. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Nuclear Physics

#9 in Canada

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

72. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Nuclear Physics

#63 in the United States

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

73. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Nuclear Physics

#64 in the United States

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

74. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Nuclear Physics

#65 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

75. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Nuclear Physics

#66 in the United States

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

76. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Nuclear Physics

#67 in the United States

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Nuclear Physics

#68 in the United States

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

78. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Nuclear Physics

#69 in the United States

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

79. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Nuclear Physics

#70 in the United States

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

80. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Nuclear Physics

#71 in the United States

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

81. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Nuclear Physics

#72 in the United States

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

82. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Nuclear Physics

#73 in the United States

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

83. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Nuclear Physics

#74 in the United States

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

84. Tulane University of Louisiana

United States | Louisiana

For Nuclear Physics

#75 in the United States

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

85. University of New Hampshire

United States | New Hampshire

For Nuclear Physics

#76 in the United States

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

86. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Nuclear Physics

#77 in the United States

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

87. University of Oregon

United States | Oregon

For Nuclear Physics

#78 in the United States

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

88. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Nuclear Physics

#10 in Canada

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

89. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Nuclear Physics

#79 in the United States

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

90. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Nuclear Physics

#80 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

91. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Nuclear Physics

#81 in the United States

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

92. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Nuclear Physics

#82 in the United States

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

93. University of Saskatchewan

Canada | Saskatchewan

For Nuclear Physics

#11 in Canada

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,953
Founded: 1907

94. Kansas State University

United States | Kansas State

For Nuclear Physics

#83 in the United States

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

95. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Nuclear Physics

#84 in the United States

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

96. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Nuclear Physics

#85 in the United States

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

97. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Nuclear Physics

#86 in the United States

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

98. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Nuclear Physics

#87 in the United States

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

99. Northeastern University

United States | Massachusetts

For Nuclear Physics

#88 in the United States

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

100. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Nuclear Physics

#12 in Canada

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

Physics subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering876

Applied/Engineering Physics245

Astrobiology349

Astrophysics and Astronomy940

Atomic and Molecular physics475

Condensed Matter Physics483

Materials Science1168

Medical Physics238

Nanotechnology609

Optical Engineering1024

Quantum and Particle physics1383

Theoretical Physics419