100 Best colleges for Nuclear Physics in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Nuclear Physics. A graph of 56M citations received by 1.33M academic papers made by 647 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

California | Berkeley

For Nuclear Physics

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

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

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Physics

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Nuclear Physics

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Nuclear Physics

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Physics

#5 in North America

#8 in the World

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

6. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Nuclear Physics

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Physics

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

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

8. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Nuclear Physics

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Nuclear Physics

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Nuclear Physics

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Nuclear Physics

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Nuclear Physics

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Nuclear Physics

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Physics

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Texas at Austin

For Nuclear Physics

#15 in North America

#22 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Nuclear Physics

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

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

17. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Nuclear Physics

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

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

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Nuclear Physics

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

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

19. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Physics

#19 in North America

#31 in the World

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

20. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Nuclear Physics

#21 in North America

#39 in the World

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

21. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Nuclear Physics

#22 in North America

#41 in the World

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

22. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Nuclear Physics

#23 in North America

#42 in the World

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

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Nuclear Physics

#24 in North America

#44 in the World

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

24. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Nuclear Physics

#25 in North America

#47 in the World

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

25. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Nuclear Physics

#26 in North America

#48 in the World

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

26. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nuclear Physics

#27 in North America

#49 in the World

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

27. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Nuclear Physics

#28 in North America

#50 in the World

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

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Nuclear Physics

#29 in North America

#51 in the World

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

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Nuclear Physics

#30 in North America

#53 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Nuclear Physics

#31 in North America

#55 in the World

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

31. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Nuclear Physics

#32 in North America

#56 in the World

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

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Nuclear Physics

#33 in North America

#61 in the World

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

33. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Nuclear Physics

#34 in North America

#62 in the World

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

34. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Nuclear Physics

#35 in North America

#65 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Nuclear Physics

#36 in North America

#66 in the World

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

36. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Nuclear Physics

#37 in North America

#72 in the World

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

37. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Nuclear Physics

#38 in North America

#73 in the World

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

38. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Physics

#39 in North America

#75 in the World

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

39. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#40 in North America

#79 in the World

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

40. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Nuclear Physics

#42 in North America

#82 in the World

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

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Nuclear Physics

#43 in North America

#86 in the World

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

42. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Nuclear Physics

#44 in North America

#89 in the World

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

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Nuclear Physics

#45 in North America

#90 in the World

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

44. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Physics

#47 in North America

#94 in the World

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

45. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nuclear Physics

#48 in North America

#95 in the World

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

46. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Nuclear Physics

#49 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Nuclear Physics

#50 in North America

#99 in the World

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

48. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Nuclear Physics

#52 in North America

#103 in the World

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

49. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Nuclear Physics

#54 in North America

#107 in the World

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

50. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Nuclear Physics

#55 in North America

#109 in the World

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

51. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Physics

#56 in North America

#115 in the World

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

52. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Physics

#57 in North America

#121 in the World

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

53. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#59 in North America

#130 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

54. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Nuclear Physics

#60 in North America

#134 in the World

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

55. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Nuclear Physics

#61 in North America

#135 in the World

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

56. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Nuclear Physics

#62 in North America

#148 in the World

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

57. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Physics

#63 in North America

#154 in the World

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

58. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Nuclear Physics

#64 in North America

#161 in the World

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

59. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Nuclear Physics

#65 in North America

#182 in the World

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

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Nuclear Physics

#66 in North America

#183 in the World

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

61. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Nuclear Physics

#67 in North America

#184 in the World

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

62. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Nuclear Physics

#69 in North America

#196 in the World

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

63. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Nuclear Physics

#71 in North America

#199 in the World

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

64. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Nuclear Physics

#73 in North America

#212 in the World

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

65. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Nuclear Physics

#74 in North America

#215 in the World

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

66. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Nuclear Physics

#75 in North America

#218 in the World

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

67. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Nuclear Physics

#76 in North America

#220 in the World

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

68. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Nuclear Physics

#77 in North America

#224 in the World

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

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Nuclear Physics

#78 in North America

#227 in the World

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

70. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Nuclear Physics

#79 in North America

#235 in the World

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

71. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Nuclear Physics

#80 in North America

#236 in the World

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

72. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Nuclear Physics

#81 in North America

#237 in the World

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

73. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Nuclear Physics

#82 in North America

#238 in the World

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

74. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#83 in North America

#242 in the World

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

75. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Nuclear Physics

#84 in North America

#243 in the World

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

76. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Physics

#85 in North America

#246 in the World

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

77. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Nuclear Physics

#86 in North America

#249 in the World

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

78. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Nuclear Physics

#87 in North America

#251 in the World

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

79. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#89 in North America

#259 in the World

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

80. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Nuclear Physics

#90 in North America

#262 in the World

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

81. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Nuclear Physics

#91 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 96%

82. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Nuclear Physics

#93 in North America

#273 in the World

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

83. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Nuclear Physics

#94 in North America

#279 in the World

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

84. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Nuclear Physics

#95 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

85. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Nuclear Physics

#96 in North America

#285 in the World

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

86. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Nuclear Physics

#97 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#98 in North America

#298 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

88. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Nuclear Physics

#99 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

89. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Physics

#100 in North America

#301 in the World

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

90. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Nuclear Physics

#102 in North America

#305 in the World

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

91. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#104 in North America

#312 in the World

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

92. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nuclear Physics

#105 in North America

#318 in the World

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

93. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Nuclear Physics

#106 in North America

#323 in the World

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

94. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Nuclear Physics

#107 in North America

#325 in the World

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

95. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Nuclear Physics

#108 in North America

#327 in the World

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

96. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Nuclear Physics

#109 in North America

#328 in the World

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

97. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Nuclear Physics

#110 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1438
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

98. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Nuclear Physics

#112 in North America

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1264
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

99. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Nuclear Physics

#113 in North America

#349 in the World

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

100. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Nuclear Physics

#114 in North America

#365 in the World

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

The best cities to study Nuclear Physics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Berkeley, Cambridge, Stanford, and Princeton.

Physics subfields in the United States

Acoustical Engineering846

Applied/Engineering Physics239

Astrobiology322

Astrophysics and Astronomy919

Atomic and Molecular physics448

Condensed Matter Physics453

Materials Science1124

Medical Physics214

Nanotechnology586

Optical Engineering993

Quantum and Particle physics1343

Theoretical Physics403