100 Best colleges for Nuclear Physics in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 36.7M citations received by 1.06M academic papers made by 606 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: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Physics

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Nuclear Physics

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

4. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Nuclear Physics

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Physics

#5 in North America

#9 in the World

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

6. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Nuclear Physics

#6 in North America

#10 in the World

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

7. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Physics

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Nuclear Physics

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Nuclear Physics

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

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

10. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Nuclear Physics

#10 in North America

#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

Illinois | Champaign

For Nuclear Physics

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

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

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Nuclear Physics

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Nuclear Physics

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Nuclear Physics

#14 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Physics

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Nuclear Physics

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

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

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Nuclear Physics

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

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

18. University of Texas at Austin

For Nuclear Physics

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

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

19. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Physics

#19 in North America

#30 in the World

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

20. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Nuclear Physics

#21 in North America

#41 in the World

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

21. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Nuclear Physics

#22 in North America

#42 in the World

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

22. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Nuclear Physics

#23 in North America

#43 in the World

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

23. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Nuclear Physics

#24 in North America

#45 in the World

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

24. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Nuclear Physics

#25 in North America

#46 in the World

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

25. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Nuclear Physics

#26 in North America

#48 in the World

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

26. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nuclear Physics

#27 in North America

#49 in the World

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

27. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Nuclear Physics

#28 in North America

#51 in the World

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

28. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Nuclear Physics

#29 in North America

#52 in the World

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

29. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Nuclear Physics

#30 in North America

#53 in the World

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

30. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Nuclear Physics

#31 in North America

#54 in the World

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

31. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Nuclear Physics

#32 in North America

#58 in the World

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

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Nuclear Physics

#33 in North America

#61 in the World

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

33. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Nuclear Physics

#34 in North America

#62 in the World

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

34. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Nuclear Physics

#35 in North America

#63 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Nuclear Physics

#36 in North America

#66 in the World

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

36. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Nuclear Physics

#37 in North America

#70 in the World

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

37. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Nuclear Physics

#38 in North America

#74 in the World

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

38. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Nuclear Physics

#39 in North America

#77 in the World

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

39. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Physics

#40 in North America

#79 in the World

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

40. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#42 in North America

#83 in the World

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

41. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Nuclear Physics

#43 in North America

#84 in the World

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

42. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Nuclear Physics

#44 in North America

#86 in the World

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

43. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nuclear Physics

#45 in North America

#88 in the World

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

44. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Nuclear Physics

#46 in North America

#90 in the World

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

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Nuclear Physics

#47 in North America

#91 in the World

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

46. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Nuclear Physics

#48 in North America

#93 in the World

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

47. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Physics

#49 in North America

#94 in the World

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

48. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Nuclear Physics

#51 in North America

#106 in the World

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

49. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Physics

#52 in North America

#111 in the World

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

50. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Nuclear Physics

#53 in North America

#116 in the World

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

51. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Nuclear Physics

#55 in North America

#119 in the World

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

52. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Physics

#57 in North America

#122 in the World

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

53. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Nuclear Physics

#58 in North America

#124 in the World

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

54. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Nuclear Physics

#60 in North America

#140 in the World

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

55. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Physics

#61 in North America

#147 in the World

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

56. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Nuclear Physics

#62 in North America

#153 in the World

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

57. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Nuclear Physics

#63 in North America

#157 in the World

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

58. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Nuclear Physics

#64 in North America

#184 in the World

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

59. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Nuclear Physics

#66 in North America

#192 in the World

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

60. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Nuclear Physics

#67 in North America

#193 in the World

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

61. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Nuclear Physics

#69 in North America

#198 in the World

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

62. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Nuclear Physics

#70 in North America

#201 in the World

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

63. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Nuclear Physics

#72 in North America

#208 in the World

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

64. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Nuclear Physics

#73 in North America

#213 in the World

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

65. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Nuclear Physics

#74 in North America

#216 in the World

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

66. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Nuclear Physics

#75 in North America

#217 in the World

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

67. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Nuclear Physics

#76 in North America

#222 in the World

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

68. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Nuclear Physics

#77 in North America

#225 in the World

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

69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Nuclear Physics

#78 in North America

#228 in the World

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

70. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Nuclear Physics

#79 in North America

#230 in the World

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

71. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Nuclear Physics

#80 in North America

#232 in the World

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

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Nuclear Physics

#81 in North America

#234 in the World

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

73. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Nuclear Physics

#82 in North America

#238 in the World

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

74. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#83 in North America

#242 in the World

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

75. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Nuclear Physics

#84 in North America

#243 in the World

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

76. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Nuclear Physics

#85 in North America

#245 in the World

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

77. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Physics

#86 in North America

#246 in the World

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

78. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Nuclear Physics

#87 in North America

#248 in the World

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

79. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Nuclear Physics

#89 in North America

#252 in the World

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

80. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#90 in North America

#258 in the World

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

81. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Nuclear Physics

#91 in North America

#259 in the World

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

82. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Nuclear Physics

#92 in North America

#263 in the World

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

83. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Nuclear Physics

#94 in North America

#273 in the World

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

84. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Nuclear Physics

#95 in North America

#277 in the World

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

85. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Nuclear Physics

#96 in North America

#282 in the World

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

86. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Nuclear Physics

#97 in North America

#295 in the World

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

87. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Physics

#98 in North America

#301 in the World

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

88. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nuclear Physics

#99 in North America

#302 in the World

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

89. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#102 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

90. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Nuclear Physics

#103 in North America

#310 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

91. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Nuclear Physics

#104 in North America

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

92. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#105 in North America

#313 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

93. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Nuclear Physics

#107 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,651

94. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Nuclear Physics

#108 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

95. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Nuclear Physics

#109 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1328
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

96. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Nuclear Physics

#110 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1448
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 79%

97. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Nuclear Physics

#111 in North America

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 98%

98. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Nuclear Physics

#112 in North America

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

99. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Nuclear Physics

#113 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

100. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Nuclear Physics

#114 in North America

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

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 Engineering808

Applied/Engineering Physics216

Astrobiology311

Astrophysics and Astronomy874

Atomic and Molecular physics427

Condensed Matter Physics433

Materials Science1094

Medical Physics212

Nanotechnology552

Optical Engineering957

Quantum and Particle physics1304

Theoretical Physics373