100 Best colleges for Nuclear Physics in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 58M citations received by 1.35M academic papers made by 651 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. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Physics

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Nuclear Physics

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

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: $25,078

4. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Nuclear Physics

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

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: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

6. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nuclear Physics

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

7. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Nuclear Physics

#7 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

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: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Nuclear Physics

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Nuclear Physics

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

11. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Nuclear Physics

#11 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Nuclear Physics

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

13. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Nuclear Physics

#13 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

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: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

15. University of Texas at Austin

For Nuclear Physics

#15 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Nuclear Physics

#16 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

17. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Nuclear Physics

#17 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Nuclear Physics

#18 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

19. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Physics

#19 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

20. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Nuclear Physics

#21 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

21. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Nuclear Physics

#22 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

22. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Nuclear Physics

#23 in North America

#42 in the World

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

23. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Nuclear Physics

#24 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

24. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Nuclear Physics

#25 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

25. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Nuclear Physics

#26 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

26. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nuclear Physics

#27 in North America

#49 in the World

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

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: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

28. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Nuclear Physics

#29 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Nuclear Physics

#30 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Nuclear Physics

#31 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

31. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Nuclear Physics

#32 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

32. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Nuclear Physics

#33 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

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: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

34. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Nuclear Physics

#35 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Nuclear Physics

#36 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

36. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Nuclear Physics

#37 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

37. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Nuclear Physics

#38 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

38. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Physics

#39 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

39. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#40 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

40. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Nuclear Physics

#42 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Nuclear Physics

#43 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

42. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Nuclear Physics

#44 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

43. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Nuclear Physics

#45 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

44. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nuclear Physics

#47 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

45. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Physics

#48 in North America

#96 in the World

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

46. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Nuclear Physics

#49 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

47. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Nuclear Physics

#50 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

48. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Nuclear Physics

#52 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

49. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Nuclear Physics

#53 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

50. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Nuclear Physics

#55 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

51. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Nuclear Physics

#56 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

52. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nuclear Physics

#57 in North America

#125 in the World

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

53. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#59 in North America

#132 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
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: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

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: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

56. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Nuclear Physics

#62 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

57. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Nuclear Physics

#63 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

58. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Nuclear Physics

#64 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

59. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Nuclear Physics

#65 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Nuclear Physics

#66 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

61. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Nuclear Physics

#67 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

62. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Nuclear Physics

#69 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

63. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Nuclear Physics

#71 in North America

#200 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

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

65. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Nuclear Physics

#74 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

66. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Nuclear Physics

#75 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

67. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Nuclear Physics

#76 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

68. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Nuclear Physics

#77 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Nuclear Physics

#78 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

70. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Nuclear Physics

#79 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

71. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Nuclear Physics

#80 in North America

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Nuclear Physics

#81 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

73. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Nuclear Physics

#82 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

74. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#83 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

75. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Nuclear Physics

#84 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

76. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nuclear Physics

#86 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

77. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Nuclear Physics

#87 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

78. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Nuclear Physics

#88 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

79. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#89 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. University of New Hampshire

New Hampshire | Durham

For Nuclear Physics

#90 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

81. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Nuclear Physics

#91 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

82. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Nuclear Physics

#93 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

83. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Nuclear Physics

#94 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

84. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Nuclear Physics

#95 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

85. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Nuclear Physics

#96 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

86. Old Dominion University

Virginia | Norfolk

For Nuclear Physics

#97 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

87. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Nuclear Physics

#98 in North America

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

88. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nuclear Physics

#99 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

89. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Nuclear Physics

#101 in North America

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

90. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Nuclear Physics

#102 in North America

#311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

91. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Nuclear Physics

#104 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

92. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Nuclear Physics

#105 in North America

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

93. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nuclear Physics

#106 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

94. University of Alabama in Huntsville

Alabama | Huntsville

For Nuclear Physics

#107 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Nuclear Physics

#108 in North America

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

96. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Nuclear Physics

#109 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $48,215

97. College of William and Mary

Virginia | Williamsburg

For Nuclear Physics

#110 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 55%

98. Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri | Rolla

For Nuclear Physics

#112 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

99. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Nuclear Physics

#113 in North America

#354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

100. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nuclear Physics

#114 in North America

#363 in the World

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

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

Physics subfields in the United States

Acoustical Engineering849

Applied/Engineering Physics245

Astrobiology330

Astrophysics and Astronomy924

Atomic and Molecular physics449

Condensed Matter Physics453

Materials Science1132

Medical Physics214

Nanotechnology595

Optical Engineering1000

Quantum and Particle physics1350

Theoretical Physics404