47 Best colleges for Theoretical Physics in New York State

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in New York State ranked based on their research performance in Theoretical Physics. A graph of 1.93M citations received by 36.9K academic papers made by 47 universities in New York State 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. Cornell University

Ithaca

For Theoretical Physics

#12 in the United States

#12 in North America

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

2. Stony Brook University

Stony Brook

For Theoretical Physics

#14 in the United States

#14 in North America

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

3. Columbia University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#18 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

4. New York University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#19 in the United States

#20 in North America

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

5. Syracuse University

Syracuse

For Theoretical Physics

#38 in the United States

#44 in North America

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

6. University of Rochester

Rochester

For Theoretical Physics

#43 in the United States

#49 in North America

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

7. CUNY City College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#57 in the United States

#64 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1340
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,236

8. University at Buffalo

Buffalo

For Theoretical Physics

#75 in the United States

#85 in North America

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

9. Rockefeller University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#78 in the United States

#89 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 286
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1901

10. CUNY Graduate School and University Center

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#93 in the United States

#107 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 9,116
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

11. Clarkson University

Potsdam

For Theoretical Physics

#94 in the United States

#109 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1294
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $33,192

12. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy

For Theoretical Physics

#102 in the United States

#120 in North America

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

13. SUNY at Albany

Albany

For Theoretical Physics

#128 in the United States

#151 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,747
Enrollment: 16,880

14. Yeshiva University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#134 in the United States

#158 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $38,118

15. CUNY Brooklyn College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#139 in the United States

#165 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1280
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,290

16. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica

For Theoretical Physics

#152 in the United States

#181 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

17. CUNY Hunter College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#169 in the United States

#200 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1340
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,624

18. King's College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#177 in the United States

#209 in North America

Net Price: $34,192
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,640
Enrollment: 442

19. Lehman College, CUNY

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#184 in the United States

#217 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1040
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $9,389

20. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester

For Theoretical Physics

#189 in the United States

#222 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,753

21. College of Staten Island CUNY

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#191 in the United States

#224 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $8,174
Enrollment: 10,736

22. Vassar College

Poughkeepsie

For Theoretical Physics

#192 in the United States

#225 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1493
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,733

23. Binghamton University

Vestal

For Theoretical Physics

#203 in the United States

#236 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 78%

24. CUNY Queens College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#204 in the United States

#237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1210
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $8,904

25. Hamilton College

Clinton

For Theoretical Physics

#209 in the United States

#242 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

26. Barnard College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#212 in the United States

#245 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1502
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,738

27. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#214 in the United States

#247 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $9,867

28. Fordham University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#245 in the United States

#280 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,368

29. Long Island University

Brookville

For Theoretical Physics

#266 in the United States

#302 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $22,620

30. Colgate University

Hamilton

For Theoretical Physics

#278 in the United States

#316 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,954

31. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#287 in the United States

#325 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $37,171
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $7,718

32. Canisius College

Buffalo

For Theoretical Physics

#290 in the United States

#328 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $19,321
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,779

33. CUNY New York City College of Technology

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#302 in the United States

#341 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1040
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $7,904

34. Saint John Fisher College

Rochester

For Theoretical Physics

#304 in the United States

#343 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,969

35. Adelphi University

Garden City

For Theoretical Physics

#315 in the United States

#355 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,671

36. United States Military Academy

West Point

For Theoretical Physics

#318 in the United States

#358 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Enrollment: 4,508

37. SUNY Buffalo State

Buffalo

For Theoretical Physics

#320 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1075
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,921

38. St John's University - New York

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#342 in the United States

#384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,206

39. Hobart William Smith Colleges

Geneva

For Theoretical Physics

#343 in the United States

#385 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $33,172

40. Hofstra University

Hempstead

For Theoretical Physics

#346 in the United States

#388 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,687

41. Union College

Schenectady

For Theoretical Physics

#352 in the United States

#394 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $42,884

42. New School

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#359 in the United States

#401 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $62,226
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $20,504

43. Bard College

Annandale-On-Hudson

For Theoretical Physics

#361 in the United States

#404 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $25,218

44. State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz

For Theoretical Physics

#375 in the United States

#420 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

45. SUNY at Fredonia

Fredonia

For Theoretical Physics

#382 in the United States

#427 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

46. Manhattan College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#389 in the United States

#436 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,349

47. Ithaca College

Ithaca

For Theoretical Physics

#395 in the United States

#443 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $34,297

Closest to New York states to learn Theoretical Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Vermont	3	148
Connecticut	7	23
Massachusetts	20	2
New Hampshire	3	79
Pennsylvania	19	13
Rhode Island	3	32
New Jersey	8	1
Maryland	9	9
District of Columbia	5	112
Maine	3	216
Ohio	18	28
Virginia	12	60
Michigan	9	15
North Carolina	13	45
Indiana	11	39
Kentucky	4	89
South Carolina	3	85
Wisconsin	6	26
Illinois	16	8
Tennessee	5	52
Georgia	8	44
Iowa	5	68
Alabama	6	116
Minnesota	5	21
Missouri	8	42
Mississippi	4	125
Florida	13	27
Kansas	3	90
Louisiana	8	56
North Dakota	2	147
Nebraska	4	127
Oklahoma	3	73
Texas	23	11
Colorado	7	34
New Mexico	3	70
Utah	4	54
Idaho	3	163
Arizona	3	30
Washington	8	20
Oregon	5	67
California	39	4