47 Best colleges for Theoretical Physics in New York State

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 2.01M citations received by 37.4K 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: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

2. Stony Brook University

Stony Brook

For Theoretical Physics

#14 in the United States

#14 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

3. Columbia University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#18 in the United States

#19 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

4. New York University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#19 in the United States

#20 in North America

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

5. Syracuse University

Syracuse

For Theoretical Physics

#39 in the United States

#45 in North America

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

6. University of Rochester

Rochester

For Theoretical Physics

#44 in the United States

#50 in North America

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

7. CUNY City College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#58 in the United States

#65 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1250
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,763

8. University at Buffalo

Buffalo

For Theoretical Physics

#73 in the United States

#83 in North America

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

9. Rockefeller University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#81 in the United States

#93 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 281
Male:Female: 47:53
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: 68%
Enrollment: 9,536
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1961

11. Clarkson University

Potsdam

For Theoretical Physics

#95 in the United States

#110 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,406

12. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy

For Theoretical Physics

#104 in the United States

#122 in North America

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

13. SUNY at Albany

Albany

For Theoretical Physics

#131 in the United States

#154 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $11,210
Enrollment: 17,560

14. Yeshiva University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#134 in the United States

#159 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,681

15. CUNY Brooklyn College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#142 in the United States

#168 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1145
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,482

16. SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Utica

For Theoretical Physics

#151 in the United States

#180 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1198
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

17. CUNY Hunter College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#169 in the United States

#200 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1260
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,755

18. King's College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#183 in the United States

#215 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

#185 in the United States

#218 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1000
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,151

20. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester

For Theoretical Physics

#186 in the United States

#219 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,534

21. College of Staten Island CUNY

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#191 in the United States

#224 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1070
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $8,526

22. Vassar College

Poughkeepsie

For Theoretical Physics

#194 in the United States

#227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,981

23. Binghamton University

Vestal

For Theoretical Physics

#204 in the United States

#237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 79%

24. CUNY Queens College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#206 in the United States

#239 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1150
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $9,057

25. Hamilton College

Clinton

For Theoretical Physics

#210 in the United States

#243 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,719

26. Barnard College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#212 in the United States

#245 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,407

27. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#216 in the United States

#249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1250
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $10,114

28. Fordham University

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#248 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $48,190

29. Long Island University

Brookville

For Theoretical Physics

#266 in the United States

#302 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,867

30. Colgate University

Hamilton

For Theoretical Physics

#281 in the United States

#319 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,736

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: $40,301
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,604

32. Canisius College

Buffalo

For Theoretical Physics

#296 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Net Price: $19,666
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,972

33. CUNY New York City College of Technology

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#301 in the United States

#340 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1020
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $8,206

34. Saint John Fisher College

Rochester

For Theoretical Physics

#307 in the United States

#346 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $30,540

35. United States Military Academy

West Point

For Theoretical Physics

#317 in the United States

#357 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Enrollment: 4,473

36. SUNY Buffalo State

Buffalo

For Theoretical Physics

#318 in the United States

#358 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1110
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,697

37. Adelphi University

Garden City

For Theoretical Physics

#320 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,303

38. St John's University - New York

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#341 in the United States

#383 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,656

39. Hobart William Smith Colleges

Geneva

For Theoretical Physics

#346 in the United States

#388 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1288
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $34,170

40. Hofstra University

Hempstead

For Theoretical Physics

#349 in the United States

#391 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,792

41. Union College

Schenectady

For Theoretical Physics

#355 in the United States

#397 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $42,137

42. Bard College

Annandale-On-Hudson

For Theoretical Physics

#359 in the United States

#401 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,320

43. New School

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#360 in the United States

#402 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $67,224
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $22,174

44. State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz

For Theoretical Physics

#377 in the United States

#422 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

45. SUNY at Fredonia

Fredonia

For Theoretical Physics

#383 in the United States

#429 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

46. Manhattan College

New York City

For Theoretical Physics

#388 in the United States

#435 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1269
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,717

47. Ithaca College

Ithaca

For Theoretical Physics

#396 in the United States

#444 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,253

Closest to New York states to learn Theoretical Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Vermont	3	145
Connecticut	7	23
Massachusetts	20	2
New Hampshire	3	78
Pennsylvania	19	13
Rhode Island	3	32
New Jersey	8	1
Maryland	9	9
District of Columbia	5	112
Maine	3	215
Ohio	18	28
Virginia	12	60
Michigan	9	15
North Carolina	13	45
Indiana	11	38
Kentucky	4	90
South Carolina	3	86
Wisconsin	6	26
Illinois	16	8
Tennessee	5	52
Georgia	8	43
Iowa	5	67
Alabama	6	115
Minnesota	5	21
Missouri	8	42
Mississippi	4	122
Florida	13	27
Kansas	3	91
Louisiana	8	56
North Dakota	2	147
Nebraska	4	127
Oklahoma	3	74
Texas	24	11
Colorado	7	34
New Mexico	3	70
Utah	4	55
Idaho	3	163
Arizona	3	30
Washington	8	20
Oregon	5	68
California	39	4