100 Best colleges for Theoretical Physics in the United States
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Theoretical Physics. A graph of 11.6M citations received by 296K academic papers made by 373 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. Princeton University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,698
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1555
- Average ACT
- 36
- Net Price
- $20,232
3. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,279
4. Harvard University
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,491
5. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $20,389
- Enrollment
- 26,420
6. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $21,669
- Enrollment
- 45,307
7. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $20,755
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $59,192
8. University of Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $36,991
9. University of Maryland - College Park
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
10. University of Texas at Austin
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Average SAT
- 1365
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
11. Rutgers University - New Brunswick
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
12. Cornell University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,060
13. Stony Brook University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1410
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
14. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1415
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
15. University of Pennsylvania
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,123
16. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
17. Pennsylvania State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
18. University of Washington - Seattle
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $14,731
- Enrollment
- 52,319
19. New York University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,499
20. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $21,766
- Enrollment
- 46,430
21. Columbia University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $22,058
22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
23. Yale University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,647
24. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $20,782
- Enrollment
- 42,006
25. Texas A&M University - College Station
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
26. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
27. Ohio State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
28. Boston University
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Average SAT
- 1425
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,829
29. University of Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
30. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $20,548
- Enrollment
- 39,679
31. Brown University
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $26,723
32. Providence College
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,970
33. University of Arizona
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
34. University of Colorado Boulder
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
35. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $36,808
36. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $17,411
- Enrollment
- 35,937
37. Johns Hopkins University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $24,034
38. Syracuse University
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $43,651
39. Carnegie Mellon University
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $33,499
40. University of Pittsburgh
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1375
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
41. Washington University in St Louis
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $23,432
42. Georgia Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1460
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
43. University of Rochester
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Average SAT
- 1465
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $39,775
44. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $21,202
- Enrollment
- 19,478
45. Purdue University
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
46. Brandeis University
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $45,565
47. Michigan State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
48. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
49. Duke University
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $23,694
50. Northeastern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $35,827
51. Northwestern University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $22,095
52. Tufts University
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $30,479
53. Florida State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
54. University of Massachusetts - Amherst
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
55. University of Utah
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
56. University of Tennessee - Knoxville
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1250
- Average ACT
- 28
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
57. CUNY City College
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $9,822
- Enrollment
- 14,489
58. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
59. University of Oregon
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
60. University of Notre Dame
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $28,474
61. Tulane University of Louisiana
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $50,263
62. Iowa State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Average SAT
- 1220
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
63. University of Virginia
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 54%
64. University of New Mexico
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Average ACT
- 22
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $9,280
65. Arizona State University - Tempe
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $12,381
- Enrollment
- 80,065
66. North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
67. University of California - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $22,042
- Enrollment
- 26,809
68. University of Connecticut
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Average SAT
- 1330
- Average ACT
- 31
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
69. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
70. University of Delaware
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
71. University of Illinois at Chicago
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1225
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
72. Case Western Reserve University
- Acceptance Rate
- 27%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $38,279
73. University of Missouri - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
74. University at Buffalo
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Average SAT
- 1285
- Average ACT
- 29
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
75. Rockefeller University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 273
- Male:Female
- 54:46
- Founded
- 1901
76. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average ACT
- 21
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $5,963
77. University of South Carolina - Columbia
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
78. Rice University
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $19,902
79. University of Oklahoma - Norman
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
80. University of Cincinnati
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
81. Vanderbilt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1530
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $25,606
82. University of Miami
- Acceptance Rate
- 19%
- Average SAT
- 1395
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $36,467
83. Dartmouth College
- Acceptance Rate
- 6%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $19,208
84. College of William and Mary
- Acceptance Rate
- 33%
- Average SAT
- 1448
- Average ACT
- 33
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
85. University of Houston
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 26
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
86. University of Kentucky
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1180
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
87. University of Iowa
- Acceptance Rate
- 86%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
88. University of South Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
89. Temple University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $11,575
- Enrollment
- 33,196
90. University of Central Florida
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 27
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
91. University of Georgia
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1320
- Average ACT
- 30
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
92. Saint Xavier University
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Net Price
- $11,302
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $29,886
93. Clarkson University
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Average SAT
- 1280
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $32,450
94. Kansas State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $8,537
- Enrollment
- 19,722
95. Clark Atlanta University
- Acceptance Rate
- 56%
- Average SAT
- 1000
- Average ACT
- 18
- Net Price
- $30,015
96. CUNY Graduate School and University Center
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Enrollment
- 8,733
- Male:Female
- 32:68
- Founded
- 1961
97. Oklahoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Average SAT
- 1130
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
98. Oregon State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $9,260
- Enrollment
- 34,292
99. University of Kansas
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1215
- Average ACT
- 25
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
100. Utah State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Average SAT
- 1175
- Average ACT
- 24
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
The best cities to study Theoretical Physics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Princeton, Cambridge, Stanford, and Santa Barbara.