100 Best Physics schools 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 Physics. A graph of 317M citations received by 9.3M academic papers made by 1,485 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 Physics

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Physics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Physics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Physics

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Physics

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Physics

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

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

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Physics

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Physics

#9 in North America

#14 in the World

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

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Physics

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

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

11. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Physics

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Physics

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

13. University of Texas at Austin

For Physics

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Physics

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Physics

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

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

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Physics

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

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

17. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

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

18. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Physics

#19 in North America

#27 in the World

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

19. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Physics

#20 in North America

#31 in the World

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

20. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#21 in North America

#32 in the World

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

21. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

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

22. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physics

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

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

23. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Physics

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

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

24. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Physics

#25 in North America

#38 in the World

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

25. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Physics

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

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

26. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Physics

#27 in North America

#46 in the World

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

27. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Physics

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

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

28. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#29 in North America

#49 in the World

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

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Physics

#30 in North America

#50 in the World

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

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Physics

#32 in North America

#54 in the World

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

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Physics

#33 in North America

#58 in the World

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

32. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Physics

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

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

34. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#36 in North America

#61 in the World

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

35. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Physics

#37 in North America

#64 in the World

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

36. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Physics

#39 in North America

#67 in the World

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

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Physics

#41 in North America

#73 in the World

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

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Physics

#42 in North America

#74 in the World

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

39. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Physics

#44 in North America

#78 in the World

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

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#45 in North America

#80 in the World

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

41. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Physics

#46 in North America

#82 in the World

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

42. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Physics

#47 in North America

#85 in the World

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

43. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Physics

#48 in North America

#86 in the World

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

44. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Physics

#49 in North America

#93 in the World

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

45. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

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

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Physics

#51 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#52 in North America

#109 in the World

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

48. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Physics

#53 in North America

#112 in the World

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

49. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Physics

#54 in North America

#119 in the World

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

50. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Physics

#55 in North America

#123 in the World

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

51. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Physics

#56 in North America

#128 in the World

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

52. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Physics

#57 in North America

#133 in the World

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

53. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#58 in North America

#136 in the World

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

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Physics

#59 in North America

#140 in the World

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

55. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Physics

#61 in North America

#146 in the World

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

56. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Physics

#62 in North America

#151 in the World

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

57. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Physics

#65 in North America

#163 in the World

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

58. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physics

#66 in North America

#165 in the World

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

59. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Physics

#67 in North America

#166 in the World

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

60. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physics

#69 in North America

#173 in the World

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

61. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#70 in North America

#185 in the World

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

62. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Physics

#71 in North America

#188 in the World

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

63. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Physics

#72 in North America

#193 in the World

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

64. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Physics

#73 in North America

#200 in the World

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

65. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Physics

#75 in North America

#207 in the World

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

66. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Physics

#76 in North America

#212 in the World

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

67. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Physics

#77 in North America

#213 in the World

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

68. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Physics

#78 in North America

#218 in the World

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

69. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Physics

#79 in North America

#219 in the World

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

70. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#80 in North America

#222 in the World

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

71. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Physics

#81 in North America

#223 in the World

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

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Physics

#82 in North America

#224 in the World

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

73. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Physics

#83 in North America

#231 in the World

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

74. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Physics

#85 in North America

#234 in the World

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

75. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#86 in North America

#247 in the World

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

76. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Physics

#87 in North America

#248 in the World

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

77. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Physics

#88 in North America

#255 in the World

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

78. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Physics

#89 in North America

#260 in the World

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

79. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Physics

#90 in North America

#261 in the World

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

80. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Physics

#91 in North America

#269 in the World

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

81. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Physics

#92 in North America

#270 in the World

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

82. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Physics

#93 in North America

#272 in the World

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

83. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Physics

#94 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

84. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Physics

#95 in North America

#276 in the World

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

85. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Physics

#96 in North America

#291 in the World

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

86. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#97 in North America

#293 in the World

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

87. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Physics

#98 in North America

#296 in the World

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

88. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#100 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

89. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Physics

#101 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

90. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Physics

#102 in North America

#315 in the World

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

91. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Physics

#103 in North America

#325 in the World

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

92. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Physics

#104 in North America

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Physics

#105 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Physics

#106 in North America

#346 in the World

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

95. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Physics

#109 in North America

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

96. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Physics

#112 in North America

#361 in the World

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

97. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physics

#113 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Physics

#114 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

99. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Physics

#115 in North America

#372 in the World

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

100. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Physics

#117 in North America

#377 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

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

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

Nuclear Physics606

Optical Engineering957

Quantum and Particle physics1304

Theoretical Physics373