100 Best Physics schools in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 422M citations received by 10.6M academic papers made by 1,531 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: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Physics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Physics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Physics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

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: 66%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Physics

#6 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

7. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Physics

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Physics

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Physics

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Physics

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Physics

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

13. University of Texas at Austin

For Physics

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Physics

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Physics

#16 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Physics

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

18. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Physics

#19 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

19. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#20 in North America

#31 in the World

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

20. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physics

#21 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

21. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#22 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

22. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Physics

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

23. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Physics

#24 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

24. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Physics

#25 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

25. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Physics

#26 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

26. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Physics

#27 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

27. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#28 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

28. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Physics

#29 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Physics

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Physics

#32 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

31. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#33 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

32. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Physics

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

33. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#35 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Physics

#36 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

35. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Physics

#37 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

36. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Physics

#39 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

37. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#41 in North America

#74 in the World

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

38. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Physics

#42 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

39. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Physics

#43 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

40. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Physics

#45 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

41. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Physics

#46 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

42. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Physics

#47 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

43. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#48 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Physics

#49 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

45. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Physics

#50 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Physics

#51 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

47. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Physics

#52 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

48. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Physics

#53 in North America

#119 in the World

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

49. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Physics

#54 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

50. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#55 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Physics

#56 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

52. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Physics

#57 in North America

#134 in the World

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

53. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#58 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Physics

#60 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

55. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Physics

#61 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

56. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Physics

#62 in North America

#154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

57. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physics

#64 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

58. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Physics

#65 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

59. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Physics

#67 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

60. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#69 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

61. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Physics

#70 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

62. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Physics

#72 in North America

#197 in the World

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

63. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Physics

#73 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

64. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Physics

#74 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

65. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Physics

#75 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

66. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Physics

#77 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

67. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Physics

#78 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

68. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Physics

#79 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

69. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Physics

#80 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

70. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Physics

#81 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

71. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Physics

#82 in North America

#227 in the World

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

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Physics

#83 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

73. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#84 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

74. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#85 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

75. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Physics

#86 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

76. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Physics

#87 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

77. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Physics

#88 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

78. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Physics

#89 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

79. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Physics

#90 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

80. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Physics

#91 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

81. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Physics

#92 in North America

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

82. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Physics

#93 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

83. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Physics

#94 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

84. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Physics

#95 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

85. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#96 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

86. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Physics

#97 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

87. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#99 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

88. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Physics

#100 in North America

#315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

89. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Physics

#101 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

90. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Physics

#102 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

91. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Physics

#103 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

92. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Physics

#104 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Physics

#105 in North America

#331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

94. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physics

#106 in North America

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

95. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Physics

#107 in North America

#345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

96. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Physics

#112 in North America

#366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

97. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Physics

#113 in North America

#369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Physics

#114 in North America

#371 in the World

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

99. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Physics

#115 in North America

#373 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

100. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Physics

#116 in North America

#376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

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

Physics subfields in the United States

Acoustical Engineering846

Applied/Engineering Physics239

Astrobiology322

Astrophysics and Astronomy919

Atomic and Molecular physics448

Condensed Matter Physics453

Materials Science1124

Medical Physics214

Nanotechnology586

Nuclear Physics647

Optical Engineering993

Quantum and Particle physics1343

Theoretical Physics403