100 Best Physics schools in the United States

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 693M citations received by 21.4M academic papers made by 1,426 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%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Physics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Physics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Physics

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Physics

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Physics

#6 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

7. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Physics

#8 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

8. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Physics

#9 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,162
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $47,556

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#10 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

10. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Physics

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Physics

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

12. University of Texas at Austin

For Physics

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

13. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Physics

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Physics

#15 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#16 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

16. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Physics

#17 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Physics

#18 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

18. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Physics

#19 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

19. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#20 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

20. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Physics

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

21. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Physics

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

23. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Physics

#24 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

24. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Physics

#25 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

25. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Physics

#26 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

26. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Physics

#27 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

27. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physics

#29 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

28. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Physics

#30 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

29. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Physics

#31 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

30. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#32 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Physics

#33 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

32. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#34 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

33. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#35 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Physics

#36 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

35. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Physics

#38 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 65%

36. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Physics

#40 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Physics

#41 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

38. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Physics

#42 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

39. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Physics

#44 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

40. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#45 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

41. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Physics

#46 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

42. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#47 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

43. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Physics

#48 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

44. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Physics

#49 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

45. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Physics

#50 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

46. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#51 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

47. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Physics

#52 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

48. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Physics

#53 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

49. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Physics

#54 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 82%

50. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Physics

#55 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,125

51. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Physics

#56 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,165
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

52. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Physics

#57 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

53. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Physics

#58 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,166

54. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#59 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $18,521

55. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Physics

#60 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

56. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Physics

#64 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

57. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Physics

#65 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

58. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Physics

#66 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1248
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 90%

59. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physics

#67 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,028

60. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Physics

#69 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,513

61. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physics

#70 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $39,566

62. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Physics

#71 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

63. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Physics

#72 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

64. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Physics

#73 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,070

65. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Physics

#74 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $18,676
Enrollment: 26,847

66. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#75 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

67. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Physics

#77 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $19,199
Enrollment: 19,841

68. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Physics

#78 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

69. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#79 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

70. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Physics

#80 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

71. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Physics

#82 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

72. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#83 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

73. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Physics

#84 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

74. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Physics

#85 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

75. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Physics

#86 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

76. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Physics

#87 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

77. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Physics

#88 in North America

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

78. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Physics

#89 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,531

79. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Physics

#90 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

80. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Physics

#91 in North America

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

81. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Physics

#92 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,993
Enrollment: 29,843

82. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Physics

#93 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

83. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Physics

#94 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,492

84. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Physics

#95 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

85. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#97 in North America

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,927

86. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#98 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $26,076

87. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Physics

#99 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $31,630

88. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Physics

#100 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 87%

89. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Physics

#101 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,048

90. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Physics

#102 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

91. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Physics

#103 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Net Price: $11,188
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $2,100

92. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Physics

#104 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

93. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Physics

#105 in North America

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

94. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Physics

#106 in North America

#335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

95. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Physics

#109 in North America

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

96. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Physics

#112 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,545

97. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Physics

#113 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,774
Enrollment: 20,229

98. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Physics

#114 in North America

#355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1281
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Physics

#115 in North America

#362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $13,590
Enrollment: 22,257

100. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Physics

#117 in North America

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,078

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 Engineering763

Applied/Engineering Physics201

Astrobiology289

Astrophysics and Astronomy830

Atomic and Molecular physics398

Condensed Matter Physics401

Materials Science1052

Medical Physics226

Nanotechnology513

Nuclear Physics570

Optical Engineering890

Quantum and Particle physics1238

Theoretical Physics336