100 Best Physics schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 441M citations received by 10.8M academic papers made by 1,537 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: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

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: $25,078

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Physics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Physics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Physics

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Physics

#6 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

7. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Physics

#7 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Physics

#8 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#9 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Physics

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

11. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Physics

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

12. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Physics

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

13. University of Texas at Austin

For Physics

#14 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Physics

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

15. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Physics

#16 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Physics

#17 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
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: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
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: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

19. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#20 in North America

#32 in the World

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

20. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physics

#21 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

21. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#22 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

22. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Physics

#23 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

23. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Physics

#24 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

24. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Physics

#25 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

25. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Physics

#26 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

26. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Physics

#27 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

27. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Physics

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

28. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#29 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Physics

#31 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Physics

#32 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

31. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Physics

#33 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

32. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Physics

#34 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

33. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#35 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Physics

#36 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

35. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Physics

#37 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

36. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Physics

#40 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

37. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Physics

#41 in North America

#75 in the World

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

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Physics

#42 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

39. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Physics

#43 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

40. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Physics

#45 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

41. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Physics

#46 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

42. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Physics

#47 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

43. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physics

#48 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Physics

#49 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

45. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Physics

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

46. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Physics

#51 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

47. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Physics

#52 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

48. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Physics

#53 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

49. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Physics

#54 in North America

#127 in the World

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

50. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physics

#55 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

51. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Physics

#56 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

52. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Physics

#57 in North America

#139 in the World

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

53. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#58 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Physics

#60 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

55. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Physics

#61 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

56. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Physics

#62 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

57. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physics

#64 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

58. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Physics

#65 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Physics

#68 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

60. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physics

#69 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

61. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Physics

#70 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

62. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Physics

#72 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

63. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Physics

#73 in North America

#201 in the World

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

64. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Physics

#75 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

65. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Physics

#76 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

66. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Physics

#77 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

67. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Physics

#78 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

68. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Physics

#79 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

69. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Physics

#80 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

70. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Physics

#81 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

71. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Physics

#82 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

72. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Physics

#83 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

73. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Physics

#84 in North America

#239 in the World

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

74. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physics

#85 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

75. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Physics

#86 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

76. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Physics

#87 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

77. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Physics

#88 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

78. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Physics

#89 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

79. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Physics

#90 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

80. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Physics

#91 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

81. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Physics

#92 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

82. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Physics

#93 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Physics

#94 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

84. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Physics

#95 in North America

#281 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

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

86. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physics

#97 in North America

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

87. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Physics

#99 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

88. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Physics

#100 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

89. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Physics

#101 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

90. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Physics

#102 in North America

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Physics

#103 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

92. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Physics

#104 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Physics

#105 in North America

#340 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

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

95. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Physics

#107 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

96. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Physics

#112 in North America

#373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

97. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Physics

#113 in North America

#374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Physics

#114 in North America

#377 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

99. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Physics

#115 in North America

#384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

100. Syracuse University

New York State | Syracuse

For Physics

#117 in North America

#390 in the World

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

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 Engineering849

Applied/Engineering Physics245

Astrobiology330

Astrophysics and Astronomy924

Atomic and Molecular physics449

Condensed Matter Physics453

Materials Science1132

Medical Physics214

Nanotechnology595

Nuclear Physics651

Optical Engineering1000

Quantum and Particle physics1350

Theoretical Physics404