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• Step 1: Choose field
• Step 2: Set priorities
• Step 3: Your ranking of Physics programs

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• Funding / Scholarships
• Other rankings
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• Graduate assistantships

The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.

How to Read Your Ranking

• Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
• Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
• Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
• A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
• Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
• Data sources can be found below.

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Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Physics, Princeton University	18.2	5.2	90%	4.7	110.0	4.9	$17,805	16.2	47	2.3	11%	745	735
2.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	14.7	5.2	85%	2.7	54.7	2.5	$12,182	3.0	18	1.2	89%	617*	598*
3.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	13.3	4.7	50%	2.6	146.5	2.1	$12,653	3.8	15	1.6	87%	580	575
4.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	12.0	5.7	75%	3.3	41.4	2.6	$16,043	3.6	19	1.8	17%	730	720
5.	Physics, College of William and Mary	11.7	5.2	79%	3.1	29.2	3.0	$14,156	5.8	38	1.7	31%	670	680
6.	Physics, Brigham Young University	11.0	6.6	75%	2.9	57.3	2.2	$9,790	1.6	29	0.8	78%	620	605
6.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	11.0	5.7	85%	3.9	68.6	4.3	$16,600	12.6	34	2.9	13%	725	715
6.	Physics, Wake Forest University	11.0	4.9	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,432	3.2	32*	2.5*	47%	670	655
9.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	10.9	5.2	71%	2.7	41.0	2.5	$11,533	3.4	24	1.6	69%	617*	598*
10.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	10.7	5.7	84%	2.9	33.1	2.8	$11,691	4.4	43	1.3	47%	610	595
11.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	10.2	5.2	81%	2.8	40.0	2.4	$12,268	4.2	21	1.8	83%	595	600
12.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	9.8	5.9	75%	2.9	29.0	2.7	$12,500	3.4	25	1.0	62%	615	610
12.	Applied Physics, Yale University	9.8	6.2†	81%†	4.0	63.1	4.2	$16,526†	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
12.	Physics, Yale University	9.8	6.2†	81%†	4.0	63.1	4.2	$16,526†	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
15.	Physics, Carnegie Mellon University	9.7	5.7	81%	3.4	35.9	3.6	$15,605	8.6	33	1.8	39%	720	660
15.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	9.7	4.9	76%	1.8	20.9	2.1	$10,820	4.0	24	1.0	74%	565	565
17.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	9.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$9,748*	4.0	32*	2.5*	42%	617*	598*
17.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	9.2	4.7	75%	2.6	28.1	2.4	$14,135	3.2	30	1.0	72%	570	560
17.	Physics, University of Southern California	9.2	5.9	76%	3.0	79.2	3.2	$16,572	5.6	32	1.9	27%	690	665
17.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	9.2	5.2	63%	3.0	18.0	2.9	$10,960	4.4	35	1.3	72%	615	585
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Physics, Kansas State University	9.1	5.2	61%	2.9	43.5	2.3	$11,659	6.6	24	1.5	48%	617*	598*
22.	Physics, Brandeis University	8.9	6.4	60%	3.2	83.3	3.3	$15,316	3.0	20	1.8	40%	675	675
23.	Physics, Brown University	8.2	5.7	78%	3.6	47.4	3.6	$16,202	10.4	28	2.9	15%	725	710
24.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	8.1	5.7†	69%†	3.0	54.4	3.0	$11,640†	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
24.	Physics, University of Utah	8.1	5.7†	69%†	3.0	54.4	3.0	$11,640†	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
26.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	7.6	6.3	89%	3.7	89.1	3.5	$16,005	9.4	32	3.3	35%	705	680
27.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	7.1	5.7	84%	3.8	66.2	4.1	$18,171	10.2	46	3.0	21%	725	705
27.	Physics, Wesleyan University	7.1	5.7	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,418*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	695	705
29.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	7.0	5.2	64%	3.1	29.0	2.9	$16,878	6.4	27	0.7	78%	685	635
29.	Physics, University of Chicago	7.0	5.7	84%	4.6	84.2	4.7	$17,977	14.8	40	3.9	40%	715	725
31.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	6.8	6.0	81%	3.3	38.9	3.2	$16,938	7.2	31	2.4	19%	730	710
32.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	6.6	5.7	73%	4.6	116.1	4.8	$17,224	24.0	39	3.9	20%	775	735
33.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	6.4	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,637*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
33.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	6.4	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,637*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
35.	Physics, Clark University	6.3	5.9	86%	1.7	12.1	1.8	$11,373	2.0	8	2.0	62%	595	610
35.	Physics, Cornell University	6.3	5.3†	79%†	4.5	69.6	4.8	$16,969†	18.0†	54	3.4	27%†	710†	675†
35.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	6.3	5.2	70%*	1.7	16.6	1.6	$12,417*	1.0	13	1.4	47%	565	560
38.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	6.2	5.8†	84%†	3.5	92.8	3.8	$12,805†	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
38.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	6.2	5.8†	84%†	3.5	92.8	3.8	$12,805†	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
40.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	6.1	5.7	62%	3.0	29.0	2.6	$11,644	5.8	28	1.3	75%	605	595
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Physics, Clemson University	6.0	5.7	88%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,546*	3.8	32*	2.5*	69%	615	590
42.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	5.4	4.9	64%	1.4	11.3	1.5	$10,299	2.4	12	1.9	85%	620	590
42.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	5.4	5.9*	70%*	1.2	15.2	1.6	$11,780*	2.2	13	0.8	63%	625	615
44.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	5.3	6.7	100%	2.2	25.8	2.5	$10,990	1.4	24	1.8	73%	515	530
44.	Physics, West Virginia University	5.3	5.2	65%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$11,001	3.8	32*	2.5*	89%	545	525
46.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	5.2	6.2	69%	3.5	88.5	3.3	$17,240	2.6	30	3.6	30%	715	695
46.	Physics, University of Maine	5.2	5.3	64%	2.4	9.5	2.2	$11,275	2.2	15	1.5	79%	540	535
46.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	5.2	5.9	62%	3.3	20.3	3.1	$13,288	7.0	28	2.0	36%	650	640
49.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	5.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,243*	3.8	32*	2.5*	17%	617*	598*
50.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	4.9	6.2	69%	3.2	61.4	3.2	$12,357	9.8	38	1.7	59%	615	580
51.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	4.4	5.0	50%	2.2	28.6	2.0	$14,877	3.6	19	1.3	63%	665	638
52.	Physics, University of Miami	4.3	4.7	47%*	1.8	20.1	2.0	$15,255	2.2	11	1.5	46%	640	620
53.	Physics, Boston University	4.0	5.7	81%	3.3	77.0	3.3	$17,237	8.8	35	2.9	55%	655	645
54.	Physics, American University	3.7	5.2	75%*	1.5	34.5	2.0	$15,673	2.0	11	2.5	51%	625	645
55.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	3.5	5.5	70%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$13,248	3.2	32*	2.5*	55%	525	515
55.	Physics, University of Central Florida	3.5	4.9	76%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,175	4.0	32*	2.5*	62%	575	565
55.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	3.5	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$11,660*	1.4	32*	2.5*	95%	545	540
58.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.4	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,812†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
58.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.4	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,812†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
58.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.4	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,812†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	3.3	5.7	62%	2.5	15.6	2.6	$13,636	2.8	13	2.5	63%	675	625
62.	Physics, Lehigh University	3.0	5.3	46%	2.8	19.5	2.4	$12,926	4.4	22	2.6	41%	680	640
63.	Physics, Rice University	2.9	6.7	49%	3.4	77.2	3.3	$15,506	8.0	23	2.5	25%	725	710
63.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	2.9	5.9	58%	3.3	47.9	3.1	$14,992	8.8	36	2.5	32%	700	685
65.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	2.7	5.6	78%	3.3	43.6	3.4	$13,216	10.4	47	2.0	85%	560	550
66.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	2.6	4.7	55%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,509	5.4	32*	2.5*	71%	595	530
67.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	2.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,222*	1.2	32*	2.5*	56%	550	540
68.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	2.3	6.1†	74%†	1.9	35.2	2.1	$11,789†	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
68.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	2.3	6.1†	74%†	1.9	35.2	2.1	$11,789†	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
70.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	2.2	5.9†	82%†	3.4	46.5	3.4	$11,006†	12.8†	55	2.6	76%†	585†	555†
70.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	2.2	5.7	81%	2.7	27.4	2.6	$12,595	6.8	16	3.3	56%	575	555
70.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	2.2	6.3	67%	2.9	39.3	2.7	$16,579	3.6	20	2.8	28%	705	700
73.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	2.1	6.0	58%	3.1	68.9	3.0	$12,367	8.6	26	3.5	67%	690	645
74.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	1.9	6.2	74%	3.1	18.3	3.0	$17,056	7.8	25	2.1	35%	695	675
75.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	1.8	5.9*	70%*	1.5	30.9	1.5	$15,487*	1.0	11	1.2	85%	665	615
76.	Physics, Duke University	1.3	6.2	47%	3.5	26.8	3.3	$16,361	6.4	32	2.2	22%	725	705
77.	Physics, Clarkson University	1.2	5.9*	70%*	1.9	52.8	2.1	$16,727*	1.6	11	1.3	86%	595	555
78.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	0.9	5.5	72%	3.9	178.1	4.4	$24,034	15.6	45	2.6	53%	600	580
79.	Physics, Syracuse University	0.8	5.9	73%	3.3	56.0	3.0	$17,657	4.8	26	2.7	65%	620	595
79.	Physics, Temple University	0.8	5.0	70%*	2.6	17.6	2.4	$17,473*	1.6	19	2.1	63%	550	540
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Physics, Boston College	0.7	6.9	78%	1.8	21.0	1.8	$12,778	2.0	10	2.8	31%	680	655
81.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	0.7	5.2	86%	1.8	20.1	2.1	$12,531	3.4	15	4.1	51%	565	555
81.	Physics, Texas Christian University	0.7	5.0	67%	0.7	26.7	0.7	$12,703	2.2	7	2.0	67%	590	575
84.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	0.6	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,503*	0.6	32*	2.5*	47%	560	540
84.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	0.6	5.7	71%	2.5	53.7	2.6	$15,476	5.0	27	2.6	58%	605	570
86.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	0.5	6.2	78%	3.8	60.8	4.2	$12,626	14.0	48	3.7	67%	610	590
87.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	0.4	4.9	55%	1.1	24.0	1.9	$13,789	2.2	20	1.3	88%	570	560
87.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	0.4	6.7	46%	2.3	28.2	2.6	$10,330	2.4	19	1.3	65%	570	535
87.	Physics, University of South Florida	0.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,501*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	565	555
90.	Physics, University of Idaho	0.2	5.9*	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,095*	1.0	32*	2.5*	83%	550	550
91.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	0.1	6.7	89%	2.5	14.3	2.4	$13,605	4.8	27	1.9	86%	617*	598*
92.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	0.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,268*	1.4	32*	2.5*	81%	515	500
92.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	0.0	6.5	79%	3.3	31.3	3.3	$14,947	8.6	37	2.5	49%	625	610
94.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	-0.1	5.9*	70%*	0.3	3.3	0.5	$12,228*	0.8	10	0.3	82%	605	565
94.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-0.1	6.5	88%	1.6	8.8	1.4	$10,820	1.6	13	2.0	81%	540	535
94.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-0.1	6.3	44%	3.2	28.3	3.2	$13,405	8.2	41	1.8	38%	670	655
97.	Physics, New York University	-0.3	6.3	54%	3.2	34.7	3.1	$18,357	7.4	29	1.2	37%	665	665
97.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	-0.3	5.7	75%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,982	12.6	32*	2.5*	61%	615	580
97.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	-0.3	5.0	73%	1.9	29.9	2.1	$18,441	1.6	15	1.5	79%	545	515
100.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	-0.6	5.7	54%	2.8	35.3	2.8	$13,774	7.6	36	1.8	44%	555	555
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
100.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	-0.6	5.9	79%	3.8	49.8	3.8	$12,640	16.4	49	3.9	71%	650	615
102.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	-0.7	5.2	62%	2.5	36.0	2.3	$21,023	3.2	14	1.2	85%	645	600
102.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	-0.7	5.8	50%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$15,138	3.0	32*	2.5*	60%*	617*	598*
104.	Physics, Hampton University	-0.9	7.7	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$10,703	3.0	32*	2.5*	54%	532	552
104.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	-0.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,581*	0.8	32*	2.5*	62%	575	560
106.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	-1.2	6.1	69%	3.5	48.4	3.4	$12,056	9.6	55	2.8	85%	590	555
107.	Physics, Polytechnic University	-1.3	5.9*	70%*	2.0	11.8	1.9	$15,474*	0.8	12	2.1	69%	630	545
108.	Physics, Southern Methodist University	-1.7	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$19,789*	0.8	32*	2.5*	58%	620	610
109.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	-2.1	5.7	80%	4.6	121.2	4.9	$18,201	34.6	83	3.8	14%	770	730
109.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	-2.1	5.9	66%	3.7	37.4	4.0	$14,399	18.0	61	2.6	57%	680	640
111.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	-2.2	5.9	61%	3.4	77.2	3.2	$17,919	7.4	38	2.4	90%	620	595
111.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	-2.2	5.7	66%	2.9	19.8	2.6	$13,989	6.6	21	2.4	89%	545	545
113.	Physics, Drexel University	-2.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9	42.4	2.6	$21,368*	2.6	25	1.2	82%	610	580
113.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	-2.4	5.0	70%	3.3	78.6	3.2	$24,140	5.2	18	2.9	69%	585	580
115.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-2.5	6.0	69%	2.6	35.0	2.3	$11,593	4.0	14	4.1	74%	565	550
116.	Physics, Florida State University	-2.6	5.2	54%	3.2	34.4	3.3	$14,929	13.0	44	2.3	62%	585	575
117.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-2.8	6.2	64%	2.2	30.2	2.3	$14,790	4.4	26	2.2	51%	600	585
118.	Physics, Baylor University	-2.9	5.9*	70%*	1.5	9.9	1.1	$14,774*	1.4	10	2.1	66%	605	595
118.	Physics, Florida International University	-2.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$19,054*	0.8	32*	2.5*	61%	550	555
118.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	-2.9	5.7	78%	3.7	65.1	3.8	$12,370	18.2	39	5.2	51%	610	570
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	Physics, Oregon State University	-3.1	6.7	85%	2.7	14.1	2.7	$12,859	4.8	19	2.9	90%	550	530
121.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	-3.1	5.7†	75%†	3.7	50.0	4.0	$14,382†	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
121.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	-3.1	5.7†	75%†	3.7	50.0	4.0	$14,382†	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
124.	Physics, Northeastern University	-3.2	6.7	63%	3.0	45.9	2.9	$15,739	4.4	31	2.7	47%	625	605
125.	Physics, Texas A & M University	-3.3	5.7	61%	3.3	43.6	3.2	$16,672	8.2	45	2.5	70%	615	585
126.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-3.4	7.2	78%	2.9	21.1	2.5	$12,008	4.8	31	2.4	79%	575	565
127.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	-3.5	5.9†	74%†	3.4	80.2	3.2	$12,863†	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
127.	Physics, University of Arizona	-3.5	5.9†	74%†	3.4	80.2	3.2	$12,863†	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
129.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	-3.8	6.0	74%	3.8	88.2	4.1	$22,038	12.6	61	2.5	39%	655	605
130.	Physics, University of Oregon	-4.1	6.2	66%	3.2	64.9	3.0	$13,284	5.8	31	4.0	91%	560	555
131.	Physics, University of Florida	-4.2	5.8	29%	3.3	34.0	3.4	$14,426	11.0	43	1.9	57%	640	620
131.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-4.2	7.2	44%*	2.7	29.4	2.6	$13,036	2.4	24	1.3	67%	580	570
133.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-4.3	6.1	68%	3.3	37.5	3.4	$17,126*	7.8	56	2.4	60%*	617*	598*
133.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	-4.3	5.7†	77%†	3.0	35.8	2.7	$12,800†	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
133.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-4.3	5.7†	77%†	3.0	35.8	2.7	$12,800†	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
136.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	-4.5	6.1	83%	4.4	86.2	4.7	$14,714	27.6	98	3.0	68%	675	615
137.	Physics, Colorado State University	-4.8	5.7	52%	2.4	15.7	2.3	$11,995	4.8	14	3.3	88%	565	555
138.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-5.1	6.0	67%	3.1	26.1	3.0	$17,645	5.4	33	2.3	80%	575	565
139.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	-5.2	6.5†	78%†	3.6	54.7	3.6	$17,028†	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
139.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	-5.2	6.5†	78%†	3.6	54.7	3.6	$17,028†	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
141.	Physics, Western Michigan University	-5.3	6.1	71%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$20,422	2.4	32*	2.5*	85%	617*	598*
142.	Physics, University of North Texas	-5.4	5.7	29%*	2.8	20.0	2.3	$13,022	3.6	20	2.3	69%	555	545
143.	Physics, University of Houston	-5.6	4.7†	44%†	2.8	30.7	3.0	$17,506†	7.0†	30	2.5	81%†	550†	520†
144.	Physics, Stanford University	-5.8	6.2	79%	4.4	73.8	4.5	$17,084	32.6	25	5.4	12%	735	720
144.	Physics, Texas Tech University	-5.8	5.2	40%*	2.6	24.3	2.1	$18,699	2.0	26	1.5	71%	575	555
146.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	-6.0	5.2†	69%†	0.8	3.3	1.3	$15,602†	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
146.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	-6.0	5.2†	69%†	0.8	3.3	1.3	$15,602†	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
148.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-6.2	6.7	56%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,264	10.2	32*	2.5*	74%	535	540
149.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-6.7	5.7†	67%†	3.7	57.4	3.8	$15,072†	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
149.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-6.7	5.7†	67%†	3.7	57.4	3.8	$15,072†	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
151.	Physics, Harvard University	-6.9	5.7	83%	4.7	170.7	4.9	$31,786	26.0	32	4.7	9%	745	745
151.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-6.9	6.1	61%	1.8	16.9	2.1	$13,854	3.4	21	2.7	74%	560	545
153.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	-7.1	6.2†	75%†	3.8	70.9	4.2	$24,007†	13.2†	67	2.4	23%†	665†	630†
154.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	-7.3	4.9	63%	3.1	10.7	2.9	$23,083	5.4	32	1.6	74%	565	510
155.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-7.4	5.7	59%	2.9	47.0	2.6	$21,012	5.8	32	2.0	78%	600	575
156.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	-7.8	5.9	74%	3.4	46.9	3.3	$16,035	16.0	41	3.6	88%	600	580
157.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	-8.0	6.6†	74%†	3.5	27.7	3.4	$22,065†	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
157.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	-8.0	6.6†	74%†	3.5	27.7	3.4	$22,065†	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
159.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	-8.7	6.1	72%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$23,821	3.6	32*	2.5*	63%	617*	598*
160.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-9.0	6.7	73%	0.9	2.3	1.7	$12,076	4.2	19	2.4	69%	530	530
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
161.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-9.4	6.2	68%	3.0	30.8	2.5	$18,738	4.0	17	4.6	51%	640	605
162.	Physics, George Washington University	-9.6	8.7	82%	1.2	26.3	1.5	$14,616	2.2	9	2.2	38%	640	640
163.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-9.8	6.7	41%	2.0	13.9	2.2	$13,660	4.4	19	3.2	47%	665	610
164.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-9.9	6.0	69%	2.3	45.7	2.2	$11,959	6.2	15	6.5	56%	595	565
165.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-10.9	6.7	67%	2.5	14.2	2.3	$17,547	5.4	17	2.5	77%	565	545
166.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	-11.0	6.0	83%	3.1	44.4	2.8	$27,018	3.4	28	2.5	84%	600	585
167.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-11.1	6.7	89%	1.5	22.0	1.9	$19,282	1.6	15	2.9	82%	570	550
168.	Physics, University of California-Davis	-12.0	6.0	72%	3.0	40.5	2.9	$23,150	11.0	31	2.8	55%	615	565
169.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-12.6	6.2	55%	1.1	14.5	1.9	$15,773*	1.6	10	3.1	79%	550	535
170.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	-13.1	5.7	80%	4.5	84.7	4.9	$24,521	30.4	67	4.2	25%	685	645
171.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	-13.4	4.9	67%	3.0	54.0	3.0	$36,977	4.8	21	1.5	68%	690	650
172.	Physics, Utah State University	-14.5	8.7	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,433	3.0	32*	2.5*	92%	555	550
173.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	-16.6	6.2	56%	3.8	60.4	4.3	$18,426	28.8	85	2.8	51%	630	605
174.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-16.8	7.1	71%	2.3	17.3	2.3	$19,821*	1.4	12	4.1	82%	565	580
175.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-19.9	6.2	70%	2.2	17.6	2.2	$23,654	4.6	15	3.3	81%	500	500
176.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-20.5	6.7	50%	3.3	47.4	2.9	$26,319	4.8	39	2.2	91%	560	550
177.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-24.8	7.9†	75%†	2.4	4.0	1.9	$23,403†	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
177.	Radiological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-24.8	7.9†	75%†	2.4	4.0	1.9	$23,403†	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†

Unranked Physics Graduate Schools

Item Descriptions

Your Score

Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.

Years to Degree (Yrs)

Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Placement Rate (Job)

Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)

Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Citations per Faculty Member (Cite / Fac)

The ratio of the number of citations of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)

Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Cost Per Year (Cost / Year)

Low yearly cost (tuition, fees, room and board, other expenses) for an out of state student living on campus. Assumes median tuition remission. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Math SAT Score (SAT-M)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Missing Values

Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.  Learn more

National Research Council

The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more

Survey of Earned Doctorates

The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more

Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science Foundation.  Learn more