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• Step 3: Your ranking of Physics programs

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• Funding / Scholarships
• Other rankings
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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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	36.0	5.7	80%	4.6	121.2	4.9	$18,201	34.6	83	3.8	14%	770	730
2.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	29.2	6.1	83%	4.4	86.2	4.7	$14,714	27.6	98	3.0	68%	675	615
3.	Physics, Princeton University	29.0	5.2	90%	4.7	110.0	4.9	$17,805	16.2	47	2.3	11%	745	735
4.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	25.7	5.7	73%	4.6	116.1	4.8	$17,224	24.0	39	3.9	20%	775	735
5.	Physics, Cornell University	22.5	5.3†	79%†	4.5	69.6	4.8	$16,969†	18.0†	54	3.4	27%†	710†	675†
6.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	21.9	5.7†	75%†	3.7	50.0	4.0	$14,382†	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
6.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	21.9	5.7†	75%†	3.7	50.0	4.0	$14,382†	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
8.	Physics, Stanford University	20.7	6.2	79%	4.4	73.8	4.5	$17,084	32.6	25	5.4	12%	735	720
9.	Applied Physics, Yale University	18.8	6.2†	81%†	4.0	63.1	4.2	$16,526†	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
9.	Physics, Yale University	18.8	6.2†	81%†	4.0	63.1	4.2	$16,526†	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
11.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	18.5	5.7	80%	4.5	84.7	4.9	$24,521	30.4	67	4.2	25%	685	645
12.	Physics, University of Chicago	18.2	5.7	84%	4.6	84.2	4.7	$17,977	14.8	40	3.9	40%	715	725
13.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	17.0	5.7	85%	3.9	68.6	4.3	$16,600	12.6	34	2.9	13%	725	715
14.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	16.4	5.8†	84%†	3.5	92.8	3.8	$12,805†	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
14.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	16.4	5.8†	84%†	3.5	92.8	3.8	$12,805†	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
16.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	14.8	6.2	56%	3.8	60.4	4.3	$18,426	28.8	85	2.8	51%	630	605
17.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	14.0	5.9	66%	3.7	37.4	4.0	$14,399	18.0	61	2.6	57%	680	640
17.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	14.0	5.9	79%	3.8	49.8	3.8	$12,640	16.4	49	3.9	71%	650	615
19.	Physics, Harvard University	13.9	5.7	83%	4.7	170.7	4.9	$31,786	26.0	32	4.7	9%	745	745
20.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	13.8	5.7	84%	3.8	66.2	4.1	$18,171	10.2	46	3.0	21%	725	705
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	13.7	5.7	78%	3.7	65.1	3.8	$12,370	18.2	39	5.2	51%	610	570
22.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	12.4	5.9†	82%†	3.4	46.5	3.4	$11,006†	12.8†	55	2.6	76%†	585†	555†
22.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	12.4	5.9†	74%†	3.4	80.2	3.2	$12,863†	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
22.	Physics, University of Arizona	12.4	5.9†	74%†	3.4	80.2	3.2	$12,863†	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
22.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	12.4	6.2	78%	3.8	60.8	4.2	$12,626	14.0	48	3.7	67%	610	590
26.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	11.4	5.5	72%	3.9	178.1	4.4	$24,034	15.6	45	2.6	53%	600	580
27.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	11.0	6.3	89%	3.7	89.1	3.5	$16,005	9.4	32	3.3	35%	705	680
28.	Physics, Brown University	10.9	5.7	78%	3.6	47.4	3.6	$16,202	10.4	28	2.9	15%	725	710
29.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	10.8	5.7†	67%†	3.7	57.4	3.8	$15,072†	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
29.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	10.8	5.7†	67%†	3.7	57.4	3.8	$15,072†	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
31.	Physics, College of William and Mary	10.1	5.2	79%	3.1	29.2	3.0	$14,156	5.8	38	1.7	31%	670	680
32.	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
33.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	9.6	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,812†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
33.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	9.6	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,812†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
33.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	9.6	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,812†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
36.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	8.2	5.7	84%	2.9	33.1	2.8	$11,691	4.4	43	1.3	47%	610	595
37.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	7.8	5.6	78%	3.3	43.6	3.4	$13,216	10.4	47	2.0	85%	560	550
38.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	7.4	6.0	74%	3.8	88.2	4.1	$22,038	12.6	61	2.5	39%	655	605
39.	Physics, Wake Forest University	7.2	4.9	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,432	3.2	32*	2.5*	47%	670	655
40.	Physics, Boston University	6.8	5.7	81%	3.3	77.0	3.3	$17,237	8.8	35	2.9	55%	655	645
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
40.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	6.8	6.2	69%	3.2	61.4	3.2	$12,357	9.8	38	1.7	59%	615	580
42.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	6.6	6.1	69%	3.5	48.4	3.4	$12,056	9.6	55	2.8	85%	590	555
42.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	6.6	6.5†	78%†	3.6	54.7	3.6	$17,028†	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
42.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	6.6	6.5†	78%†	3.6	54.7	3.6	$17,028†	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
42.	Physics, University of Southern California	6.6	5.9	76%	3.0	79.2	3.2	$16,572	5.6	32	1.9	27%	690	665
46.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	6.3	6.0	81%	3.3	38.9	3.2	$16,938	7.2	31	2.4	19%	730	710
47.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	6.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$9,748*	4.0	32*	2.5*	42%	617*	598*
48.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	5.7	6.2†	75%†	3.8	70.9	4.2	$24,007†	13.2†	67	2.4	23%†	665†	630†
49.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	5.4	5.7†	69%†	3.0	54.4	3.0	$11,640†	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
49.	Physics, University of Utah	5.4	5.7†	69%†	3.0	54.4	3.0	$11,640†	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
51.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	5.2	5.2	85%	2.7	54.7	2.5	$12,182	3.0	18	1.2	89%	617*	598*
52.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	5.1	5.9	58%	3.3	47.9	3.1	$14,992	8.8	36	2.5	32%	700	685
53.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	5.0	5.2	63%	3.0	18.0	2.9	$10,960	4.4	35	1.3	72%	615	585
54.	Physics, Florida State University	4.8	5.2	54%	3.2	34.4	3.3	$14,929	13.0	44	2.3	62%	585	575
55.	Physics, Kansas State University	4.7	5.2	61%	2.9	43.5	2.3	$11,659	6.6	24	1.5	48%	617*	598*
56.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	4.6	4.7	50%	2.6	146.5	2.1	$12,653	3.8	15	1.6	87%	580	575
57.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	4.5	5.7	75%	3.3	41.4	2.6	$16,043	3.6	19	1.8	17%	730	720
58.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	4.2	5.7	75%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,982	12.6	32*	2.5*	61%	615	580
59.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	4.1	5.9	74%	3.4	46.9	3.3	$16,035	16.0	41	3.6	88%	600	580
60.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	3.9	6.0	58%	3.1	68.9	3.0	$12,367	8.6	26	3.5	67%	690	645
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
60.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	3.9	5.2	71%	2.7	41.0	2.5	$11,533	3.4	24	1.6	69%	617*	598*
62.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	3.7	5.2	81%	2.8	40.0	2.4	$12,268	4.2	21	1.8	83%	595	600
63.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	3.1	5.9	62%	3.3	20.3	3.1	$13,288	7.0	28	2.0	36%	650	640
64.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	2.8	6.2	69%	3.5	88.5	3.3	$17,240	2.6	30	3.6	30%	715	695
65.	Physics, Clemson University	2.7	5.7	88%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,546*	3.8	32*	2.5*	69%	615	590
66.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	2.3	6.5	79%	3.3	31.3	3.3	$14,947	8.6	37	2.5	49%	625	610
67.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	2.1	4.7	75%	2.6	28.1	2.4	$14,135	3.2	30	1.0	72%	570	560
67.	Physics, West Virginia University	2.1	5.2	65%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$11,001	3.8	32*	2.5*	89%	545	525
69.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	2.0	4.9	76%	1.8	20.9	2.1	$10,820	4.0	24	1.0	74%	565	565
70.	Physics, Brigham Young University	1.9	6.6	75%	2.9	57.3	2.2	$9,790	1.6	29	0.8	78%	620	605
70.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	1.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,243*	3.8	32*	2.5*	17%	617*	598*
70.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	1.9	5.9	75%	2.9	29.0	2.7	$12,500	3.4	25	1.0	62%	615	610
73.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	1.5	5.2	64%	3.1	29.0	2.9	$16,878	6.4	27	0.7	78%	685	635
73.	Physics, Rice University	1.5	6.7	49%	3.4	77.2	3.3	$15,506	8.0	23	2.5	25%	725	710
73.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	1.5	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,637*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
73.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	1.5	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,637*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
73.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	1.5	5.7	62%	3.0	29.0	2.6	$11,644	5.8	28	1.3	75%	605	595
78.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	1.4	6.1	68%	3.3	37.5	3.4	$17,126*	7.8	56	2.4	60%*	617*	598*
78.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	1.4	6.3	44%	3.2	28.3	3.2	$13,405	8.2	41	1.8	38%	670	655
78.	Physics, Wesleyan University	1.4	5.7	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,418*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	695	705
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Physics, Brandeis University	1.0	6.4	60%	3.2	83.3	3.3	$15,316	3.0	20	1.8	40%	675	675
82.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	0.8	4.7	55%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,509	5.4	32*	2.5*	71%	595	530
83.	Physics, Texas A & M University	0.4	5.7	61%	3.3	43.6	3.2	$16,672	8.2	45	2.5	70%	615	585
83.	Physics, University of Central Florida	0.4	4.9	76%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,175	4.0	32*	2.5*	62%	575	565
85.	Physics, University of Florida	0.3	5.8	29%	3.3	34.0	3.4	$14,426	11.0	43	1.9	57%	640	620
86.	Physics, Duke University	-0.1	6.2	47%	3.5	26.8	3.3	$16,361	6.4	32	2.2	22%	725	705
86.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	-0.1	6.2	74%	3.1	18.3	3.0	$17,056	7.8	25	2.1	35%	695	675
88.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	-0.3	5.5	70%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$13,248	3.2	32*	2.5*	55%	525	515
88.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	-0.3	5.7	81%	2.7	27.4	2.6	$12,595	6.8	16	3.3	56%	575	555
90.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	-0.8	5.7	54%	2.8	35.3	2.8	$13,774	7.6	36	1.8	44%	555	555
91.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	-1.0	5.9	61%	3.4	77.2	3.2	$17,919	7.4	38	2.4	90%	620	595
92.	Physics, Lehigh University	-1.5	5.3	46%	2.8	19.5	2.4	$12,926	4.4	22	2.6	41%	680	640
93.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	-1.8	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$11,660*	1.4	32*	2.5*	95%	545	540
94.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	-2.3	5.7	71%	2.5	53.7	2.6	$15,476	5.0	27	2.6	58%	605	570
95.	Physics, Syracuse University	-2.4	5.9	73%	3.3	56.0	3.0	$17,657	4.8	26	2.7	65%	620	595
96.	Physics, University of Oregon	-2.6	6.2	66%	3.2	64.9	3.0	$13,284	5.8	31	4.0	91%	560	555
97.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	-3.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,222*	1.2	32*	2.5*	56%	550	540
97.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	-3.1	6.7	100%	2.2	25.8	2.5	$10,990	1.4	24	1.8	73%	515	530
99.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	-3.2	6.3	67%	2.9	39.3	2.7	$16,579	3.6	20	2.8	28%	705	700
100.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	-3.3	5.2	86%	1.8	20.1	2.1	$12,531	3.4	15	4.1	51%	565	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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
101.	Physics, New York University	-3.5	6.3	54%	3.2	34.7	3.1	$18,357	7.4	29	1.2	37%	665	665
102.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-3.8	6.7	56%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,264	10.2	32*	2.5*	74%	535	540
103.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	-4.1	5.0	50%	2.2	28.6	2.0	$14,877	3.6	19	1.3	63%	665	638
104.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-4.4	6.7	89%	2.5	14.3	2.4	$13,605	4.8	27	1.9	86%	617*	598*
105.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	-4.6	4.9	64%	1.4	11.3	1.5	$10,299	2.4	12	1.9	85%	620	590
105.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	-4.6	5.8	50%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$15,138	3.0	32*	2.5*	60%*	617*	598*
107.	Physics, Clark University	-4.7	5.9	86%	1.7	12.1	1.8	$11,373	2.0	8	2.0	62%	595	610
108.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	-4.8	5.7†	77%†	3.0	35.8	2.7	$12,800†	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
108.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-4.8	5.7†	77%†	3.0	35.8	2.7	$12,800†	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
108.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-4.8	6.1†	74%†	1.9	35.2	2.1	$11,789†	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
108.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-4.8	6.1†	74%†	1.9	35.2	2.1	$11,789†	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
112.	Physics, Hampton University	-4.9	7.7	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$10,703	3.0	32*	2.5*	54%	532	552
112.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	-4.9	5.7	62%	2.5	15.6	2.6	$13,636	2.8	13	2.5	63%	675	625
114.	Physics, University of Maine	-5.1	5.3	64%	2.4	9.5	2.2	$11,275	2.2	15	1.5	79%	540	535
115.	Physics, University of South Florida	-5.3	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,501*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	565	555
116.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	-5.4	5.7	66%	2.9	19.8	2.6	$13,989	6.6	21	2.4	89%	545	545
116.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	-5.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,268*	1.4	32*	2.5*	81%	515	500
118.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	-5.5	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,503*	0.6	32*	2.5*	47%	560	540
118.	Physics, University of Idaho	-5.5	5.9*	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,095*	1.0	32*	2.5*	83%	550	550
120.	Physics, Northeastern University	-5.6	6.7	63%	3.0	45.9	2.9	$15,739	4.4	31	2.7	47%	625	605
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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	Physics, American University	-5.7	5.2	75%*	1.5	34.5	2.0	$15,673	2.0	11	2.5	51%	625	645
121.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	-5.7	5.2	70%*	1.7	16.6	1.6	$12,417*	1.0	13	1.4	47%	565	560
123.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-6.0	7.2	78%	2.9	21.1	2.5	$12,008	4.8	31	2.4	79%	575	565
124.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-6.2	6.0	69%	2.6	35.0	2.3	$11,593	4.0	14	4.1	74%	565	550
125.	Physics, University of Houston	-6.3	4.7†	44%†	2.8	30.7	3.0	$17,506†	7.0†	30	2.5	81%†	550†	520†
126.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-6.6	6.0	69%	2.3	45.7	2.2	$11,959	6.2	15	6.5	56%	595	565
126.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	-6.6	5.0	70%	3.3	78.6	3.2	$24,140	5.2	18	2.9	69%	585	580
128.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	-6.7	5.9*	70%*	1.2	15.2	1.6	$11,780*	2.2	13	0.8	63%	625	615
128.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	-6.7	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,581*	0.8	32*	2.5*	62%	575	560
130.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-6.9	6.0	67%	3.1	26.1	3.0	$17,645	5.4	33	2.3	80%	575	565
130.	Physics, University of Miami	-6.9	4.7	47%*	1.8	20.1	2.0	$15,255	2.2	11	1.5	46%	640	620
132.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-7.3	6.2	64%	2.2	30.2	2.3	$14,790	4.4	26	2.2	51%	600	585
133.	Physics, Oregon State University	-7.4	6.7	85%	2.7	14.1	2.7	$12,859	4.8	19	2.9	90%	550	530
134.	Physics, Southern Methodist University	-7.5	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$19,789*	0.8	32*	2.5*	58%	620	610
135.	Physics, Temple University	-8.0	5.0	70%*	2.6	17.6	2.4	$17,473*	1.6	19	2.1	63%	550	540
136.	Physics, Boston College	-8.3	6.9	78%	1.8	21.0	1.8	$12,778	2.0	10	2.8	31%	680	655
137.	Physics, University of California-Davis	-8.4	6.0	72%	3.0	40.5	2.9	$23,150	11.0	31	2.8	55%	615	565
138.	Physics, Florida International University	-8.8	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$19,054*	0.8	32*	2.5*	61%	550	555
139.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	-9.2	4.9	55%	1.1	24.0	1.9	$13,789	2.2	20	1.3	88%	570	560
139.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	-9.2	6.6†	74%†	3.5	27.7	3.4	$22,065†	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
139.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	-9.2	6.6†	74%†	3.5	27.7	3.4	$22,065†	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
139.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-9.2	6.7	46%	2.3	28.2	2.6	$10,330	2.4	19	1.3	65%	570	535
143.	Physics, Colorado State University	-9.4	5.7	52%	2.4	15.7	2.3	$11,995	4.8	14	3.3	88%	565	555
144.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-9.7	5.7	59%	2.9	47.0	2.6	$21,012	5.8	32	2.0	78%	600	575
145.	Physics, Western Michigan University	-9.8	6.1	71%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$20,422	2.4	32*	2.5*	85%	617*	598*
146.	Physics, Texas Christian University	-10.4	5.0	67%	0.7	26.7	0.7	$12,703	2.2	7	2.0	67%	590	575
146.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-10.4	6.5	88%	1.6	8.8	1.4	$10,820	1.6	13	2.0	81%	540	535
148.	Physics, Drexel University	-10.6	5.9*	70%*	2.9	42.4	2.6	$21,368*	2.6	25	1.2	82%	610	580
149.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	-10.7	4.9	63%	3.1	10.7	2.9	$23,083	5.4	32	1.6	74%	565	510
150.	Physics, Clarkson University	-10.9	5.9*	70%*	1.9	52.8	2.1	$16,727*	1.6	11	1.3	86%	595	555
151.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	-11.0	5.2	62%	2.5	36.0	2.3	$21,023	3.2	14	1.2	85%	645	600
152.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	-11.1	5.0	73%	1.9	29.9	2.1	$18,441	1.6	15	1.5	79%	545	515
152.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	-11.1	5.9*	70%*	1.5	30.9	1.5	$15,487*	1.0	11	1.2	85%	665	615
154.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-11.5	6.2	68%	3.0	30.8	2.5	$18,738	4.0	17	4.6	51%	640	605
155.	Physics, University of North Texas	-11.7	5.7	29%*	2.8	20.0	2.3	$13,022	3.6	20	2.3	69%	555	545
156.	Physics, Polytechnic University	-12.2	5.9*	70%*	2.0	11.8	1.9	$15,474*	0.8	12	2.1	69%	630	545
156.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	-12.2	6.1	72%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$23,821	3.6	32*	2.5*	63%	617*	598*
158.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-12.3	6.1	61%	1.8	16.9	2.1	$13,854	3.4	21	2.7	74%	560	545
159.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-12.7	7.2	44%*	2.7	29.4	2.6	$13,036	2.4	24	1.3	67%	580	570
160.	Physics, Baylor University	-13.8	5.9*	70%*	1.5	9.9	1.1	$14,774*	1.4	10	2.1	66%	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 (-1)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
160.	Physics, Texas Tech University	-13.8	5.2	40%*	2.6	24.3	2.1	$18,699	2.0	26	1.5	71%	575	555
162.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-13.9	6.7	41%	2.0	13.9	2.2	$13,660	4.4	19	3.2	47%	665	610
163.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-14.8	6.7	73%	0.9	2.3	1.7	$12,076	4.2	19	2.4	69%	530	530
164.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	-14.9	5.2†	69%†	0.8	3.3	1.3	$15,602†	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
164.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	-14.9	5.2†	69%†	0.8	3.3	1.3	$15,602†	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
166.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	-15.1	5.9*	70%*	0.3	3.3	0.5	$12,228*	0.8	10	0.3	82%	605	565
167.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	-15.3	6.0	83%	3.1	44.4	2.8	$27,018	3.4	28	2.5	84%	600	585
168.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-15.9	6.7	67%	2.5	14.2	2.3	$17,547	5.4	17	2.5	77%	565	545
169.	Physics, Utah State University	-18.4	8.7	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,433	3.0	32*	2.5*	92%	555	550
170.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-19.1	6.7	89%	1.5	22.0	1.9	$19,282	1.6	15	2.9	82%	570	550
171.	Physics, George Washington University	-19.8	8.7	82%	1.2	26.3	1.5	$14,616	2.2	9	2.2	38%	640	640
172.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	-20.1	4.9	67%	3.0	54.0	3.0	$36,977	4.8	21	1.5	68%	690	650
173.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-21.3	6.2	55%	1.1	14.5	1.9	$15,773*	1.6	10	3.1	79%	550	535
174.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-21.7	6.7	50%	3.3	47.4	2.9	$26,319	4.8	39	2.2	91%	560	550
175.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-23.2	7.1	71%	2.3	17.3	2.3	$19,821*	1.4	12	4.1	82%	565	580
176.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-24.5	6.2	70%	2.2	17.6	2.2	$23,654	4.6	15	3.3	81%	500	500
177.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-26.9	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	-26.9	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. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

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

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -1. 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