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

• Choosing a program
• Your application
• Taking the GRE
• Funding / Scholarships
• Other rankings
• Should you go?
• 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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Here is a direct link to your ranking.
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Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Physics, Princeton University	42.6	5.2	90%	4.7	7.8	110.0	4.9	16.2	47	2.3	11%	745	735
2.	Physics, Harvard University	36.6	5.7	83%	4.7	15.6	170.7	4.9	26.0	32	4.7	9%	745	745
3.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	27.1	5.7	85%	3.9	8.1	68.6	4.3	12.6	34	2.9	13%	725	715
4.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	26.8	5.5	72%	3.9	14.2	178.1	4.4	15.6	45	2.6	53%	600	580
4.	Physics, University of Chicago	26.8	5.7	84%	4.6	10.4	84.2	4.7	14.8	40	3.9	40%	715	725
6.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	24.6	5.7	73%	4.6	10.5	116.1	4.8	24.0	39	3.9	20%	775	735
7.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	24.1	6.3	89%	3.7	13.3	89.1	3.5	9.4	32	3.3	35%	705	680
8.	Physics, University of Southern California	23.7	5.9	76%	3.0	12.2	79.2	3.2	5.6	32	1.9	27%	690	665
8.	Applied Physics, Yale University	23.7	6.2†	81%†	4.0	7.2	63.1	4.2	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
8.	Physics, Yale University	23.7	6.2†	81%†	4.0	7.2	63.1	4.2	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
11.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	23.1	5.7	84%	3.8	8.8	66.2	4.1	10.2	46	3.0	21%	725	705
12.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	22.7	6.2	69%	3.5	15.0	88.5	3.3	2.6	30	3.6	30%	715	695
13.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	21.3	5.7	75%	3.3	5.9	41.4	2.6	3.6	19	1.8	17%	730	720
14.	Physics, Cornell University	21.0	5.3†	79%†	4.5	9.2	69.6	4.8	18.0†	54	3.4	27%†	710†	675†
15.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	18.7	4.9	67%	3.0	7.7	54.0	3.0	4.8	21	1.5	68%	690	650
15.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	18.7	6.0	81%	3.3	8.7	38.9	3.2	7.2	31	2.4	19%	730	710
17.	Physics, Brown University	18.3	5.7	78%	3.6	6.7	47.4	3.6	10.4	28	2.9	15%	725	710
18.	Physics, Carnegie Mellon University	17.8	5.7	81%	3.4	5.9	35.9	3.6	8.6	33	1.8	39%	720	660
19.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	17.7	5.2	85%	2.7	9.2	54.7	2.5	3.0	18	1.2	89%	617*	598*
20.	Physics, Brandeis University	17.3	6.4	60%	3.2	8.5	83.3	3.3	3.0	20	1.8	40%	675	675
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Physics, Wake Forest University	15.8	4.9	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.2	32*	2.5*	47%	670	655
22.	Physics, Wesleyan University	14.6	5.7	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	695	705
23.	Physics, College of William and Mary	14.2	5.2	79%	3.1	4.6	29.2	3.0	5.8	38	1.7	31%	670	680
24.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	13.8	5.0	70%	3.3	9.4	78.6	3.2	5.2	18	2.9	69%	585	580
25.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	13.4	5.2	64%	3.1	7.6	29.0	2.9	6.4	27	0.7	78%	685	635
26.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	13.3	6.0	74%	3.8	11.6	88.2	4.1	12.6	61	2.5	39%	655	605
27.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	12.9	6.2†	75%†	3.8	11.9	70.9	4.2	13.2†	67	2.4	23%†	665†	630†
28.	Physics, Boston University	12.4	5.7	81%	3.3	8.7	77.0	3.3	8.8	35	2.9	55%	655	645
28.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	12.4	5.8†	84%†	3.5	13.0	92.8	3.8	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
28.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	12.4	5.8†	84%†	3.5	13.0	92.8	3.8	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
31.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	11.8	5.7	80%	4.6	11.3	121.2	4.9	34.6	83	3.8	14%	770	730
32.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	10.0	5.9	75%	2.9	7.4	29.0	2.7	3.4	25	1.0	62%	615	610
33.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	9.8	5.2	81%	2.8	8.7	40.0	2.4	4.2	21	1.8	83%	595	600
34.	Physics, Syracuse University	9.7	5.9	73%	3.3	11.1	56.0	3.0	4.8	26	2.7	65%	620	595
35.	Physics, Rice University	9.3	6.7	49%	3.4	9.2	77.2	3.3	8.0	23	2.5	25%	725	710
36.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	9.2	5.7	84%	2.9	7.0	33.1	2.8	4.4	43	1.3	47%	610	595
37.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	8.8	4.7	50%	2.6	6.7	146.5	2.1	3.8	15	1.6	87%	580	575
38.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	8.7	6.2	69%	3.2	13.6	61.4	3.2	9.8	38	1.7	59%	615	580
39.	Physics, Kansas State University	8.6	5.2	61%	2.9	11.1	43.5	2.3	6.6	24	1.5	48%	617*	598*
39.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	8.6	5.7†	69%†	3.0	11.1	54.4	3.0	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
39.	Physics, University of Utah	8.6	5.7†	69%†	3.0	11.1	54.4	3.0	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
42.	Physics, Clemson University	8.4	5.7	88%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	69%	615	590
43.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	7.9	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
43.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	7.9	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
45.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	7.8	5.7	80%	4.5	13.4	84.7	4.9	30.4	67	4.2	25%	685	645
46.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	7.7	6.2	74%	3.1	6.9	18.3	3.0	7.8	25	2.1	35%	695	675
47.	Physics, University of Central Florida	7.3	4.9	76%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	4.0	32*	2.5*	62%	575	565
47.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	7.3	5.2	71%	2.7	7.0	41.0	2.5	3.4	24	1.6	69%	617*	598*
49.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	7.0	5.9	58%	3.3	9.7	47.9	3.1	8.8	36	2.5	32%	700	685
50.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	6.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	17%	617*	598*
51.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	6.3	6.3	67%	2.9	6.8	39.3	2.7	3.6	20	2.8	28%	705	700
52.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	6.0	6.0	83%	3.1	9.2	44.4	2.8	3.4	28	2.5	84%	600	585
52.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	6.0	4.7	75%	2.6	5.2	28.1	2.4	3.2	30	1.0	72%	570	560
54.	Physics, Southern Methodist University	5.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	58%	620	610
55.	Physics, New York University	5.2	6.3	54%	3.2	6.7	34.7	3.1	7.4	29	1.2	37%	665	665
56.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	5.0	5.2	62%	2.5	6.6	36.0	2.3	3.2	14	1.2	85%	645	600
56.	Physics, Drexel University	5.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9	6.6	42.4	2.6	2.6	25	1.2	82%	610	580
58.	Physics, Duke University	4.8	6.2	47%	3.5	6.4	26.8	3.3	6.4	32	2.2	22%	725	705
59.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	4.5	5.9	62%	3.3	6.5	20.3	3.1	7.0	28	2.0	36%	650	640
60.	Physics, University of South Florida	4.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	565	555
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	4.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	4.0	32*	2.5*	42%	617*	598*
62.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.8	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
62.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.8	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
62.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	3.8	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
65.	Physics, Clarkson University	3.6	5.9*	70%*	1.9	10.7	52.8	2.1	1.6	11	1.3	86%	595	555
65.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	3.6	5.9	61%	3.4	10.7	77.2	3.2	7.4	38	2.4	90%	620	595
67.	Physics, Stanford University	2.4	6.2	79%	4.4	8.4	73.8	4.5	32.6	25	5.4	12%	735	720
68.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	2.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.6	32*	2.5*	47%	560	540
69.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	2.1	5.0	50%	2.2	8.5	28.6	2.0	3.6	19	1.3	63%	665	638
70.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	1.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	62%	575	560
71.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	1.8	6.1	72%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.6	32*	2.5*	63%	617*	598*
72.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	1.5	6.6†	74%†	3.5	6.8	27.7	3.4	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
72.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	1.5	6.6†	74%†	3.5	6.8	27.7	3.4	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
74.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	1.4	6.1	83%	4.4	13.7	86.2	4.7	27.6	98	3.0	68%	675	615
75.	Physics, Florida International University	1.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	61%	550	555
76.	Physics, Brigham Young University	0.9	6.6	75%	2.9	2.6	57.3	2.2	1.6	29	0.8	78%	620	605
77.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	0.6	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.2	32*	2.5*	56%	550	540
77.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	0.6	5.7	81%	2.7	10.9	27.4	2.6	6.8	16	3.3	56%	575	555
77.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	0.6	4.9	76%	1.8	6.7	20.9	2.1	4.0	24	1.0	74%	565	565
77.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	0.6	5.2	63%	3.0	3.9	18.0	2.9	4.4	35	1.3	72%	615	585
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Physics, University of Idaho	0.5	5.9*	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	83%	550	550
81.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	0.5	5.7	62%	3.0	7.3	29.0	2.6	5.8	28	1.3	75%	605	595
83.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	0.4	6.5†	78%†	3.6	9.7	54.7	3.6	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
83.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	0.4	6.5†	78%†	3.6	9.7	54.7	3.6	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
83.	Physics, Western Michigan University	0.4	6.1	71%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.4	32*	2.5*	85%	617*	598*
86.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	0.1	6.5	79%	3.3	6.3	31.3	3.3	8.6	37	2.5	49%	625	610
86.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	0.1	6.2	78%	3.8	9.0	60.8	4.2	14.0	48	3.7	67%	610	590
88.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	-0.2	5.7	71%	2.5	8.7	53.7	2.6	5.0	27	2.6	58%	605	570
89.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	-0.3	5.5	70%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.2	32*	2.5*	55%	525	515
90.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	-0.9	5.0	73%	1.9	7.1	29.9	2.1	1.6	15	1.5	79%	545	515
91.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	-1.1	4.7	55%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	5.4	32*	2.5*	71%	595	530
92.	Physics, American University	-1.2	5.2	75%*	1.5	4.5	34.5	2.0	2.0	11	2.5	51%	625	645
92.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	-1.2	6.0	58%	3.1	9.0	68.9	3.0	8.6	26	3.5	67%	690	645
94.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	-1.3	5.6	78%	3.3	6.8	43.6	3.4	10.4	47	2.0	85%	560	550
95.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	-1.8	5.7	75%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	12.6	32*	2.5*	61%	615	580
96.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	-2.0	6.7	100%	2.2	6.3	25.8	2.5	1.4	24	1.8	73%	515	530
97.	Physics, Temple University	-2.1	5.0	70%*	2.6	4.0	17.6	2.4	1.6	19	2.1	63%	550	540
98.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	-2.3	5.9	79%	3.8	9.1	49.8	3.8	16.4	49	3.9	71%	650	615
99.	Physics, Texas A & M University	-2.4	5.7	61%	3.3	9.2	43.6	3.2	8.2	45	2.5	70%	615	585
100.	Physics, West Virginia University	-2.7	5.2	65%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	89%	545	525
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
100.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	-2.7	5.9*	70%*	1.5	7.1	30.9	1.5	1.0	11	1.2	85%	665	615
102.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-2.8	5.7	59%	2.9	8.9	47.0	2.6	5.8	32	2.0	78%	600	575
103.	Physics, University of Miami	-3.0	4.7	47%*	1.8	4.1	20.1	2.0	2.2	11	1.5	46%	640	620
104.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	-3.1	5.9†	82%†	3.4	9.2	46.5	3.4	12.8†	55	2.6	76%†	585†	555†
105.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	-3.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.4	32*	2.5*	95%	545	540
106.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-3.3	6.1	68%	3.3	7.9	37.5	3.4	7.8	56	2.4	60%*	617*	598*
107.	Physics, Northeastern University	-3.4	6.7	63%	3.0	8.5	45.9	2.9	4.4	31	2.7	47%	625	605
107.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	-3.4	5.9	66%	3.7	7.6	37.4	4.0	18.0	61	2.6	57%	680	640
107.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	-3.4	5.8	50%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	60%*	617*	598*
110.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	-3.5	5.7	62%	2.5	3.8	15.6	2.6	2.8	13	2.5	63%	675	625
110.	Physics, University of California-Davis	-3.5	6.0	72%	3.0	9.3	40.5	2.9	11.0	31	2.8	55%	615	565
110.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	-3.5	5.7†	75%†	3.7	10.0	50.0	4.0	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
110.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	-3.5	5.7†	75%†	3.7	10.0	50.0	4.0	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
114.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	-4.1	5.2	70%*	1.7	4.9	16.6	1.6	1.0	13	1.4	47%	565	560
115.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	-4.2	4.9	63%	3.1	3.7	10.7	2.9	5.4	32	1.6	74%	565	510
115.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	-4.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.4	32*	2.5*	81%	515	500
117.	Physics, Clark University	-4.4	5.9	86%	1.7	3.9	12.1	1.8	2.0	8	2.0	62%	595	610
118.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-4.8	6.3	44%	3.2	6.7	28.3	3.2	8.2	41	1.8	38%	670	655
119.	Physics, Lehigh University	-5.5	5.3	46%	2.8	4.7	19.5	2.4	4.4	22	2.6	41%	680	640
119.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-5.5	6.1†	74%†	1.9	9.2	35.2	2.1	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
119.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-5.5	6.1†	74%†	1.9	9.2	35.2	2.1	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
122.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	-6.0	5.7	54%	2.8	8.6	35.3	2.8	7.6	36	1.8	44%	555	555
123.	Physics, Florida State University	-6.7	5.2	54%	3.2	8.2	34.4	3.3	13.0	44	2.3	62%	585	575
124.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-6.8	6.0	67%	3.1	5.9	26.1	3.0	5.4	33	2.3	80%	575	565
125.	Physics, University of Maine	-7.2	5.3	64%	2.4	4.4	9.5	2.2	2.2	15	1.5	79%	540	535
126.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	-7.3	5.7	78%	3.7	9.0	65.1	3.8	18.2	39	5.2	51%	610	570
127.	Physics, Boston College	-7.4	6.9	78%	1.8	5.2	21.0	1.8	2.0	10	2.8	31%	680	655
128.	Physics, Polytechnic University	-7.8	5.9*	70%*	2.0	5.6	11.8	1.9	0.8	12	2.1	69%	630	545
129.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-8.0	6.7	89%	2.5	3.4	14.3	2.4	4.8	27	1.9	86%	617*	598*
130.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	-8.2	5.9*	70%*	1.2	3.2	15.2	1.6	2.2	13	0.8	63%	625	615
130.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	-8.2	6.1	69%	3.5	8.1	48.4	3.4	9.6	55	2.8	85%	590	555
132.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-8.7	6.2	68%	3.0	8.1	30.8	2.5	4.0	17	4.6	51%	640	605
133.	Physics, Hampton University	-8.9	7.7	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	54%	532	552
134.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	-9.0	5.2	86%	1.8	7.1	20.1	2.1	3.4	15	4.1	51%	565	555
134.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	-9.0	5.9	74%	3.4	10.1	46.9	3.3	16.0	41	3.6	88%	600	580
136.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-9.1	5.7†	67%†	3.7	9.8	57.4	3.8	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
136.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-9.1	5.7†	67%†	3.7	9.8	57.4	3.8	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
138.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-9.3	6.2	64%	2.2	7.0	30.2	2.3	4.4	26	2.2	51%	600	585
139.	Physics, University of Florida	-9.4	5.8	29%	3.3	8.7	34.0	3.4	11.0	43	1.9	57%	640	620
140.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	-9.6	5.9†	74%†	3.4	9.6	80.2	3.2	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
140.	Physics, University of Arizona	-9.6	5.9†	74%†	3.4	9.6	80.2	3.2	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
142.	Physics, University of Houston	-9.8	4.7†	44%†	2.8	7.9	30.7	3.0	7.0†	30	2.5	81%†	550†	520†
143.	Physics, University of Oregon	-9.9	6.2	66%	3.2	9.6	64.9	3.0	5.8	31	4.0	91%	560	555
144.	Physics, Texas Tech University	-10.4	5.2	40%*	2.6	6.4	24.3	2.1	2.0	26	1.5	71%	575	555
145.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	-10.8	5.7	66%	2.9	5.7	19.8	2.6	6.6	21	2.4	89%	545	545
146.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	-10.9	4.9	64%	1.4	5.2	11.3	1.5	2.4	12	1.9	85%	620	590
147.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-11.1	6.7	50%	3.3	10.6	47.4	2.9	4.8	39	2.2	91%	560	550
148.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	-11.9	5.7†	77%†	3.0	9.6	35.8	2.7	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
148.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-11.9	5.7†	77%†	3.0	9.6	35.8	2.7	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
150.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-12.1	6.0	69%	2.6	9.4	35.0	2.3	4.0	14	4.1	74%	565	550
150.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-12.1	6.7	46%	2.3	7.5	28.2	2.6	2.4	19	1.3	65%	570	535
152.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	-12.5	4.9	55%	1.1	6.4	24.0	1.9	2.2	20	1.3	88%	570	560
153.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-13.1	6.7	89%	1.5	8.5	22.0	1.9	1.6	15	2.9	82%	570	550
153.	Physics, Texas Christian University	-13.1	5.0	67%	0.7	8.4	26.7	0.7	2.2	7	2.0	67%	590	575
155.	Physics, Oregon State University	-14.0	6.7	85%	2.7	4.0	14.1	2.7	4.8	19	2.9	90%	550	530
156.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-14.2	7.2	44%*	2.7	6.5	29.4	2.6	2.4	24	1.3	67%	580	570
157.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-14.3	7.2	78%	2.9	5.4	21.1	2.5	4.8	31	2.4	79%	575	565
158.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-16.7	6.5	88%	1.6	4.5	8.8	1.4	1.6	13	2.0	81%	540	535
159.	Physics, Baylor University	-17.2	5.9*	70%*	1.5	2.7	9.9	1.1	1.4	10	2.1	66%	605	595
160.	Physics, Utah State University	-17.3	8.7	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	92%	555	550
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-5)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
161.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	-17.6	6.2	56%	3.8	10.4	60.4	4.3	28.8	85	2.8	51%	630	605
161.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-17.6	6.7	56%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	10.2	32*	2.5*	74%	535	540
163.	Physics, University of North Texas	-18.5	5.7	29%*	2.8	7.6	20.0	2.3	3.6	20	2.3	69%	555	545
164.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-18.6	6.0	69%	2.3	14.6	45.7	2.2	6.2	15	6.5	56%	595	565
165.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-18.8	6.1	61%	1.8	8.0	16.9	2.1	3.4	21	2.7	74%	560	545
166.	Physics, Colorado State University	-19.5	5.7	52%	2.4	7.0	15.7	2.3	4.8	14	3.3	88%	565	555
166.	Physics, George Washington University	-19.5	8.7	82%	1.2	6.0	26.3	1.5	2.2	9	2.2	38%	640	640
168.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-19.6	6.7	67%	2.5	3.9	14.2	2.3	5.4	17	2.5	77%	565	545
169.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-21.1	7.1	71%	2.3	6.9	17.3	2.3	1.4	12	4.1	82%	565	580
170.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	-21.4	5.9*	70%*	0.3	2.4	3.3	0.5	0.8	10	0.3	82%	605	565
171.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-23.6	6.2	70%	2.2	4.9	17.6	2.2	4.6	15	3.3	81%	500	500
172.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	-24.9	5.2†	69%†	0.8	1.8	3.3	1.3	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
172.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	-24.9	5.2†	69%†	0.8	1.8	3.3	1.3	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
174.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-25.7	6.7	41%	2.0	4.9	13.9	2.2	4.4	19	3.2	47%	665	610
175.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-29.9	6.2	55%	1.1	4.6	14.5	1.9	1.6	10	3.1	79%	550	535
176.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-30.8	7.9†	75%†	2.4	2.4	4.0	1.9	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
176.	Radiological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-30.8	7.9†	75%†	2.4	2.4	4.0	1.9	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
178.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-33.5	6.7	73%	0.9	1.6	2.3	1.7	4.2	19	2.4	69%	530	530

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 = -4. 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 = 4. 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 = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Publications per Faculty Member (Pub / Fac)

The ratio of the number of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 3. 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 = 3. 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 = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = -4. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -2. 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 = 2. 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 = 2. 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