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

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• Your application
• Taking the GRE
• 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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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 (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	81.6	5.7	80%	4.6	11.3	121.2	4.9	34.6	83	3.8	14%	770	730
2.	Physics, Harvard University	70.7	5.7	83%	4.7	15.6	170.7	4.9	26.0	32	4.7	9%	745	745
3.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	66.0	6.1	83%	4.4	13.7	86.2	4.7	27.6	98	3.0	68%	675	615
4.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	64.5	5.7	80%	4.5	13.4	84.7	4.9	30.4	67	4.2	25%	685	645
5.	Physics, Princeton University	62.7	5.2	90%	4.7	7.8	110.0	4.9	16.2	47	2.3	11%	745	735
6.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	56.9	5.7	73%	4.6	10.5	116.1	4.8	24.0	39	3.9	20%	775	735
7.	Physics, Cornell University	50.6	5.3†	79%†	4.5	9.2	69.6	4.8	18.0†	54	3.4	27%†	710†	675†
8.	Physics, University of Chicago	46.1	5.7	84%	4.6	10.4	84.2	4.7	14.8	40	3.9	40%	715	725
9.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	45.9	5.5	72%	3.9	14.2	178.1	4.4	15.6	45	2.6	53%	600	580
10.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	45.5	5.7†	75%†	3.7	10.0	50.0	4.0	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
10.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	45.5	5.7†	75%†	3.7	10.0	50.0	4.0	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
12.	Physics, Stanford University	44.7	6.2	79%	4.4	8.4	73.8	4.5	32.6	25	5.4	12%	735	720
13.	Applied Physics, Yale University	42.9	6.2†	81%†	4.0	7.2	63.1	4.2	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
13.	Physics, Yale University	42.9	6.2†	81%†	4.0	7.2	63.1	4.2	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
15.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	41.6	6.2	56%	3.8	10.4	60.4	4.3	28.8	85	2.8	51%	630	605
16.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	39.0	6.2†	75%†	3.8	11.9	70.9	4.2	13.2†	67	2.4	23%†	665†	630†
17.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	37.1	5.7	85%	3.9	8.1	68.6	4.3	12.6	34	2.9	13%	725	715
18.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	36.0	5.7	84%	3.8	8.8	66.2	4.1	10.2	46	3.0	21%	725	705
19.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	35.8	6.0	74%	3.8	11.6	88.2	4.1	12.6	61	2.5	39%	655	605
20.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	31.3	5.8†	84%†	3.5	13.0	92.8	3.8	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
20.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	31.3	5.8†	84%†	3.5	13.0	92.8	3.8	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
22.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	29.7	6.3	89%	3.7	13.3	89.1	3.5	9.4	32	3.3	35%	705	680
23.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	27.3	5.9	66%	3.7	7.6	37.4	4.0	18.0	61	2.6	57%	680	640
24.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	23.9	5.9	79%	3.8	9.1	49.8	3.8	16.4	49	3.9	71%	650	615
25.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	22.3	5.7†	67%†	3.7	9.8	57.4	3.8	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
25.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	22.3	5.7†	67%†	3.7	9.8	57.4	3.8	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
27.	Physics, Brown University	22.1	5.7	78%	3.6	6.7	47.4	3.6	10.4	28	2.9	15%	725	710
28.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	21.7	6.2	78%	3.8	9.0	60.8	4.2	14.0	48	3.7	67%	610	590
29.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	20.4	5.7	78%	3.7	9.0	65.1	3.8	18.2	39	5.2	51%	610	570
30.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	20.1	6.5†	78%†	3.6	9.7	54.7	3.6	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
30.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	20.1	6.5†	78%†	3.6	9.7	54.7	3.6	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
32.	Physics, University of Southern California	19.5	5.9	76%	3.0	12.2	79.2	3.2	5.6	32	1.9	27%	690	665
33.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	18.3	5.9†	74%†	3.4	9.6	80.2	3.2	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
33.	Physics, University of Arizona	18.3	5.9†	74%†	3.4	9.6	80.2	3.2	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
35.	Physics, Carnegie Mellon University	18.2	5.7	81%	3.4	5.9	35.9	3.6	8.6	33	1.8	39%	720	660
35.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	18.2	6.2	69%	3.5	15.0	88.5	3.3	2.6	30	3.6	30%	715	695
37.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	17.8	6.0	81%	3.3	8.7	38.9	3.2	7.2	31	2.4	19%	730	710
38.	Physics, Boston University	17.4	5.7	81%	3.3	8.7	77.0	3.3	8.8	35	2.9	55%	655	645
39.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	17.0	5.9†	82%†	3.4	9.2	46.5	3.4	12.8†	55	2.6	76%†	585†	555†
40.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	14.2	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
40.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	14.2	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
40.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	14.2	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
43.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	13.1	6.2	69%	3.2	13.6	61.4	3.2	9.8	38	1.7	59%	615	580
44.	Physics, College of William and Mary	12.7	5.2	79%	3.1	4.6	29.2	3.0	5.8	38	1.7	31%	670	680
45.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	11.7	5.9	74%	3.4	10.1	46.9	3.3	16.0	41	3.6	88%	600	580
46.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	11.3	5.9	58%	3.3	9.7	47.9	3.1	8.8	36	2.5	32%	700	685
47.	Physics, Wake Forest University	9.5	4.9	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.2	32*	2.5*	47%	670	655
48.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	9.4	6.1	68%	3.3	7.9	37.5	3.4	7.8	56	2.4	60%*	617*	598*
48.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	9.4	5.6	78%	3.3	6.8	43.6	3.4	10.4	47	2.0	85%	560	550
50.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	7.7	6.1	69%	3.5	8.1	48.4	3.4	9.6	55	2.8	85%	590	555
51.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	7.3	5.7	75%	3.3	5.9	41.4	2.6	3.6	19	1.8	17%	730	720
52.	Physics, Florida State University	7.2	5.2	54%	3.2	8.2	34.4	3.3	13.0	44	2.3	62%	585	575
53.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	7.0	5.7	84%	2.9	7.0	33.1	2.8	4.4	43	1.3	47%	610	595
54.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	6.6	5.9	61%	3.4	10.7	77.2	3.2	7.4	38	2.4	90%	620	595
55.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	6.5	4.9	67%	3.0	7.7	54.0	3.0	4.8	21	1.5	68%	690	650
56.	Physics, Rice University	5.8	6.7	49%	3.4	9.2	77.2	3.3	8.0	23	2.5	25%	725	710
57.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	5.7	5.7	75%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	12.6	32*	2.5*	61%	615	580
58.	Physics, Texas A & M University	5.6	5.7	61%	3.3	9.2	43.6	3.2	8.2	45	2.5	70%	615	585
59.	Physics, Wesleyan University	5.1	5.7	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	695	705
60.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	5.0	5.0	70%	3.3	9.4	78.6	3.2	5.2	18	2.9	69%	585	580
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	4.6	6.5	79%	3.3	6.3	31.3	3.3	8.6	37	2.5	49%	625	610
62.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	4.3	5.2	64%	3.1	7.6	29.0	2.9	6.4	27	0.7	78%	685	635
62.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	4.3	5.7†	69%†	3.0	11.1	54.4	3.0	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
62.	Physics, University of Utah	4.3	5.7†	69%†	3.0	11.1	54.4	3.0	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
65.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	3.8	6.2	74%	3.1	6.9	18.3	3.0	7.8	25	2.1	35%	695	675
66.	Physics, Syracuse University	3.7	5.9	73%	3.3	11.1	56.0	3.0	4.8	26	2.7	65%	620	595
67.	Physics, Clemson University	3.0	5.7	88%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	69%	615	590
68.	Physics, Brandeis University	2.9	6.4	60%	3.2	8.5	83.3	3.3	3.0	20	1.8	40%	675	675
69.	Physics, Duke University	2.7	6.2	47%	3.5	6.4	26.8	3.3	6.4	32	2.2	22%	725	705
70.	Physics, University of California-Davis	2.4	6.0	72%	3.0	9.3	40.5	2.9	11.0	31	2.8	55%	615	565
71.	Physics, University of Central Florida	2.2	4.9	76%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	4.0	32*	2.5*	62%	575	565
72.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	1.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	17%	617*	598*
73.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	0.7	6.0	58%	3.1	9.0	68.9	3.0	8.6	26	3.5	67%	690	645
74.	Physics, Kansas State University	0.6	5.2	61%	2.9	11.1	43.5	2.3	6.6	24	1.5	48%	617*	598*
74.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	0.6	5.9	62%	3.3	6.5	20.3	3.1	7.0	28	2.0	36%	650	640
76.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	0.5	5.2	85%	2.7	9.2	54.7	2.5	3.0	18	1.2	89%	617*	598*
77.	Physics, New York University	0.0	6.3	54%	3.2	6.7	34.7	3.1	7.4	29	1.2	37%	665	665
78.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	-0.1	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
78.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	-0.1	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
80.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	-0.2	6.6†	74%†	3.5	6.8	27.7	3.4	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
80.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	-0.2	6.6†	74%†	3.5	6.8	27.7	3.4	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
80.	Physics, University of Florida	-0.2	5.8	29%	3.3	8.7	34.0	3.4	11.0	43	1.9	57%	640	620
83.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-1.0	6.3	44%	3.2	6.7	28.3	3.2	8.2	41	1.8	38%	670	655
84.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	-1.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	4.0	32*	2.5*	42%	617*	598*
85.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	-1.7	6.0	83%	3.1	9.2	44.4	2.8	3.4	28	2.5	84%	600	585
86.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	-2.3	5.2	81%	2.8	8.7	40.0	2.4	4.2	21	1.8	83%	595	600
87.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	-3.6	5.9	75%	2.9	7.4	29.0	2.7	3.4	25	1.0	62%	615	610
88.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	-3.9	6.1	72%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.6	32*	2.5*	63%	617*	598*
89.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	-4.2	4.7	55%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	5.4	32*	2.5*	71%	595	530
89.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	-4.2	6.3	67%	2.9	6.8	39.3	2.7	3.6	20	2.8	28%	705	700
91.	Physics, Southern Methodist University	-4.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	58%	620	610
92.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	-5.1	5.2	71%	2.7	7.0	41.0	2.5	3.4	24	1.6	69%	617*	598*
93.	Physics, University of South Florida	-5.3	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	565	555
94.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	-5.4	4.7	75%	2.6	5.2	28.1	2.4	3.2	30	1.0	72%	570	560
95.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	-5.5	5.7	54%	2.8	8.6	35.3	2.8	7.6	36	1.8	44%	555	555
96.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	-5.6	5.2	63%	3.0	3.9	18.0	2.9	4.4	35	1.3	72%	615	585
97.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	-5.7	5.7	71%	2.5	8.7	53.7	2.6	5.0	27	2.6	58%	605	570
98.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	-5.8	5.7	81%	2.7	10.9	27.4	2.6	6.8	16	3.3	56%	575	555
99.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-6.4	5.7	59%	2.9	8.9	47.0	2.6	5.8	32	2.0	78%	600	575
100.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	-6.6	5.5	70%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.2	32*	2.5*	55%	525	515
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
101.	Physics, Western Michigan University	-7.0	6.1	71%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.4	32*	2.5*	85%	617*	598*
102.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	-7.2	5.7	62%	3.0	7.3	29.0	2.6	5.8	28	1.3	75%	605	595
103.	Physics, Northeastern University	-7.5	6.7	63%	3.0	8.5	45.9	2.9	4.4	31	2.7	47%	625	605
103.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	-7.5	4.7	50%	2.6	6.7	146.5	2.1	3.8	15	1.6	87%	580	575
105.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	-7.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.6	32*	2.5*	47%	560	540
105.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	-7.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	62%	575	560
107.	Physics, University of Oregon	-8.0	6.2	66%	3.2	9.6	64.9	3.0	5.8	31	4.0	91%	560	555
108.	Physics, West Virginia University	-8.1	5.2	65%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	89%	545	525
109.	Physics, Florida International University	-8.6	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	61%	550	555
109.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	-8.6	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.2	32*	2.5*	56%	550	540
111.	Physics, University of Idaho	-9.0	5.9*	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	83%	550	550
112.	Physics, Drexel University	-9.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9	6.6	42.4	2.6	2.6	25	1.2	82%	610	580
113.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-9.5	6.0	67%	3.1	5.9	26.1	3.0	5.4	33	2.3	80%	575	565
114.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	-9.6	4.9	63%	3.1	3.7	10.7	2.9	5.4	32	1.6	74%	565	510
115.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	-9.9	5.8	50%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	60%*	617*	598*
116.	Physics, University of Houston	-11.2	4.7†	44%†	2.8	7.9	30.7	3.0	7.0†	30	2.5	81%†	550†	520†
117.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-12.0	6.7	50%	3.3	10.6	47.4	2.9	4.8	39	2.2	91%	560	550
118.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	-12.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.4	32*	2.5*	95%	545	540
119.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	-12.7	4.9	76%	1.8	6.7	20.9	2.1	4.0	24	1.0	74%	565	565
120.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	-13.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.4	32*	2.5*	81%	515	500
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	-13.4	5.0	50%	2.2	8.5	28.6	2.0	3.6	19	1.3	63%	665	638
122.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-13.6	6.7	56%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	10.2	32*	2.5*	74%	535	540
123.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	-13.9	5.2	62%	2.5	6.6	36.0	2.3	3.2	14	1.2	85%	645	600
124.	Physics, Brigham Young University	-14.0	6.6	75%	2.9	2.6	57.3	2.2	1.6	29	0.8	78%	620	605
125.	Physics, Lehigh University	-14.5	5.3	46%	2.8	4.7	19.5	2.4	4.4	22	2.6	41%	680	640
126.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-14.7	6.2	68%	3.0	8.1	30.8	2.5	4.0	17	4.6	51%	640	605
127.	Physics, Hampton University	-15.5	7.7	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	54%	532	552
127.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	-15.5	5.7†	77%†	3.0	9.6	35.8	2.7	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
127.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-15.5	5.7†	77%†	3.0	9.6	35.8	2.7	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
130.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-15.9	6.7	89%	2.5	3.4	14.3	2.4	4.8	27	1.9	86%	617*	598*
131.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-16.7	6.0	69%	2.3	14.6	45.7	2.2	6.2	15	6.5	56%	595	565
131.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	-16.7	6.7	100%	2.2	6.3	25.8	2.5	1.4	24	1.8	73%	515	530
133.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-17.4	6.2	64%	2.2	7.0	30.2	2.3	4.4	26	2.2	51%	600	585
134.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	-17.6	5.7	66%	2.9	5.7	19.8	2.6	6.6	21	2.4	89%	545	545
135.	Physics, Temple University	-18.2	5.0	70%*	2.6	4.0	17.6	2.4	1.6	19	2.1	63%	550	540
136.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	-18.4	5.2	86%	1.8	7.1	20.1	2.1	3.4	15	4.1	51%	565	555
137.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-18.5	6.1†	74%†	1.9	9.2	35.2	2.1	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
137.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-18.5	6.1†	74%†	1.9	9.2	35.2	2.1	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
139.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-18.7	7.2	78%	2.9	5.4	21.1	2.5	4.8	31	2.4	79%	575	565
140.	Physics, Clarkson University	-18.9	5.9*	70%*	1.9	10.7	52.8	2.1	1.6	11	1.3	86%	595	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 (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
141.	Physics, American University	-19.5	5.2	75%*	1.5	4.5	34.5	2.0	2.0	11	2.5	51%	625	645
142.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	-19.6	5.7	62%	2.5	3.8	15.6	2.6	2.8	13	2.5	63%	675	625
143.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	-20.7	5.0	73%	1.9	7.1	29.9	2.1	1.6	15	1.5	79%	545	515
144.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-21.2	6.0	69%	2.6	9.4	35.0	2.3	4.0	14	4.1	74%	565	550
145.	Physics, Oregon State University	-23.0	6.7	85%	2.7	4.0	14.1	2.7	4.8	19	2.9	90%	550	530
146.	Physics, Utah State University	-23.9	8.7	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	92%	555	550
147.	Physics, University of Miami	-24.0	4.7	47%*	1.8	4.1	20.1	2.0	2.2	11	1.5	46%	640	620
148.	Physics, Texas Tech University	-24.1	5.2	40%*	2.6	6.4	24.3	2.1	2.0	26	1.5	71%	575	555
149.	Physics, Boston College	-25.3	6.9	78%	1.8	5.2	21.0	1.8	2.0	10	2.8	31%	680	655
150.	Physics, Clark University	-25.7	5.9	86%	1.7	3.9	12.1	1.8	2.0	8	2.0	62%	595	610
151.	Physics, University of Maine	-26.1	5.3	64%	2.4	4.4	9.5	2.2	2.2	15	1.5	79%	540	535
152.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	-26.2	5.2	70%*	1.7	4.9	16.6	1.6	1.0	13	1.4	47%	565	560
153.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	-26.3	5.9*	70%*	1.5	7.1	30.9	1.5	1.0	11	1.2	85%	665	615
154.	Physics, Polytechnic University	-28.6	5.9*	70%*	2.0	5.6	11.8	1.9	0.8	12	2.1	69%	630	545
155.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-28.7	6.7	89%	1.5	8.5	22.0	1.9	1.6	15	2.9	82%	570	550
156.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-29.0	7.2	44%*	2.7	6.5	29.4	2.6	2.4	24	1.3	67%	580	570
157.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-29.4	6.7	46%	2.3	7.5	28.2	2.6	2.4	19	1.3	65%	570	535
157.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-29.4	6.1	61%	1.8	8.0	16.9	2.1	3.4	21	2.7	74%	560	545
159.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	-29.6	4.9	55%	1.1	6.4	24.0	1.9	2.2	20	1.3	88%	570	560
160.	Physics, Colorado State University	-29.8	5.7	52%	2.4	7.0	15.7	2.3	4.8	14	3.3	88%	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 (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
161.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	-29.9	4.9	64%	1.4	5.2	11.3	1.5	2.4	12	1.9	85%	620	590
161.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-29.9	6.7	67%	2.5	3.9	14.2	2.3	5.4	17	2.5	77%	565	545
163.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	-30.3	5.9*	70%*	1.2	3.2	15.2	1.6	2.2	13	0.8	63%	625	615
164.	Physics, University of North Texas	-30.5	5.7	29%*	2.8	7.6	20.0	2.3	3.6	20	2.3	69%	555	545
165.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-33.6	6.2	70%	2.2	4.9	17.6	2.2	4.6	15	3.3	81%	500	500
166.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-34.3	6.7	41%	2.0	4.9	13.9	2.2	4.4	19	3.2	47%	665	610
167.	Physics, Texas Christian University	-34.6	5.0	67%	0.7	8.4	26.7	0.7	2.2	7	2.0	67%	590	575
168.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-34.9	7.1	71%	2.3	6.9	17.3	2.3	1.4	12	4.1	82%	565	580
169.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-36.1	7.9†	75%†	2.4	2.4	4.0	1.9	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
169.	Radiological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-36.1	7.9†	75%†	2.4	2.4	4.0	1.9	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
169.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-36.1	6.5	88%	1.6	4.5	8.8	1.4	1.6	13	2.0	81%	540	535
172.	Physics, Baylor University	-38.1	5.9*	70%*	1.5	2.7	9.9	1.1	1.4	10	2.1	66%	605	595
173.	Physics, George Washington University	-39.4	8.7	82%	1.2	6.0	26.3	1.5	2.2	9	2.2	38%	640	640
174.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	-41.4	5.2†	69%†	0.8	1.8	3.3	1.3	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
174.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	-41.4	5.2†	69%†	0.8	1.8	3.3	1.3	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
176.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-44.8	6.7	73%	0.9	1.6	2.3	1.7	4.2	19	2.4	69%	530	530
177.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-47.5	6.2	55%	1.1	4.6	14.5	1.9	1.6	10	3.1	79%	550	535
178.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	-48.6	5.9*	70%*	0.3	2.4	3.3	0.5	0.8	10	0.3	82%	605	565

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. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -2. 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