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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
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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)
Adjust your weights →			-+
1.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	5.0	4.7
1.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	5.0	4.7
1.	Physics, University of Houston	5.0	4.7†
1.	Physics, University of Miami	5.0	4.7
1.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	5.0	4.7
6.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	4.1	4.9
6.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	4.1	4.9
6.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	4.1	4.9
6.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	4.1	4.9
6.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	4.1	4.9
6.	Physics, University of Central Florida	4.1	4.9
6.	Physics, Wake Forest University	4.1	4.9
13.	Physics, Temple University	3.7	5.0
13.	Physics, Texas Christian University	3.7	5.0
13.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	3.7	5.0
13.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	3.7	5.0
13.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	3.7	5.0
18.	Physics, American University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, College of William and Mary	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	2.8	5.2
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
18.	Physics, Florida State University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, Kansas State University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	2.8	5.2
18.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	2.8	5.2†
18.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	2.8	5.2†
18.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	2.8	5.2†
18.	Physics, Princeton University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, Texas Tech University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	2.8	5.2
18.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	2.8	5.2†
18.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	2.8	5.2†
18.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	2.8	5.2
18.	Physics, West Virginia University	2.8	5.2
38.	Physics, Cornell University	2.4	5.3†
38.	Physics, Lehigh University	2.4	5.3
38.	Physics, University of Maine	2.4	5.3
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
38.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	2.4	5.3†
38.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	2.4	5.3†
43.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	1.5	5.5
43.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	1.5	5.5
45.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	1.1	5.6
46.	Physics, Boston University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Brown University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Carnegie Mellon University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Clemson University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Colorado State University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Harvard University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	0.7	5.7
46.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	0.7	5.7
46.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	0.7	5.7†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
46.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, Texas A & M University	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, University of Chicago	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	0.7	5.7
46.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics, University of North Texas	0.7	5.7
46.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	0.7	5.7
46.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics, University of Utah	0.7	5.7†
46.	Physics, Wesleyan University	0.7	5.7
80.	Physics, University of Florida	0.3	5.8
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
80.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	0.3	5.8†
80.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	0.3	5.8†
80.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	0.3	5.8
84.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, Baylor University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, Clarkson University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, Drexel University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, Florida International University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, Polytechnic University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, Southern Methodist University	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, University of Idaho	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics, University of South Florida	0.0	5.9*
84.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	0.0	5.9*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
84.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	0.0	5.9*
102.	Physics, Clark University	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	-0.2	5.9†
102.	Physics, Syracuse University	-0.2	5.9
102.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	-0.2	5.9†
102.	Physics, University of Arizona	-0.2	5.9†
102.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics, University of Southern California	-0.2	5.9
102.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	-0.2	5.9
115.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	-0.6	6.0
115.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-0.6	6.0
115.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-0.6	6.0
115.	Physics, University of California-Davis	-0.6	6.0
115.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	-0.6	6.0
115.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	-0.6	6.0
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
115.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-0.6	6.0
115.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	-0.6	6.0
123.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-1.0	6.1
123.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	-1.0	6.1
123.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-1.0	6.1†
123.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-1.0	6.1†
123.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	-1.0	6.1
123.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-1.0	6.1
123.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	-1.0	6.1
123.	Physics, Western Michigan University	-1.0	6.1
131.	Physics, Duke University	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, Stanford University	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	-1.5	6.2†
131.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, University of Oregon	-1.5	6.2
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
131.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	-1.5	6.2
131.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	-1.5	6.2
131.	Applied Physics, Yale University	-1.5	6.2†
131.	Physics, Yale University	-1.5	6.2†
146.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	-1.9	6.3
146.	Physics, New York University	-1.9	6.3
146.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	-1.9	6.3
146.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-1.9	6.3
150.	Physics, Brandeis University	-2.3	6.4
151.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-2.8	6.5
151.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	-2.8	6.5
151.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	-2.8	6.5†
151.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	-2.8	6.5†
155.	Physics, Brigham Young University	-3.2	6.6
155.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	-3.2	6.6†
155.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	-3.2	6.6†
158.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics, Northeastern University	-3.6	6.7
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)
Adjust your weights →			-+
158.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics, Oregon State University	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics, Rice University	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	-3.6	6.7
158.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-3.6	6.7
158.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-3.6	6.7
170.	Physics, Boston College	-4.5	6.9
171.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-5.4	7.1
172.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-5.8	7.2
172.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-5.8	7.2
174.	Physics, Hampton University	-7.9	7.7
175.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-8.8	7.9†
175.	Radiological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-8.8	7.9†
177.	Physics, George Washington University	-12.3	8.7
177.	Physics, Utah State University	-12.3	8.7

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)

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