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• Step 3: Your ranking of Physics programs

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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 (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Physics, Harvard University	75.4	5.7	83%	4.7	170.7	4.9	$31,786	99%*	3.2	23%	3%	27%	26.0	32	4.7	9%	745	745
2.	Physics, Princeton University	66.1	5.2	90%	4.7	110.0	4.9	$17,429	100%	1.3	11%	0%	54%	16.2	47	2.3	11%	745	735
3.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	59.5	5.7	73%	4.6	116.1	4.8	$16,387	100%	2.3	17%	2%	43%	24.0	39	3.9	20%	775	735
4.	Physics, University of Chicago	47.0	5.7	84%	4.6	84.2	4.7	$15,109	100%	1.6	12%	1%	47%	14.8	40	3.9	40%	715	725
5.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	46.2	5.7	80%	4.6	121.2	4.9	$17,381	88%	1.7	10%	3%	42%	34.6	83	3.8	14%	770	730
6.	Physics, Cornell University	44.6	5.3†	79%†	4.5	69.6	4.8	$16,969†	99%*	2.2	19%†	2%†	37%†	18.0†	54	3.4	27%†	710†	675†
6.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	44.6	5.5	72%	3.9	178.1	4.4	$19,635	100%	2.6	22%	3%	26%	15.6	45	2.6	53%	600	580
8.	Applied Physics, Yale University	40.9	6.2†	81%†	4.0	63.1	4.2	$15,976†	100%†	0.9	11%†	0%†	62%†	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
8.	Physics, Yale University	40.9	6.2†	81%†	4.0	63.1	4.2	$15,976†	100%†	0.9	11%†	0%†	62%†	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
10.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	38.4	5.7	85%	3.9	68.6	4.3	$16,326	99%*	0.9	14%	0%	67%	12.6	34	2.9	13%	725	715
10.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	38.4	6.3	89%	3.7	89.1	3.5	$12,581	100%	2.1	21%	2%	47%	9.4	32	3.3	35%	705	680
12.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	34.4	5.7	84%	3.8	66.2	4.1	$17,619	100%	1.0	14%	4%	65%	10.2	46	3.0	21%	725	705
13.	Physics, Stanford University	33.7	6.2	79%	4.4	73.8	4.5	$5,277	100%*	1.6	14%	6%	39%	32.6	25	5.4	12%	735	720
14.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	33.6	6.1	83%	4.4	86.2	4.7	$12,252	98%*	2.3	6%	1%	34%	27.6	98	3.0	68%	675	615
15.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	32.9	5.7	80%	4.5	84.7	4.9	$18,974	99%*	1.8	11%	3%	19%	30.4	67	4.2	25%	685	645
16.	Physics, University of Southern California	30.3	5.9	76%	3.0	79.2	3.2	$16,572	100%	1.9	14%	0%	93%	5.6	32	1.9	27%	690	665
17.	Physics, Brown University	30.1	5.7	78%	3.6	47.4	3.6	$15,818	99%*	1.4	19%	2%	77%	10.4	28	2.9	15%	725	710
18.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	29.2	6.0	81%	3.3	38.9	3.2	$16,434	99%*	1.7	17%	3%	36%	7.2	31	2.4	19%	730	710
19.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	29.0	6.2	69%	3.5	88.5	3.3	$17,798	98%*	2.3	23%	0%	62%	2.6	30	3.6	30%	715	695
20.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	27.5	5.7	75%	3.3	41.4	2.6	$15,615	100%	1.2	39%	6%	22%	3.6	19	1.8	17%	730	720
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Physics, Carnegie Mellon University	27.0	5.7	81%	3.4	35.9	3.6	$14,418	100%	1.1	12%	0%	60%	8.6	33	1.8	39%	720	660
22.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	26.4	6.2†	75%†	3.8	70.9	4.2	$19,327†	99%*	2.1	11%†	2%†	38%†	13.2†	67	2.4	23%†	665†	630†
23.	Physics, Brandeis University	25.7	6.4	60%	3.2	83.3	3.3	$15,316	98%*	2.1	27%	0%	60%	3.0	20	1.8	40%	675	675
24.	Physics, Boston University	24.8	5.7	81%	3.3	77.0	3.3	$17,237	99%*	1.9	11%	0%	70%	8.8	35	2.9	55%	655	645
25.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	23.1	4.9	67%	3.0	54.0	3.0	$35,718	98%*	1.5	21%	0%	62%	4.8	21	1.5	68%	690	650
25.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	23.1	5.2	64%	3.1	29.0	2.9	$16,439	99%*	2.1	12%	0%	62%	6.4	27	0.7	78%	685	635
25.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	23.1	6.0	74%	3.8	88.2	4.1	$18,875	92%	2.2	8%	5%	38%	12.6	61	2.5	39%	655	605
28.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	21.7	5.9	58%	3.3	47.9	3.1	$14,400	99%*	2.6	23%	2%	57%	8.8	36	2.5	32%	700	685
29.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	21.0	5.8†	84%†	3.5	92.8	3.8	$12,041†	99%*	1.5	13%†	3%†	37%†	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
29.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	21.0	5.8†	84%†	3.5	92.8	3.8	$12,041†	99%*	1.5	13%†	3%†	37%†	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
31.	Physics, Rice University	18.2	6.7	49%	3.4	77.2	3.3	$15,506	99%*	1.4	15%	2%	40%	8.0	23	2.5	25%	725	710
32.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	17.4	6.5†	78%†	3.6	54.7	3.6	$16,685†	99%*	1.9	17%†	1%†	47%†	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
32.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	17.4	6.5†	78%†	3.6	54.7	3.6	$16,685†	99%*	1.9	17%†	1%†	47%†	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
34.	Physics, College of William and Mary	16.8	5.2	79%	3.1	29.2	3.0	$11,211	99%*	0.8	10%	0%	55%	5.8	38	1.7	31%	670	680
34.	Physics, Wake Forest University	16.8	4.9	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$13,932	99%*	1.3*	19%	6%	12%	3.2	32*	2.5*	47%	670	655
36.	Physics, Wesleyan University	16.2	5.7	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$15,860*	98%*	1.3*	20%	0%	20%	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	695	705
37.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	14.9	6.2	74%	3.1	18.3	3.0	$16,486	100%	1.4	5%	0%	46%	7.8	25	2.1	35%	695	675
38.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	14.8	5.9	66%	3.7	37.4	4.0	$11,991	99%*	1.6	26%	13%	39%	18.0	61	2.6	57%	680	640
39.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	14.4	5.7†	75%†	3.7	50.0	4.0	$12,585†	98%*	1.4	12%†	3%†	43%†	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
39.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	14.4	5.7†	75%†	3.7	50.0	4.0	$12,585†	98%*	1.4	12%†	3%†	43%†	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	12.9	5.9	79%	3.8	49.8	3.8	$10,860	100%	1.6	16%	0%	27%	16.4	49	3.9	71%	650	615
42.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	12.5	6.2	69%	3.2	61.4	3.2	$11,406	99%*	2.2	12%	2%	31%	9.8	38	1.7	59%	615	580
43.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	11.6	6.5	79%	3.3	31.3	3.3	$12,973	99%*	2.3	9%	7%	63%	8.6	37	2.5	49%	625	610
44.	Physics, New York University	11.1	6.3	54%	3.2	34.7	3.1	$18,477	100%	1.5	11%	0%	73%	7.4	29	1.2	37%	665	665
44.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	11.1	5.2	85%	2.7	54.7	2.5	$11,317	98%*	0.8	7%	0%	60%	3.0	18	1.2	89%	617*	598*
46.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	10.2	5.0	70%	3.3	78.6	3.2	$19,184	100%	1.4	27%	4%	31%	5.2	18	2.9	69%	585	580
47.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	9.4	6.3	67%	2.9	39.3	2.7	$16,231	97%*	1.3	11%	0%	61%	3.6	20	2.8	28%	705	700
48.	Physics, Syracuse University	9.3	5.9	73%	3.3	56.0	3.0	$16,685	100%	1.7	8%	4%	79%	4.8	26	2.7	65%	620	595
49.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	9.2	6.2	78%	3.8	60.8	4.2	$11,071	98%*	1.5	14%	3%	39%	14.0	48	3.7	67%	610	590
50.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	8.7	6.0	83%	3.1	44.4	2.8	$16,114	100%	1.9	0%	0%	82%	3.4	28	2.5	84%	600	585
51.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	8.3	5.7†	69%†	3.0	54.4	3.0	$10,780†	99%*	1.4	18%†	0%†	65%†	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
51.	Physics, University of Utah	8.3	5.7†	69%†	3.0	54.4	3.0	$10,780†	99%*	1.4	18%†	0%†	65%†	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
53.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	8.0	5.7	78%	3.7	65.1	3.8	$14,476	99%*	2.4	10%	2%	70%	18.2	39	5.2	51%	610	570
54.	Physics, Duke University	7.8	6.2	47%	3.5	26.8	3.3	$15,731	100%	0.8	12%	0%	0%	6.4	32	2.2	22%	725	705
55.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	7.2	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,753†	97%*	1.7	12%†	9%†	41%†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
55.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	7.2	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,753†	97%*	1.7	12%†	9%†	41%†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
55.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	7.2	5.2†	77%†	3.1	31.0	3.1	$13,753†	97%*	1.7	12%†	9%†	41%†	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
58.	Physics, Clemson University	7.1	5.7	88%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,168*	98%*	1.3*	16%	5%	21%	3.8	32*	2.5*	69%	615	590
58.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	7.1	6.7	100%	2.2	25.8	2.5	$13,218	100%	3.5	86%	0%	43%	1.4	24	1.8	73%	515	530
60.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	6.4	5.9	75%	2.9	29.0	2.7	$10,907	99%*	1.2	18%	6%	53%	3.4	25	1.0	62%	615	610
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	6.0	5.2	81%	2.8	40.0	2.4	$10,495	98%*	1.3	14%	0%	52%	4.2	21	1.8	83%	595	600
62.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	5.9	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$18,549*	100%†	1.3*	20%†	0%†	50%†	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
62.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	5.9	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$18,549*	100%†	1.3*	20%†	0%†	50%†	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
64.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	4.8	6.0	58%	3.1	68.9	3.0	$9,539	99%*	1.2	9%	12%	47%	8.6	26	3.5	67%	690	645
65.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	4.6	5.9†	82%†	3.4	46.5	3.4	$9,190†	99%*	1.7	19%†	2%†	50%†	12.8†	55	2.6	76%†	585†	555†
66.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	4.4	5.7	84%	2.9	33.1	2.8	$9,995	100%	0.7	14%	0%	59%	4.4	43	1.3	47%	610	595
67.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	3.7	4.7	50%	2.6	146.5	2.1	$10,709	98%*	0.7	5%	0%	58%	3.8	15	1.6	87%	580	575
68.	Physics, Drexel University	3.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9	42.4	2.6	$21,878*	98%*	1.4	23%	8%	62%	2.6	25	1.2	82%	610	580
69.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	2.3	6.6†	74%†	3.5	27.7	3.4	$19,057†	98%*	1.6	14%†	0%†	32%†	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
69.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	2.3	6.6†	74%†	3.5	27.7	3.4	$19,057†	98%*	1.6	14%†	0%†	32%†	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
71.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	2.1	5.9	74%	3.4	46.9	3.3	$12,490	98%*	2.0	18%	0%	35%	16.0	41	3.6	88%	600	580
72.	Physics, Kansas State University	1.9	5.2	61%	2.9	43.5	2.3	$9,383	100%	1.3	21%	0%	64%	6.6	24	1.5	48%	617*	598*
72.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	1.9	5.7	75%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$19,158	99%*	1.3*	19%	3%	78%	12.6	32*	2.5*	61%	615	580
74.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	1.6	5.2	62%	2.5	36.0	2.3	$13,671	94%*	1.5	12%	0%	31%	3.2	14	1.2	85%	645	600
75.	Physics, Southern Methodist University	1.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$17,081*	98%*	1.3*	25%	0%	100%	0.8	32*	2.5*	58%	620	610
76.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	0.8	5.2	71%	2.7	41.0	2.5	$10,508	98%*	0.9	18%	0%	65%	3.4	24	1.6	69%	617*	598*
77.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	0.5	4.7	75%	2.6	28.1	2.4	$14,278	98%*	1.4	19%	0%	44%	3.2	30	1.0	72%	570	560
78.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	0.4	6.2	56%	3.8	60.4	4.3	$14,481	93%	1.6	12%	3%	44%	28.8	85	2.8	51%	630	605
78.	Physics, University of Central Florida	0.4	4.9	76%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$13,840	98%*	1.3*	25%	5%	35%	4.0	32*	2.5*	62%	575	565
80.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	0.0	6.3	44%	3.2	28.3	3.2	$10,826	100%	1.3	20%	0%	37%	8.2	41	1.8	38%	670	655
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	-0.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$8,829*	98%*	1.3*	30%	55%	45%	4.0	32*	2.5*	42%	617*	598*
81.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	-0.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$18,363*	98%*	1.3*	21%	5%	47%	3.8	32*	2.5*	17%	617*	598*
81.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	-0.1	6.1	72%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$18,143	98%*	1.3*	17%	0%	6%	3.6	32*	2.5*	63%	617*	598*
84.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	-0.3	5.7	62%	3.0	29.0	2.6	$9,867	98%*	1.5	21%	0%	62%	5.8	28	1.3	75%	605	595
84.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	-0.3	5.9	62%	3.3	20.3	3.1	$11,428	100%	0.5	23%	6%	40%	7.0	28	2.0	36%	650	640
86.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-0.5	6.1	68%	3.3	37.5	3.4	$13,474*	96%*	1.5	8%	5%	72%	7.8	56	2.4	60%*	617*	598*
86.	Physics, Northeastern University	-0.5	6.7	63%	3.0	45.9	2.9	$15,739	100%	1.9	9%	0%	86%	4.4	31	2.7	47%	625	605
88.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	-1.2	5.9	61%	3.4	77.2	3.2	$15,900	98%*	0.4	11%	0%	70%	7.4	38	2.4	90%	620	595
89.	Physics, Brigham Young University	-1.4	6.6	75%	2.9	57.3	2.2	$9,790	100%	0.1	12%	0%	50%	1.6	29	0.8	78%	620	605
90.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-1.6	5.7†	67%†	3.7	57.4	3.8	$14,573†	98%*	1.3	17%†	1%†	49%†	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
90.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-1.6	5.7†	67%†	3.7	57.4	3.8	$14,573†	98%*	1.3	17%†	1%†	49%†	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
92.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-2.1	6.1†	74%†	1.9	35.2	2.1	$10,439†	99%*	2.5	16%†	0%†	37%†	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
92.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-2.1	6.1†	74%†	1.9	35.2	2.1	$10,439†	99%*	2.5	16%†	0%†	37%†	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
94.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	-2.3	5.9†	74%†	3.4	80.2	3.2	$14,074†	92%†	1.4	15%†	3%†	32%†	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
94.	Physics, University of Arizona	-2.3	5.9†	74%†	3.4	80.2	3.2	$14,074†	92%†	1.4	15%†	3%†	32%†	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
94.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	-2.3	5.0	50%	2.2	28.6	2.0	$11,128	97%*	1.4	11%	0%	67%	3.6	19	1.3	63%	665	638
97.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	-2.7	5.6	78%	3.3	43.6	3.4	$11,479	99%*	0.8	17%	4%	56%	10.4	47	2.0	85%	560	550
98.	Physics, Texas A & M University	-2.8	5.7	61%	3.3	43.6	3.2	$13,360	99%*	1.2	12%	0%	61%	8.2	45	2.5	70%	615	585
99.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-3.0	5.7	59%	2.9	47.0	2.6	$16,926	98%*	1.8	24%	0%	55%	5.8	32	2.0	78%	600	575
100.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	-3.4	5.2	63%	3.0	18.0	2.9	$12,303	100%	0.7	18%	0%	73%	4.4	35	1.3	72%	615	585
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
101.	Physics, Western Michigan University	-3.8	6.1	71%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$14,355	93%*	1.3*	25%	0%	67%	2.4	32*	2.5*	85%	617*	598*
102.	Physics, University of Oregon	-4.6	6.2	66%	3.2	64.9	3.0	$12,518	99%*	2.5	10%	0%	41%	5.8	31	4.0	91%	560	555
103.	Physics, Lehigh University	-5.0	5.3	46%	2.8	19.5	2.4	$12,596	96%*	1.7	18%	5%	59%	4.4	22	2.6	41%	680	640
104.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	-6.1	5.9*	70%*	1.2	15.2	1.6	$9,897*	98%*	1.8	0%	0%	9%	2.2	13	0.8	63%	625	615
105.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	-6.3	6.1	69%	3.5	48.4	3.4	$9,823	99%*	1.1	6%	0%	65%	9.6	55	2.8	85%	590	555
106.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	-6.7	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,968*	98%*	1.3*	0%	0%	0%	0.8	32*	2.5*	62%	575	560
107.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	-7.2	5.7	71%	2.5	53.7	2.6	$15,694	98%*	1.0	20%	0%	60%	5.0	27	2.6	58%	605	570
108.	Physics, University of Florida	-7.3	5.8	29%	3.3	34.0	3.4	$12,541	99%*	1.4	16%	4%	58%	11.0	43	1.9	57%	640	620
109.	Physics, University of Idaho	-7.6	5.9*	75%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$13,834*	98%*	1.3*	0%	0%	100%	1.0	32*	2.5*	83%	550	550
110.	Physics, University of South Florida	-8.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,018*	98%*	1.3*	40%	0%	40%	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	565	555
111.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	-8.8	4.7	55%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,881	98%*	1.3*	15%	0%	81%	5.4	32*	2.5*	71%	595	530
112.	Physics, Florida International University	-9.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$16,420*	98%*	1.3*	25%	25%	75%	0.8	32*	2.5*	61%	550	555
113.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	-9.2	5.8	50%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,624	97%*	1.3*	13%	7%	67%	3.0	32*	2.5*	60%*	617*	598*
114.	Physics, Clarkson University	-9.5	5.9*	70%*	1.9	52.8	2.1	$16,354*	98%*	0.9	12%	0%	62%	1.6	11	1.3	86%	595	555
115.	Physics, American University	-9.6	5.2	75%*	1.5	34.5	2.0	$15,673	97%*	0.5	50%	0%	30%	2.0	11	2.5	51%	625	645
115.	Physics, Boston College	-9.6	6.9	78%	1.8	21.0	1.8	$10,183	100%	0.8	30%	0%	50%	2.0	10	2.8	31%	680	655
117.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	-9.7	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$20,072*	98%*	1.3*	0%	0%	33%	0.6	32*	2.5*	47%	560	540
118.	Physics, West Virginia University	-10.0	5.2	65%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$9,079	100%	1.3*	26%	0%	68%	3.8	32*	2.5*	89%	545	525
119.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	-10.5	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$15,731*	98%*	1.3*	17%	17%	83%	1.2	32*	2.5*	56%	550	540
119.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-10.5	6.7	89%	2.5	14.3	2.4	$11,663	93%*	0.7	21%	4%	25%	4.8	27	1.9	86%	617*	598*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	-10.9	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$10,017*	98%*	1.3*	43%	0%	14%	1.4	32*	2.5*	95%	545	540
122.	Physics, Florida State University	-11.0	5.2	54%	3.2	34.4	3.3	$11,797	99%*	0.7	18%	6%	35%	13.0	44	2.3	62%	585	575
123.	Physics, University of California-Davis	-11.7	6.0	72%	3.0	40.5	2.9	$17,590	96%*	0.5	13%	2%	22%	11.0	31	2.8	55%	615	565
124.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	-11.8	4.9	76%	1.8	20.9	2.1	$10,820	100%	0.5	10%	0%	60%	4.0	24	1.0	74%	565	565
125.	Physics, Clark University	-12.1	5.9	86%	1.7	12.1	1.8	$11,473	98%*	0.8	30%	0%	50%	2.0	8	2.0	62%	595	610
126.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	-12.2	5.7	62%	2.5	15.6	2.6	$10,618	99%*	0.0	14%	0%	93%	2.8	13	2.5	63%	675	625
127.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-13.0	6.0	67%	3.1	26.1	3.0	$14,947	98%*	0.8	26%	7%	59%	5.4	33	2.3	80%	575	565
128.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	-13.4	4.9	55%	1.1	24.0	1.9	$13,684	100%	2.3	9%	0%	36%	2.2	20	1.3	88%	570	560
128.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	-13.4	5.9*	70%*	1.5	30.9	1.5	$15,191*	98%*	0.1	0%	20%	80%	1.0	11	1.2	85%	665	615
130.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-14.4	7.2	78%	2.9	21.1	2.5	$10,731	100%	1.2	25%	0%	71%	4.8	31	2.4	79%	575	565
131.	Physics, Hampton University	-14.6	7.7	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$13,186	100%	1.3*	40%	87%	0%	3.0	32*	2.5*	54%	532	552
132.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	-15.1	5.7	81%	2.7	27.4	2.6	$10,957	98%*	0.6	21%	0%	53%	6.8	16	3.3	56%	575	555
133.	Physics, University of Miami	-15.4	4.7	47%*	1.8	20.1	2.0	$14,877	98%*	0.5	9%	9%	64%	2.2	11	1.5	46%	640	620
134.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	-16.0	5.7†	77%†	3.0	35.8	2.7	$11,629†	100%†	2.1	27%†	0%†	77%†	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
134.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-16.0	5.7†	77%†	3.0	35.8	2.7	$11,629†	100%†	2.1	27%†	0%†	77%†	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
134.	Physics, Oregon State University	-16.0	6.7	85%	2.7	14.1	2.7	$11,817	96%*	1.6	12%	0%	29%	4.8	19	2.9	90%	550	530
137.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	-16.4	5.2	86%	1.8	20.1	2.1	$11,574	100%	1.6	12%	0%	41%	3.4	15	4.1	51%	565	555
138.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	-16.5	4.9	64%	1.4	11.3	1.5	$9,895	100%	1.1	8%	0%	75%	2.4	12	1.9	85%	620	590
139.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	-16.6	5.7	54%	2.8	35.3	2.8	$11,676	98%*	1.1	5%	3%	53%	7.6	36	1.8	44%	555	555
140.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	-16.8	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,612*	98%*	1.3*	0%	14%	29%	1.4	32*	2.5*	81%	515	500
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
141.	Physics, Utah State University	-17.2	8.7	77%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$11,949	100%	1.3*	0%	0%	27%	3.0	32*	2.5*	92%	555	550
142.	Physics, Polytechnic University	-17.6	5.9*	70%*	2.0	11.8	1.9	$17,751*	98%*	1.1	0%	0%	0%	0.8	12	2.1	69%	630	545
143.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-17.7	6.0	69%	2.6	35.0	2.3	$9,586	100%	1.8	10%	0%	25%	4.0	14	4.1	74%	565	550
144.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	-18.6	4.9	63%	3.1	10.7	2.9	$18,512	99%*	0.3	11%	4%	59%	5.4	32	1.6	74%	565	510
145.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	-18.9	5.5	70%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$10,642	89%*	1.3*	38%	6%	38%	3.2	32*	2.5*	55%	525	515
145.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-18.9	6.2	64%	2.2	30.2	2.3	$12,776	98%*	0.7	9%	18%	59%	4.4	26	2.2	51%	600	585
147.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	-19.6	5.7	66%	2.9	19.8	2.6	$11,715	100%	0.7	24%	0%	79%	6.6	21	2.4	89%	545	545
148.	Physics, Temple University	-19.8	5.0	70%*	2.6	17.6	2.4	$16,105*	100%	0.2	25%	0%	50%	1.6	19	2.1	63%	550	540
149.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-20.9	7.2	44%*	2.7	29.4	2.6	$13,358	99%*	1.3	0%	0%	67%	2.4	24	1.3	67%	580	570
150.	Physics, University of Maine	-21.5	5.3	64%	2.4	9.5	2.2	$9,428	100%	0.7	9%	0%	45%	2.2	15	1.5	79%	540	535
151.	Physics, University of Houston	-21.8	4.7†	44%†	2.8	30.7	3.0	$18,714†	99%*	1.1	14%†	6%†	66%†	7.0†	30	2.5	81%†	550†	520†
152.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	-22.4	5.2	70%*	1.7	16.6	1.6	$18,086*	98%*	0.5	60%	40%	60%	1.0	13	1.4	47%	565	560
153.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	-23.1	5.0	73%	1.9	29.9	2.1	$13,473	96%*	0.3	12%	0%	88%	1.6	15	1.5	79%	545	515
154.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-23.4	6.0	69%	2.3	45.7	2.2	$11,887	98%*	2.4	19%	0%	87%	6.2	15	6.5	56%	595	565
155.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-25.0	6.5	88%	1.6	8.8	1.4	$9,315	100%	1.1	0%	0%	0%	1.6	13	2.0	81%	540	535
156.	Physics, George Washington University	-25.6	8.7	82%	1.2	26.3	1.5	$12,536	98%*	0.4	18%	0%	73%	2.2	9	2.2	38%	640	640
157.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-26.7	6.7	67%	2.5	14.2	2.3	$16,026	100%	0.7	26%	7%	70%	5.4	17	2.5	77%	565	545
158.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-26.8	7.1	71%	2.3	17.3	2.3	$19,481*	98%*	1.5	0%	14%	43%	1.4	12	4.1	82%	565	580
159.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-27.8	6.7	56%	2.9*	43.9*	2.9*	$12,710	88%	1.3*	8%	0%	27%	10.2	32*	2.5*	74%	535	540
160.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-28.5	6.1	61%	1.8	16.9	2.1	$14,154	99%*	1.4	24%	6%	29%	3.4	21	2.7	74%	560	545
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Cost / Year (0)	Support (5)	Grnt / Fac (5)	Fem (0)	Min (0)	For (0)	Deg / Yr (0)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-5)	UG Acc (0)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
161.	Physics, Baylor University	-28.7	5.9*	70%*	1.5	9.9	1.1	$13,579*	98%*	0.3	0%	0%	43%	1.4	10	2.1	66%	605	595
161.	Physics, Texas Tech University	-28.7	5.2	40%*	2.6	24.3	2.1	$13,973	100%	0.2	30%	10%	40%	2.0	26	1.5	71%	575	555
163.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-29.0	6.7	50%	3.3	47.4	2.9	$16,055	71%	2.2	21%	4%	38%	4.8	39	2.2	91%	560	550
164.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-29.2	6.7	89%	1.5	22.0	1.9	$13,053	100%	0.1	12%	0%	38%	1.6	15	2.9	82%	570	550
165.	Physics, Colorado State University	-29.5	5.7	52%	2.4	15.7	2.3	$9,987	98%*	1.2	21%	0%	33%	4.8	14	3.3	88%	565	555
165.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-29.5	6.7	46%	2.3	28.2	2.6	$12,465	98%*	0.6	42%	0%	0%	2.4	19	1.3	65%	570	535
167.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	-31.3	5.9*	70%*	0.3	3.3	0.5	$13,828*	98%*	0.6	50%	0%	25%	0.8	10	0.3	82%	605	565
168.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-31.7	6.7	41%	2.0	13.9	2.2	$13,560	100%	0.6	23%	9%	59%	4.4	19	3.2	47%	665	610
169.	Physics, Texas Christian University	-32.7	5.0	67%	0.7	26.7	0.7	$12,363	100%	0.1	0%	18%	45%	2.2	7	2.0	67%	590	575
170.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	-33.4	5.2†	69%†	0.8	3.3	1.3	$14,821†	98%*	1.2	27%†	7%†	53%†	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
170.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	-33.4	5.2†	69%†	0.8	3.3	1.3	$14,821†	98%*	1.2	27%†	7%†	53%†	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
172.	Physics, University of North Texas	-33.5	5.7	29%*	2.8	20.0	2.3	$11,678	98%*	1.2	17%	0%	61%	3.6	20	2.3	69%	555	545
173.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-35.9	6.2	68%	3.0	30.8	2.5	$14,600	50%	2.4	10%	0%	40%	4.0	17	4.6	51%	640	605
174.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-41.0	7.9†	75%†	2.4	4.0	1.9	$14,043†	97%*	0.1	25%†	0%†	65%†	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
174.	Radiological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-41.0	7.9†	75%†	2.4	4.0	1.9	$14,043†	97%*	0.1	25%†	0%†	65%†	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
176.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-41.5	6.7	73%	0.9	2.3	1.7	$10,800	100%	0.8	24%	0%	62%	4.2	19	2.4	69%	530	530
177.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-42.7	6.2	70%	2.2	17.6	2.2	$14,300	90%*	0.9	9%	4%	61%	4.6	15	3.3	81%	500	500
178.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-43.4	6.2	55%	1.1	14.5	1.9	$14,052*	100%	0.8	12%	0%	88%	1.6	10	3.1	79%	550	535

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 = 5. 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)

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 = 5. 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)

Cost Per Year (Cost / Year)

Low yearly cost (tuition, fees, room and board, other expenses) for an in-state student living off campus. Assumes median tuition remission. Not used in ranking (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Support (Support)

The percentage of doctorate recipients reporting that their primary form of support was a source other than their own funds (e.g., a fellowship or an assistantship). Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Grants per Faculty Member (Grnt / Fac)

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

Percentage of Female Doctorate Recipients (Fem)

The percentage of doctorates awarded to women between 2001 and 2005. Not used in ranking (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Percentage of Underrepresented Minority Doctorate Recipients (Min)

The percentage of doctorates awarded to underrepresented minorities (US citizens only) between 2001 and 2005. Not used in ranking (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Percentage of Doctorate Recipients with Temporary Visas (For)

The percentage of doctorates known to have been awarded to non-US citizens with temporary visas between 2001 and 2005. Not used in ranking (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Not used in ranking (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

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

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

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

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Not used in ranking (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 = 5. 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 = 5. 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