• Home
• Find Physics Graduate Programs
• Physics Rankings
• Universities
• About the Guide

• 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.

Do you think these rankings are useful? If so, you can help spread the word by linking to phds.org from your own site or blog.
Here is a direct link to your ranking.
Here are some other ways to help us.

Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Physics, Harvard University	74.9	5.7	83%	4.7	15.6	170.7	4.9	26.0	32	4.7	9%	745	745
2.	Physics, Princeton University	72.1	5.2	90%	4.7	7.8	110.0	4.9	16.2	47	2.3	11%	745	735
3.	Physics, California Institute of Technology	56.4	5.7	73%	4.6	10.5	116.1	4.8	24.0	39	3.9	20%	775	735
4.	Physics, Columbia University in the City of New York	49.8	5.7	85%	3.9	8.1	68.6	4.3	12.6	34	2.9	13%	725	715
5.	Physics, University of Chicago	48.5	5.7	84%	4.6	10.4	84.2	4.7	14.8	40	3.9	40%	715	725
6.	Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	47.9	5.7	80%	4.6	11.3	121.2	4.9	34.6	83	3.8	14%	770	730
7.	Applied Physics, Yale University	46.0	6.2†	81%†	4.0	7.2	63.1	4.2	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
7.	Physics, Yale University	46.0	6.2†	81%†	4.0	7.2	63.1	4.2	12.2†	61	1.6	10%†	740†	740†
9.	Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania	43.5	5.7	84%	3.8	8.8	66.2	4.1	10.2	46	3.0	21%	725	705
10.	Physics, Cornell University	41.4	5.3†	79%†	4.5	9.2	69.6	4.8	18.0†	54	3.4	27%†	710†	675†
10.	Physics & Astronomy (H A Rowland Dept), Johns Hopkins University	41.4	6.3	89%	3.7	13.3	89.1	3.5	9.4	32	3.3	35%	705	680
12.	Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern University	38.7	6.2	69%	3.5	15.0	88.5	3.3	2.6	30	3.6	30%	715	695
13.	Physics, University of California-Santa Barbara	38.3	5.5	72%	3.9	14.2	178.1	4.4	15.6	45	2.6	53%	600	580
14.	Physics, Brown University	37.8	5.7	78%	3.6	6.7	47.4	3.6	10.4	28	2.9	15%	725	710
15.	Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College	37.6	5.7	75%	3.3	5.9	41.4	2.6	3.6	19	1.8	17%	730	720
16.	Physics, University of Southern California	36.9	5.9	76%	3.0	12.2	79.2	3.2	5.6	32	1.9	27%	690	665
17.	Physics, Washington University in St Louis	35.8	6.0	81%	3.3	8.7	38.9	3.2	7.2	31	2.4	19%	730	710
18.	Physics, Stanford University	33.5	6.2	79%	4.4	8.4	73.8	4.5	32.6	25	5.4	12%	735	720
19.	Physics, University of California-Berkeley	30.6	5.7	80%	4.5	13.4	84.7	4.9	30.4	67	4.2	25%	685	645
20.	Physics, Carnegie Mellon University	29.2	5.7	81%	3.4	5.9	35.9	3.6	8.6	33	1.8	39%	720	660
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Physics, Wesleyan University	26.6	5.7	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	695	705
22.	Physics, Brandeis University	25.8	6.4	60%	3.2	8.5	83.3	3.3	3.0	20	1.8	40%	675	675
23.	Physics, University of California-Los Angeles	25.2	6.2†	75%†	3.8	11.9	70.9	4.2	13.2†	67	2.4	23%†	665†	630†
24.	Physics, College of William and Mary	24.4	5.2	79%	3.1	4.6	29.2	3.0	5.8	38	1.7	31%	670	680
24.	Physics, Rice University	24.4	6.7	49%	3.4	9.2	77.2	3.3	8.0	23	2.5	25%	725	710
26.	Physics, Case Western Reserve University	23.9	4.9	67%	3.0	7.7	54.0	3.0	4.8	21	1.5	68%	690	650
27.	Physics, Wake Forest University	23.8	4.9	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.2	32*	2.5*	47%	670	655
28.	Physics, University of California-San Diego	23.0	6.0	74%	3.8	11.6	88.2	4.1	12.6	61	2.5	39%	655	605
29.	Physics, Boston University	21.6	5.7	81%	3.3	8.7	77.0	3.3	8.8	35	2.9	55%	655	645
30.	Physics, University of Notre Dame	19.0	5.9	58%	3.3	9.7	47.9	3.1	8.8	36	2.5	32%	700	685
31.	Chemical Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	18.8	5.8†	84%†	3.5	13.0	92.8	3.8	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
31.	Physics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	18.8	5.8†	84%†	3.5	13.0	92.8	3.8	13.6†	48	3.0	70%†	630†	600†
33.	Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University	18.1	6.3	67%	2.9	6.8	39.3	2.7	3.6	20	2.8	28%	705	700
34.	Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University	16.8	6.2	74%	3.1	6.9	18.3	3.0	7.8	25	2.1	35%	695	675
35.	Physics, Duke University	16.5	6.2	47%	3.5	6.4	26.8	3.3	6.4	32	2.2	22%	725	705
36.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	14.2	5.2	85%	2.7	9.2	54.7	2.5	3.0	18	1.2	89%	617*	598*
37.	Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	14.1	6.1	83%	4.4	13.7	86.2	4.7	27.6	98	3.0	68%	675	615
38.	Physics, Applied Physics & Astronomy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	13.7	5.2	64%	3.1	7.6	29.0	2.9	6.4	27	0.7	78%	685	635
39.	Physics, University of California-Santa Cruz	13.6	5.0	70%	3.3	9.4	78.6	3.2	5.2	18	2.9	69%	585	580
40.	Institute of Optics, University of Rochester	12.3	6.5†	78%†	3.6	9.7	54.7	3.6	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
40.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester	12.3	6.5†	78%†	3.6	9.7	54.7	3.6	17.2†	35	3.7	46%†	670†	650†
42.	Physics, The University of Texas Health Science-San Antonio	11.1	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	17%	617*	598*
43.	Physics, New York University	10.2	6.3	54%	3.2	6.7	34.7	3.1	7.4	29	1.2	37%	665	665
44.	Physics, Syracuse University	9.6	5.9	73%	3.3	11.1	56.0	3.0	4.8	26	2.7	65%	620	595
45.	Physics, Kansas State University	9.2	5.2	61%	2.9	11.1	43.5	2.3	6.6	24	1.5	48%	617*	598*
46.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware	9.1	5.7	84%	2.9	7.0	33.1	2.8	4.4	43	1.3	47%	610	595
47.	Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	8.6	5.9	62%	3.3	6.5	20.3	3.1	7.0	28	2.0	36%	650	640
48.	Physics, North Carolina State University at Raleigh	8.4	6.2	69%	3.2	13.6	61.4	3.2	9.8	38	1.7	59%	615	580
49.	Physics, Clemson University	7.4	5.7	88%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	69%	615	590
50.	Physics, University of Arkansas Main Campus	7.1	4.7	50%	2.6	6.7	146.5	2.1	3.8	15	1.6	87%	580	575
51.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Georgia	7.0	5.9	75%	2.9	7.4	29.0	2.7	3.4	25	1.0	62%	615	610
52.	Chemical Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	6.1	5.7†	75%†	3.7	10.0	50.0	4.0	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
52.	Physics, University of Maryland-College Park	6.1	5.7†	75%†	3.7	10.0	50.0	4.0	21.8†	88	2.3	49%†	650†	625†
54.	Physics (Applied), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	6.0	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
54.	Physics (Atmospheric), University of Maryland-Baltimore County	6.0	5.3†	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.0†	32*	2.5*	71%†	620†	595†
56.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri-Columbia	5.8	5.2	81%	2.8	8.7	40.0	2.4	4.2	21	1.8	83%	595	600
57.	Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus	5.6	6.0	58%	3.1	9.0	68.9	3.0	8.6	26	3.5	67%	690	645
58.	Physics, Alabama A & M University	5.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	4.0	32*	2.5*	42%	617*	598*
58.	Acoustics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	5.4	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
58.	Materials, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	5.4	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
58.	Physics, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus	5.4	5.2†	77%†	3.1	9.3	31.0	3.1	15.2†	32	2.1	58%†	610†	580†
62.	Chemical Physics Program, University of Utah	4.9	5.7†	69%†	3.0	11.1	54.4	3.0	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
62.	Physics, University of Utah	4.9	5.7†	69%†	3.0	11.1	54.4	3.0	6.8†	30	1.6	86%†	617*	598*
64.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Kansas Main Campus	4.8	5.2	71%	2.7	7.0	41.0	2.5	3.4	24	1.6	69%	617*	598*
65.	Physics, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	4.7	5.9	66%	3.7	7.6	37.4	4.0	18.0	61	2.6	57%	680	640
66.	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
67.	Physics, University of Central Florida	4.2	4.9	76%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	4.0	32*	2.5*	62%	575	565
68.	Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison	3.9	5.9	79%	3.8	9.1	49.8	3.8	16.4	49	3.9	71%	650	615
69.	Physics, University of Washington-Seattle Campus	3.0	6.2	78%	3.8	9.0	60.8	4.2	14.0	48	3.7	67%	610	590
70.	Physics, University of Missouri-Rolla	2.4	5.0	50%	2.2	8.5	28.6	2.0	3.6	19	1.3	63%	665	638
71.	Physics, American University	2.0	5.2	75%*	1.5	4.5	34.5	2.0	2.0	11	2.5	51%	625	645
72.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	1.9	6.5	79%	3.3	6.3	31.3	3.3	8.6	37	2.5	49%	625	610
73.	Physics, University of South Florida	1.8	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	28%	565	555
74.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa	1.1	6.0	83%	3.1	9.2	44.4	2.8	3.4	28	2.5	84%	600	585
75.	Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University	1.0	5.9	61%	3.4	10.7	77.2	3.2	7.4	38	2.4	90%	620	595
76.	Physics, Colorado School of Mines	0.4	5.2	62%	2.5	6.6	36.0	2.3	3.2	14	1.2	85%	645	600
76.	Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University	0.4	5.7	78%	3.7	9.0	65.1	3.8	18.2	39	5.2	51%	610	570
78.	Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University	0.1	6.1	72%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.6	32*	2.5*	63%	617*	598*
79.	Physics, University of Virginia-Main Campus	-0.6	6.3	44%	3.2	6.7	28.3	3.2	8.2	41	1.8	38%	670	655
80.	Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick/Piscataway	-0.7	5.7	75%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	12.6	32*	2.5*	61%	615	580
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
80.	Chemical & Material Physics Grad. Prog., University of California-Irvine	-0.7	6.6†	74%†	3.5	6.8	27.7	3.4	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
80.	Physics and Astronomy, University of California-Irvine	-0.7	6.6†	74%†	3.5	6.8	27.7	3.4	5.6†	34	2.4	52%†	620†	580†
83.	Physics, Boston College	-1.1	6.9	78%	1.8	5.2	21.0	1.8	2.0	10	2.8	31%	680	655
84.	Physics, Lehigh University	-1.4	5.3	46%	2.8	4.7	19.5	2.4	4.4	22	2.6	41%	680	640
85.	Physics, University of New Hampshire-Main Campus	-1.5	4.7	75%	2.6	5.2	28.1	2.4	3.2	30	1.0	72%	570	560
86.	Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago	-1.6	5.7	71%	2.5	8.7	53.7	2.6	5.0	27	2.6	58%	605	570
87.	Physics, Drexel University	-2.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9	6.6	42.4	2.6	2.6	25	1.2	82%	610	580
88.	Physics, SUNY at Albany	-2.4	5.7	81%	2.7	10.9	27.4	2.6	6.8	16	3.3	56%	575	555
89.	Physics, Northeastern University	-3.2	6.7	63%	3.0	8.5	45.9	2.9	4.4	31	2.7	47%	625	605
90.	Physics, University of Miami	-3.3	4.7	47%*	1.8	4.1	20.1	2.0	2.2	11	1.5	46%	640	620
91.	Physics, Illinois Institute of Technology	-3.4	5.7	62%	2.5	3.8	15.6	2.6	2.8	13	2.5	63%	675	625
92.	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
93.	Joint Applied Physics, Rutgers University-Newark	-3.8	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.6	32*	2.5*	47%	560	540
94.	Physics, Brigham Young University	-4.1	6.6	75%	2.9	2.6	57.3	2.2	1.6	29	0.8	78%	620	605
95.	Physics (Doctorate Only), CUNY Graduate School and University Center	-4.2	6.1	68%	3.3	7.9	37.5	3.4	7.8	56	2.4	60%*	617*	598*
96.	Physics, University of Missouri-St Louis	-4.4	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	62%	575	560
97.	Physics, Western Michigan University	-4.7	6.1	71%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	2.4	32*	2.5*	85%	617*	598*
98.	Physics, Texas A & M University	-4.8	5.7	61%	3.3	9.2	43.6	3.2	8.2	45	2.5	70%	615	585
99.	Physics - PHYS, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	-5.1	5.2	63%	3.0	3.9	18.0	2.9	4.4	35	1.3	72%	615	585
100.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln	-5.4	5.7	62%	3.0	7.3	29.0	2.6	5.8	28	1.3	75%	605	595
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
101.	Physics, Clarkson University	-5.5	5.9*	70%*	1.9	10.7	52.8	2.1	1.6	11	1.3	86%	595	555
102.	Physics, Florida International University	-6.3	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	0.8	32*	2.5*	61%	550	555
102.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo	-6.3	5.8	50%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	60%*	617*	598*
104.	Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas	-6.4	6.2	68%	3.0	8.1	30.8	2.5	4.0	17	4.6	51%	640	605
105.	Physics-Astronomy, Michigan State University	-6.6	5.9†	82%†	3.4	9.2	46.5	3.4	13.8†	55	2.6	76%†	585†	555†
106.	Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute	-6.8	5.9*	70%*	1.5	7.1	30.9	1.5	1.0	11	1.2	85%	665	615
107.	Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University	-7.0	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.2	32*	2.5*	56%	550	540
108.	Physics, New Jersey Institute of Technology	-7.4	4.7	55%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	5.4	32*	2.5*	71%	595	530
109.	Physics and Astronomy, The University of Alabama	-7.5	4.9	76%	1.8	6.7	20.9	2.1	4.0	24	1.0	74%	565	565
110.	Physics, Clark University	-8.0	5.9	86%	1.7	3.9	12.1	1.8	2.0	8	2.0	62%	595	610
111.	Physics, Indiana University-Bloomington	-8.5	5.6	78%	3.3	6.8	43.6	3.4	10.4	47	2.0	85%	560	550
112.	Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College	-8.7	5.7	59%	2.9	8.9	47.0	2.6	5.8	32	2.0	78%	600	575
113.	Chemical Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-8.9	5.7†	67%†	3.7	9.8	57.4	3.8	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
113.	Physics, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-8.9	5.7†	67%†	3.7	9.8	57.4	3.8	20.8†	50	3.3	73%†	580†	560†
115.	Physics, Florida Atlantic University	-9.1	5.5	70%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.2	32*	2.5*	55%	525	515
116.	Physics, Florida State University	-9.3	5.2	54%	3.2	8.2	34.4	3.3	13.0	44	2.3	62%	585	575
117.	Physics, The University of Texas at Austin	-9.4	6.2	56%	3.8	10.4	60.4	4.3	28.8	85	2.8	51%	630	605
118.	Physics, University of Idaho	-9.8	5.9*	75%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.0	32*	2.5*	83%	550	550
119.	Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder	-10.3	5.9	74%	3.4	10.1	46.9	3.3	16.0	41	3.6	88%	600	580
119.	Physics, University of Florida	-10.3	5.8	29%	3.3	8.7	34.0	3.4	11.0	43	1.9	57%	640	620
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
121.	College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona	-10.4	5.9†	74%†	3.4	9.6	80.2	3.2	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
121.	Physics, University of Arizona	-10.4	5.9†	74%†	3.4	9.6	80.2	3.2	22.2†	42	2.8	88%†	565†	560†
123.	Physics and Astronomy, Howard University	-10.7	5.2	70%*	1.7	4.9	16.6	1.6	1.0	13	1.4	47%	565	560
124.	Physics, Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	-11.4	5.2	86%	1.8	7.1	20.1	2.1	3.4	15	4.1	51%	565	555
124.	Physics, Temple University	-11.4	5.0	70%*	2.6	4.0	17.6	2.4	1.6	19	2.1	63%	550	540
124.	Physics, The University of Tennessee	-11.4	5.7	54%	2.8	8.6	35.3	2.8	7.6	36	1.8	44%	555	555
127.	Physics, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	-12.4	5.9*	70%*	1.2	3.2	15.2	1.6	2.2	13	0.8	63%	625	615
128.	Physics, University of Connecticut	-12.7	6.2	64%	2.2	7.0	30.2	2.3	4.4	26	2.2	51%	600	585
129.	Physics and Applied Physics, The University of Texas at Arlington	-13.3	5.0	73%	1.9	7.1	29.9	2.1	1.6	15	1.5	79%	545	515
130.	Physics, Purdue University-Main Campus	-14.2	6.1	69%	3.5	8.1	48.4	3.4	9.6	55	2.8	85%	590	555
131.	Physics, University of Alaska Fairbanks	-14.4	6.7	100%	2.2	6.3	25.8	2.5	1.4	24	1.8	73%	515	530
131.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus	-14.4	6.7	89%	2.5	3.4	14.3	2.4	4.8	27	1.9	86%	617*	598*
131.	Physics, West Virginia University	-14.4	5.2	65%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.8	32*	2.5*	89%	545	525
134.	Optical Science & Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-14.5	6.1†	74%†	1.9	9.2	35.2	2.1	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
134.	Physics, University of Alabama in Huntsville	-14.5	6.1†	74%†	1.9	9.2	35.2	2.1	3.8†	21	1.7	87%†	580†	575†
136.	Physics, Polytechnic University	-15.6	5.9*	70%*	2.0	5.6	11.8	1.9	0.8	12	2.1	69%	630	545
136.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-15.6	6.0	67%	3.1	5.9	26.1	3.0	5.4	33	2.3	80%	575	565
138.	Physics, University of California-Riverside	-16.0	4.9	63%	3.1	3.7	10.7	2.9	5.4	32	1.6	74%	565	510
139.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Wyoming	-16.2	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.4	32*	2.5*	95%	545	540
140.	Physics, SUNY at Buffalo	-17.3	6.0	69%	2.3	14.6	45.7	2.2	6.2	15	6.5	56%	595	565
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
141.	Physics, University of Oregon	-17.4	6.2	66%	3.2	9.6	64.9	3.0	5.8	31	4.0	91%	560	555
142.	Physics, Hampton University	-17.9	7.7	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	54%	532	552
142.	Physics, Michigan Technological University	-17.9	4.9	64%	1.4	5.2	11.3	1.5	2.4	12	1.9	85%	620	590
144.	Physics, Texas Christian University	-18.7	5.0	67%	0.7	8.4	26.7	0.7	2.2	7	2.0	67%	590	575
145.	Physics, University of Nevada-Las Vegas	-18.8	5.9*	70%*	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	1.4	32*	2.5*	81%	515	500
146.	Physics, Montana State University-Bozeman	-19.3	6.0	69%	2.6	9.4	35.0	2.3	4.0	14	4.1	74%	565	550
147.	Physics, George Washington University	-19.4	8.7	82%	1.2	6.0	26.3	1.5	2.2	9	2.2	38%	640	640
148.	Physics, University of Maine	-21.2	5.3	64%	2.4	4.4	9.5	2.2	2.2	15	1.5	79%	540	535
149.	Physics, University of Houston	-21.3	4.7†	44%†	2.8	7.9	30.7	3.0	7.0†	30	2.5	81%†	550†	520†
150.	Physics, Texas Tech University	-21.6	5.2	40%*	2.6	6.4	24.3	2.1	2.0	26	1.5	71%	575	555
151.	Physics, Auburn University Main Campus	-23.0	6.7	89%	1.5	8.5	22.0	1.9	1.6	15	2.9	82%	570	550
151.	Physics, Ohio University-Main Campus	-23.0	5.7	66%	2.9	5.7	19.8	2.6	6.6	21	2.4	89%	545	545
153.	Physics, Baylor University	-23.1	5.9*	70%*	1.5	2.7	9.9	1.1	1.4	10	2.1	66%	605	595
154.	Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Pro., Kent State University-Kent Campus	-23.6	5.7†	77%†	3.0	9.6	35.8	2.7	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
154.	Physics, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-23.6	5.7†	77%†	3.0	9.6	35.8	2.7	6.0†	16	4.6	94%†	515†	515†
156.	Physics, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus	-24.2	6.7	50%	3.3	10.6	47.4	2.9	4.8	39	2.2	91%	560	550
156.	Physics and Astronomy - PHYS, University of Kentucky	-24.2	7.2	78%	2.9	5.4	21.1	2.5	4.8	31	2.4	79%	575	565
158.	Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham	-24.4	4.9	55%	1.1	6.4	24.0	1.9	2.2	20	1.3	88%	570	560
159.	Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa	-25.3	6.7	46%	2.3	7.5	28.2	2.6	2.4	19	1.3	65%	570	535
160.	Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina-Columbia	-26.2	7.2	44%*	2.7	6.5	29.4	2.6	2.4	24	1.3	67%	580	570
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-5)	Job (5)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (5)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-4)	Stu / Fac (-4)	UG Acc (-5)	SAT-M (5)	SAT-V (5)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
161.	Physics & Engineering Physics (PEP), Stevens Institute of Technology	-26.7	6.7	41%	2.0	4.9	13.9	2.2	4.4	19	3.2	47%	665	610
162.	Physics, Oregon State University	-27.0	6.7	85%	2.7	4.0	14.1	2.7	4.8	19	2.9	90%	550	530
163.	Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico-Main Campus	-27.9	6.7	56%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	10.2	32*	2.5*	74%	535	540
164.	Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University	-30.0	6.1	61%	1.8	8.0	16.9	2.1	3.4	21	2.7	74%	560	545
165.	Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi Main Campus	-30.5	6.5	88%	1.6	4.5	8.8	1.4	1.6	13	2.0	81%	540	535
166.	Physics, Catholic University of America	-31.1	7.1	71%	2.3	6.9	17.3	2.3	1.4	12	4.1	82%	565	580
167.	Physics, Colorado State University	-31.2	5.7	52%	2.4	7.0	15.7	2.3	4.8	14	3.3	88%	565	555
167.	Department of Physics, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-31.2	6.7	67%	2.5	3.9	14.2	2.3	5.4	17	2.5	77%	565	545
169.	Physics, University of North Texas	-31.7	5.7	29%*	2.8	7.6	20.0	2.3	3.6	20	2.3	69%	555	545
170.	Physics, Utah State University	-31.8	8.7	77%	2.9*	7.9*	43.9*	2.9*	3.0	32*	2.5*	92%	555	550
171.	Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology-Melbourne	-33.5	5.9*	70%*	0.3	2.4	3.3	0.5	0.8	10	0.3	82%	605	565
172.	Physics, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-34.2	7.9†	75%†	2.4	2.4	4.0	1.9	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
172.	Radiological Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Lowell	-34.2	7.9†	75%†	2.4	2.4	4.0	1.9	4.0†	22	4.0	41%†	588†	600†
174.	Physics, New Mexico State University-Main Campus	-39.4	6.2	70%	2.2	4.9	17.6	2.2	4.6	15	3.3	81%	500	500
175.	Chemical Physics (Physical Chemistry), University of Nevada-Reno	-40.2	5.2†	69%†	0.8	1.8	3.3	1.3	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
175.	Physics, University of Nevada-Reno	-40.2	5.2†	69%†	0.8	1.8	3.3	1.3	3.0†	17	1.6	86%†	535†	525†
177.	Physics, University of Rhode Island	-43.8	6.2	55%	1.1	4.6	14.5	1.9	1.6	10	3.1	79%	550	535
178.	Physics, Old Dominion University	-47.2	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 = -5. 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)

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 = 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)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = -3. 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 = -4. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -5. 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 = 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