Best Physics & Astronomy Universities in United States 2026
172 universities in United States offering Physics & Astronomy programs, ranked on real data. How we rank.
Looking for the best universities to study Physics & Astronomy in United States? We rank 172 United States universities offering Physics & Astronomy programs, ordered only on real published data — QS World reputation, admission selectivity, graduation rates and graduate earnings.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology takes the No. 1 spot with an independent grade of A+ (5% acceptance, $143,372 median graduate earnings), followed by Stanford University and University of Chicago. Each university carries an independent ScholarshipsAds grade, so you can compare quality, selectivity, tuition and graduate outcomes at a glance.
Use this ranking to shortlist where to apply for a Physics & Astronomy degree in United States, then open any university for its full review, programs, tuition and scholarships.
51
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityD+
Richmond, Virginia · United States · Global #458 · QS #752
93% acceptance 63% graduation $58,128 earnings 20,753 students
52
Clarkson UniversityC
Potsdam, New York · United States · Global #462 · QS #758
77% acceptance 75% graduation $89,696 earnings 2,196 students
53
University of MarylandC
Baltimore, Maryland · United States · Global #475 · QS #794
75% acceptance 79% graduation $82,652 earnings 3,869 students
54
Auburn UniversityD
Montgomery, Alabama · United States · Global #479 · QS #806
92% acceptance 33% graduation $44,391 earnings 2,542 students
55
Florida International UniversityC+
Miami, Florida · United States · Global #488 · QS #829
55% acceptance 74% graduation $60,249 earnings 39,508 students
56
George Mason UniversityC
Fairfax, Virginia · United States · Global #489 · QS #832
87% acceptance 68% graduation $76,343 earnings 27,752 students
57
Indiana UniversityD+
Terre Haute, Indiana · United States · Global #492 · QS #837
81% acceptance 43% graduation $48,387 earnings 6,188 students
58
Loyola University ChicagoC-
Chicago, Illinois · United States · Global #500 · QS #858
82% acceptance 73% graduation $71,530 earnings 11,737 students
59
Seattle UniversityC-
Seattle, Washington · United States · Global #510 · QS #885
77% acceptance 76% graduation $75,272 earnings 4,062 students
60
Southern Methodist UniversityC
Dallas, Texas · United States · Global #513 · QS #892
63% acceptance 84% graduation $78,354 earnings 7,277 students
61
University of AlabamaC
Huntsville, Alabama · United States · Global #515 · QS #901
69% acceptance 64% graduation $61,767 earnings 6,591 students
62
University of HartfordD
West Hartford, Connecticut · United States · Global #522 · QS #950
96% acceptance 54% graduation $60,823 earnings 4,146 students
63
University of MississippiC-
University, Mississippi · United States · Global #529 · QS #959
97% acceptance 72% graduation $50,994 earnings 21,473 students
64
U
University of Missouri-Kansas CityC-
Kansas City, Missouri · United States · Global #530 · QS #960
72% acceptance 55% graduation $59,637 earnings 6,817 students
65
University of TulsaC-
Tulsa, Oklahoma · United States · Global #537 · QS #972
62% acceptance 72% graduation $61,408 earnings 2,813 students
66
Brigham Young UniversityC-
Laie, Hawaii · United States · Global #547 · QS #1021
47% acceptance 53% graduation $52,064 earnings 2,889 students
67
Kent State UniversityD
Kent, Ohio · United States · Global #555 · QS #1052
86% acceptance 64% graduation $45,388 earnings 19,320 students
68
Northern Arizona UniversityD+
Flagstaff, Arizona · United States · Global #563 · QS #1071
90% acceptance 61% graduation $54,384 earnings 22,903 students
69
Portland State UniversityD+
Portland, Oregon · United States · Global #565 · QS #1078
91% acceptance 53% graduation $57,906 earnings 13,182 students
70
Rochester Institute of TechnologyC-
Rochester, New York · United States · Global #566 · QS #1081
67% acceptance 70% graduation $76,571 earnings 13,215 students
71
University of TexasD+
San Marcos, Texas · United States · Global #577 · QS #1105
89% acceptance 55% graduation $56,906 earnings 36,177 students
72
University of San DiegoB-
La Jolla, California · United States · Global #594 · QS #1177
27% acceptance 86% graduation $84,943 earnings 34,948 students
73
University of South AlabamaD+
Mobile, Alabama · United States · Global #597 · QS #1181
71% acceptance 53% graduation $49,379 earnings 8,879 students
74
Utah State UniversityD+
Logan, Utah · United States · Global #602 · QS #1195
92% acceptance 59% graduation $54,022 earnings 20,272 students
75
Harvey Mudd CollegeA
Claremont, California · United States · Global #627
13% acceptance 92% graduation $138,687 earnings 921 students
76
Villanova UniversityB+
Villanova, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #638
27% acceptance 92% graduation $100,423 earnings 6,938 students
77
Santa Clara UniversityB
Santa Clara, California · United States · Global #653
48% acceptance 88% graduation $109,183 earnings 6,552 students
78
Florida International UniversityC+
Miami, Florida · United States · Global #678
55% acceptance 74% graduation $60,249 earnings 39,508 students
79
University of North FloridaC+
Jacksonville, Florida · United States · Global #690
53% acceptance 69% graduation $56,343 earnings 13,359 students
80
Marymount UniversityC+
Los Angeles, California · United States · Global #693
45% acceptance 79% graduation $78,349 earnings 7,094 students
81
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityC+
Bloomington, Illinois · United States · Global #698
39% acceptance 75% graduation $70,871 earnings 1,582 students
82
Kettering UniversityC
Flint, Michigan · United States · Global #705
79% acceptance 71% graduation $94,823 earnings 1,205 students
83
R
Ramapo College of New JerseyC
Mahwah, New Jersey · United States · Global #708
71% acceptance 70% graduation $67,541 earnings 4,898 students
84
State University of New YorkC
New Paltz, New York · United States · Global #721
62% acceptance 72% graduation $58,073 earnings 6,086 students
85
S
State University of New York at New PaltzC
New Paltz, New York · United States · Global #722
62% acceptance 72% graduation $58,073 earnings 6,086 students
86
Chapman UniversityC-
Orange, California · United States · Global #741
65% acceptance 82% graduation $70,070 earnings 7,478 students
87
University of HawaiiC-
Laie, Hawaii · United States · Global #767
47% acceptance 53% graduation $52,064 earnings 2,889 students
88
Rollins CollegeC-
Winter Park, Florida · United States · Global #781
48% acceptance 75% graduation $58,295 earnings 2,631 students
89
Salisbury UniversityC-
Salisbury, Maryland · United States · Global #793
87% acceptance 68% graduation $61,515 earnings 6,057 students
90
Slippery Rock UniversityC-
Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania · United States · Global #794
71% acceptance 66% graduation $53,032 earnings 6,788 students
91
Lewis UniversityC-
Romeoville, Illinois · United States · Global #808
71% acceptance 67% graduation $66,099 earnings 4,015 students
92
North Dakota State UniversityC-
Fargo, North Dakota · United States · Global #811
95% acceptance 64% graduation $62,203 earnings 9,471 students
93
Northern Kentucky UniversityC-
Highland Heights, Kentucky · United States · Global #812
68% acceptance 52% graduation $50,220 earnings 8,246 students
94
University of Mary WashingtonC-
Fredericksburg, Virginia · United States · Global #817
80% acceptance 66% graduation $60,613 earnings 3,566 students
95
University of North DakotaC-
Fargo, North Dakota · United States · Global #819
95% acceptance 64% graduation $62,203 earnings 9,471 students
96
Berea CollegeD+
Berea, Kentucky · United States · Global #824
19% acceptance 58% graduation $43,150 earnings 1,513 students
97
Ithaca CollegeD+
Ithaca, New York · United States · Global #831
69% acceptance 76% graduation $63,548 earnings 4,242 students
98
T
The College of WoosterD+
Wooster, Ohio · United States · Global #841
60% acceptance 74% graduation $59,629 earnings 1,730 students
99
A
Augustana UniversityD+
Sioux Falls, South Dakota · United States · Global #852
68% acceptance 73% graduation $59,217 earnings 1,965 students
100
Grand Valley State UniversityD+
Allendale, Michigan · United States · Global #860
83% acceptance 67% graduation $56,118 earnings 18,854 students
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