Best universities in the US for physical science degrees 2024

Explore the best universities for physical science degrees in the US, using data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024

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October 31 2023

Top 10 universities in the US for physical science degrees 2024

Scroll down for the full list of best universities in the US for physical science degrees

US physical science rank 2024	Physical science rank 2024	University	State
1	1	California Institute of Technology	California
2	2	Harvard University	Massachusetts
3	3	Stanford University	California
4	4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts
=5	=6	University of California, Berkeley	California
=5	=6	Princeton University	New Jersey
7	10	Yale University	Connecticut
8	=12	Columbia University	New York
9	16	The University of Chicago	Illinois
10	17	University of California, Los Angeles	California

The physical sciences include mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, environmental sciences and Earth and marine sciences. Courses in the physical sciences differ across universities and countries, but the core focus is on the understanding and application of mathematics in the natural world through practical and lab work.

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In the US, studying physical sciences at the undergraduate level usually takes the form of a four-year course, beginning with a foundation in calculus, physics and chemistry. After the first year, students can choose more specialised areas of study, and through the country’s major-minor system a number of scientific disciplines can often be explored simultaneously. Students are also encouraged to engage in research projects throughout their studies.

Postgraduate courses are focused on more specific subject areas, where students undertake research in their chosen area of interest or join a research group within their institution.

These are the best universities in the US for physical science degrees 2024.

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=5. Princeton University

Princeton University offers a range of natural sciences programmes that include mathematics, astrophysics, chemistry, geosciences, physics, and sustainable energy.

Princeton’s astrophysical sciences department offers a range of courses including general relativity and cosmology, while the maths department’s offerings include combinatorial optimisation and dynamic meteorology.

In the department of chemistry, undergraduates are taught in small classes and progress to an independent senior thesis project.

Graduate studies in mathematics focus on independent research from the beginning of the programme, unlike many other doctoral courses in the US.

=5. University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley was founded in 1868.

Undergraduate physical sciences courses include applied mathematics, astrophysics, Earth science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, physical science, physics and statistics.

Earth and planetary science students can choose from six majors and eight minors covering a range of topics, including marine science, geology and atmospheric science.

The mathematics department is home to one of the largest mathematics libraries in the US. Maths-related organisations that students can get involved in include the mathematics undergraduate student association and the women in math group.

The astronomy department is known for its research on the discovery and computation of comets, orbits and minor planets. Undergraduates can take a variety of courses, from modern cosmology to radio astronomy, and develop skills in Python coding. The department also offers research funding, meaning many astrophysics majors have had work published in scientific journals before graduating.

Physical sciences students also participate in a range of extracurricular academic, sporting, theatrical and philanthropic groups, including the space exploration society and the women in the physical sciences group.

Students are encouraged to take part in research projects during their course.

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The physics undergraduate programme at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers two tracks: Flexible and Focus.

Postgraduate students in physics take a range of core classes such as classical mechanics and quantum mechanics.

The Flexible track is selected by most physics majors and allows students to choose from a range of fundamental physics topics. The Focus track requires students to take more specific required courses, including two terms of experimental physics, and to write a research thesis.

There are three different undergraduate programmes in maths: applied mathematics, pure mathematics and general mathematics. There are also two postgraduate programmes in pure mathematics and applied mathematics.

The university lays claim to 85 Nobel Laureates, 58 National Medal of Science winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation winners and 45 MacArthur Fellows. Among its impressive alumni is Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the United Nations.

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3. Stanford University

At Stanford University half of all undergraduates take at least one physics course as part of their studies.

Undergraduates can also major or minor in physics, choosing to specialise further.

Elective modules across the physical science fields allow for specialisation later down the line and cover everything from aeronautics, astronautics and astronomy to chemical engineering, geological sciences, mathematical and computational science and statistics.

There is a specific chemical physics track for students with a strong aptitude for physics and maths. Students can major or minor in maths, and they have the opportunity to participate in an annual maths contest with cash prizes for excellent scores and for outstanding performances by women.

An undergraduate research programme over the summer gives students the opportunity to join a physics research group to gain research experience.

There are many streams for graduates studying physical sciences, from applied physics to biophysical chemistry.

2. Harvard University

Undergraduate students at Harvard University can choose from a range of physical science concentrations including astrophysics, chemistry, physics, Earth and planetary sciences and statistics.

Students can study either with interdisciplinary courses in the physical sciences sequence or with foundational courses in one of the relevant departments. As students continue their degrees, the course can become more focused based on areas of interest.

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is one of the best in the world for research in astrophysics, with over 350 scientists and astronomical observatories in Arizona, Chile, Hawaii, and in space. Undergraduate students are able to join the centre to take part in term-time or summer research.

The mathematics department hosts a range of events for students including math table talks and colloquiums.

1. California Institute of Technology

The California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, is a science and engineering institute founded in 1891.

Caltech’s Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a range of subjects across the physical sciences.

The physics undergraduate courses offered at Caltech include classical mechanics and electromagnetism, the science of music and frontiers in physics. All undergraduates must complete three terms of introductory physics. Students are encouraged to get involved in research, for which they can receive academic credit.

The four-year mathematics undergraduate programme at Caltech provides a foundation in calculus, combinatorics, geometry and analysis in the first year. There are then a range of elective mathematics modules, from abstract algebra and classical analysis to homological algebra and Riemannian geometry. Seniors are encouraged to do a bachelor’s thesis in an advanced topic.

The university manages the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for Nasa as well as operating the Seismological Laboratory.

The astronomy department has four observatories available for students to use: Ovro, Palomar, W.M. Keck, and Ligo.

Best universities for physical sciences degrees in the United States 2024

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 profile

US physical science rank 2024	Physical science rank 2024	University	State
1	1	California Institute of Technology	California
2	2	Harvard University	Massachusetts
3	3	Stanford University	California
4	4	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts
=5	=6	University of California, Berkeley	California
=5	=6	Princeton University	New Jersey
7	10	Yale University	Connecticut
8	=12	Columbia University	New York
9	16	The University of Chicago	Illinois
10	17	University of California, Los Angeles	California
11	18	Cornell University	New York
12	21	University of Washington	Washington
13	23	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Michigan
14	28	University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania
15	31	Johns Hopkins University	Maryland
16	34	Northwestern University	Illinois
17	37	University of California, Santa Barbara	California
18	38	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Illinois
19	39	University of California, San Diego	California
20	43	University of Texas at Austin	Texas
21	45	Georgia Institute of Technology	Georgia
22	46	New York University	New York
23	48	Duke University	North Carolina
24	50	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin
25	53	University of Colorado Boulder	Colorado
=26	=56	Brown University	Rhode Island
=26	=56	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania
28	64	Penn State (Main campus)	Pennsylvania
=29	=65	University of Arizona	Arizona
=29	=65	University of Maryland, College Park	Maryland
31	70	Rice University	Texas
32	71	University of California, Irvine	California
33	79	University of Minnesota	Minnesota
34	=82	Texas A&M University	Texas
35	85	University of California, Davis	California
36	95	University of Massachusetts	Massachusetts
=37	=99	Michigan State University	Michigan
=37	=99	Ohio State University (Main campus)	Ohio
=39	101–125	Boston University	Massachusetts
=39	101–125	University of California, Santa Cruz	California
=39	101–125	Purdue University West Lafayette	Indiana
=39	101–125	Stony Brook University	New York
=43	126–150	Arizona State University (Tempe)	Arizona
=43	126–150	University of Hawai’i at Mānoa	Hawai'i
=43	126–150	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina
=43	126–150	University of Southern California	California
=47	151–175	University of California, Riverside	California
=47	151–175	University of Florida	Florida
=47	151–175	University of Rochester	New York
=47	151–175	Washington University in St Louis	Missouri
=51	176–200	Colorado State University, Fort Collins	Colorado
=51	176–200	North Carolina State University	North Carolina
=51	176–200	University of Notre Dame	Indiana
=51	176–200	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Tennessee
=55	201–250	Brandeis University	Massachusetts
=55	201–250	Dartmouth College	New Hampshire
=55	201–250	Florida State University	Florida
=55	201–250	Indiana University	Indiana
=55	201–250	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus	Pennsylvania
=55	201–250	Rutgers University – New Brunswick	New Jersey
=55	201–250	Tufts University	Massachusetts
=55	201–250	Vanderbilt University	Tennessee
=55	201–250	University of Virginia (Main campus)	Virginia
=55	201–250	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Virginia
=65	251–300	University of Alaska Fairbanks	Alaska
=65	251–300	Case Western Reserve University	Ohio
=65	251–300	University of Delaware	Delaware
=65	251–300	Drexel University	Pennsylvania
=65	251–300	Emory University	Georgia
=65	251–300	University of Illinois Chicago	Illinois
=65	251–300	University of Iowa	Iowa
=65	251–300	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Nebraska
=65	251–300	Northeastern University, US	Illinois
=65	251–300	University of South Florida	Florida
=65	251–300	Syracuse University	New York
=65	251–300	University of Utah	Utah
=65	251–300	Washington State University	Washington
=78	301–400	Boston College	Massachusetts
=78	301–400	University at Buffalo	New York
=78	301–400	University of Central Florida	Florida
=78	301–400	University of Connecticut	Connecticut
=78	301–400	George Washington University	Washington DC
=78	301–400	University of Houston	Texas
=78	301–400	Iowa State University	Iowa
=78	301–400	Kansas State University	Kansas
=78	301–400	University of Maryland, Baltimore County	Maryland
=78	301–400	University of Miami	Florida
=78	301–400	Missouri University of Science and Technology	Missouri
=78	301–400	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	New York
=78	301–400	University of South Carolina-Columbia	South Carolina
=78	301–400	Temple University	Pennsylvania
=78	301–400	University of Texas at Arlington	Texas
=78	301–400	University of Texas at Dallas	Texas
=94	401–500	Auburn University	Alabama
=94	401–500	University of California, Merced	California
=94	401–500	The Catholic University of America	Washington DC
=94	401–500	Florida International University	Florida
=94	401–500	University of Kansas	Kansas
=94	401–500	University of Kentucky	Kentucky
=94	401–500	Louisiana State University	Louisiana
=94	401–500	Mizzou - University of Missouri	Missouri
=94	401–500	Northern Illinois University	Illinois
=94	401–500	Oklahoma State University	Oklahoma
=94	401–500	University of Oregon	Oregon
=94	401–500	Texas Tech University	Texas
=94	401–500	Wayne State University	Michigan
=94	401–500	William & Mary	Virginia
=94	401–500	University of Wyoming	Wyoming
=109	501–600	University of Alabama	Alabama
=109	501–600	Clark University	Massachusetts
=109	501–600	Clarkson University	New York
=109	501–600	Florida Atlantic University	Florida
=109	501–600	Florida Institute of Technology	Florida
=109	501–600	George Mason University	Virginia
=109	501–600	University of Georgia	Georgia
=109	501–600	Lehigh University	Pennsylvania
=109	501–600	Mississippi State University	Mississippi
=109	501–600	New Jersey Institute of Technology	New Jersey
=109	501–600	New Mexico State University (Main campus)	New Mexico
=109	501–600	Ohio University (Main campus)	Ohio
=109	501–600	Old Dominion University	Virginia
=109	501–600	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York
=109	501–600	Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey
=109	501–600	The University of Texas at San Antonio	Texas
=109	501–600	University of Toledo	Ohio
=109	501–600	The University of Tulsa	Oklahoma
=109	501–600	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Massachusetts
=128	601–800	American University	Washington DC
=128	601–800	University of Arkansas	Arkansas
=128	601–800	Baylor University	Texas
=128	601–800	University of Colorado Denver /Anschutz Medical Campus	Colorado
=128	601–800	University of Denver	Colorado
=128	601–800	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	Florida
=128	601–800	Georgia State University	Georgia
=128	601–800	Illinois Institute of Technology	Illinois
=128	601–800	Marquette University	Wisconsin
=128	601–800	Montana State University	Montana
=128	601–800	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	Nevada
=128	601–800	University of Rhode Island	Rhode Island
=128	601–800	San Diego State University	California
=128	601–800	University of South Dakota	South Dakota
=128	601–800	SUNY Binghamton University	New York
=128	601–800	Tulane University	Louisiana
=128	601–800	Virginia Commonwealth University	Virginia
=128	601–800	Wake Forest University	North Carolina
=128	601–800	Western Michigan University	Michigan
=147	801–1000	Central Michigan University	Michigan
=147	801–1000	Chapman University	California
=147	801–1000	Georgetown University	Washington DC
=147	801–1000	Howard University	Washington DC
=147	801–1000	University of Memphis	Tennessee
=147	801–1000	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	North Carolina
=147	801–1000	Oakland University	Michigan
=147	801–1000	Portland State University	Ohio
=147	801–1000	Rowan University	New Jersey
=147	801–1000	Saint Louis University	Missouri
=147	801–1000	University of Texas at El Paso	Texas
=147	801–1000	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Texas
=147	801–1000	Texas State University	Texas
=160	1001+	Bowling Green State University	Ohio
=160	1001+	College of Charleston	South Carolina
=160	1001+	Georgia Southern University	Georgia
=160	1001+	Morgan State University	Maryland