Best universities in the US for physical science degrees 2023

Explore the best universities for physical science degrees in the US, using data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

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November 14 2022

Top 10 universities in the US for physical science degrees 2023

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

US physical sciences rank 2023	WUR physical sciences rank 2023	University	State
1	1	Princeton University	New Jersey
=2	=2	University of California, Berkeley	California
=2	=2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts
4	4	California Institute of Technology	California
5	5	Stanford University	California
6	6	Harvard University	Massachusetts
7	10	Columbia University	New York
8	11	The University of Chicago	Illinois
9	12	Yale University	Connecticut
10	15	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 2023.

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5. 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.

4. 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.

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=2. 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.

=2. 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.

1. 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.

Best universities for physical sciences degrees in the United States 2023

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2023 profile

US physical sciences rank 2023	WUR physical sciences rank 2023	University	State
1	1	Princeton University	New Jersey
=2	=2	University of California, Berkeley	California
=2	=2	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts
4	4	California Institute of Technology	California
5	5	Stanford University	California
6	6	Harvard University	Massachusetts
7	10	Columbia University	New York
8	11	The University of Chicago	Illinois
9	12	Yale University	Connecticut
10	15	University of California, Los Angeles	California
11	17	Cornell University	New York
12	19	University of Washington	Washington
13	24	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	Michigan
14	29	University of Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania
15	31	Johns Hopkins University	Maryland
16	32	University of California, Santa Barbara	California
17	33	University of California, San Diego	California
18	=34	Northwestern University	Illinois
19	38	University of Texas at Austin	Texas
20	=39	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Illinois
21	43	New York University	New York
22	48	Georgia Institute of Technology	Georgia
23	51	University of Colorado Boulder	Colorado
24	52	Brown University	Rhode Island
25	54	Duke University	North Carolina
26	55	University of Maryland, College Park	Maryland
27	60	Carnegie Mellon University	Pennsylvania
=28	=62	University of California, Irvine	California
=28	=62	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Wisconsin
30	66	Rice University	Texas
31	84	University of Arizona	Arizona
32	85	Penn State (Main campus)	Pennsylvania
33	88	University of California, Davis	California
34	=98	University of California, Santa Cruz	California
=35	101–125	Boston University	Massachusetts
=35	101–125	University of Minnesota	Minnesota
=35	101–125	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	North Carolina
=35	101–125	Ohio State University (Main campus)	Ohio
=35	101–125	Stony Brook University	New York
=35	101–125	Texas A&M University	Texas
=41	126–150	Arizona State University (Tempe)	Arizona
=41	126–150	University of Massachusetts	Massachusetts
=41	126–150	Michigan State University	Michigan
=44	151–175	University of California, Riverside	California
=44	151–175	Colorado State University, Fort Collins	Colorado
=44	151–175	University of Hawai’i at Mānoa	Hawai'i
=44	151–175	University of Rochester	New York
=44	151–175	Rutgers University – New Brunswick	New Jersey
=49	176–200	Drexel University	Pennsylvania
=49	176–200	University of Florida	Florida
=49	176–200	Purdue University West Lafayette	Indiana
=49	176–200	University of Southern California	California
=49	176–200	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	Tennessee
=49	176–200	Washington University in St Louis	Missouri
=55	201–250	University of Alaska Fairbanks	Alaska
=55	201–250	Brandeis University	Massachusetts
=55	201–250	Colorado School of Mines	Colorado
=55	201–250	Emory University	Georgia
=55	201–250	Florida State University	Florida
=55	201–250	Indiana University	Indiana
=55	201–250	North Carolina State University	North Carolina
=55	201–250	University of Notre Dame	Indiana
=55	201–250	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus	Pennsylvania
=55	201–250	Vanderbilt University	Tennessee
=65	251–300	Boston College	Massachusetts
=65	251–300	Case Western Reserve University	Ohio
=65	251–300	University of Delaware	Delaware
=65	251–300	University of Miami	Florida
=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	University of Virginia (Main campus)	Virginia
=65	251–300	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Virginia
=65	251–300	Washington State University	Washington
=75	301–400	Auburn University	Alabama
=75	301–400	University at Buffalo	New York
=75	301–400	University of California, Merced	California
=75	301–400	Clark University	Massachusetts
=75	301–400	University of Connecticut	Connecticut
=75	301–400	Dartmouth College	New Hampshire
=75	301–400	George Washington University	Washington DC
=75	301–400	University of Illinois at Chicago	Illinois
=75	301–400	University of Iowa	Iowa
=75	301–400	Iowa State University	Iowa
=75	301–400	University of Maryland, Baltimore County	Maryland
=75	301–400	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Nebraska
=75	301–400	Northeastern University	Illinois
=75	301–400	Ohio University (Main campus)	Ohio
=75	301–400	University of South Carolina-Columbia	South Carolina
=75	301–400	Temple University	Pennsylvania
=75	301–400	Tufts University	Massachusetts
=75	301–400	The University of Tulsa	Oklahoma
=75	301–400	William & Mary	Virginia
=75	301–400	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Wisconsin
=95	401–500	University of Denver	Colorado
=95	401–500	Florida Atlantic University	Florida
=95	401–500	Florida International University	Florida
=95	401–500	George Mason University	Virginia
=95	401–500	University of Houston	Texas
=95	401–500	Missouri University of Science and Technology	Missouri
=95	401–500	New Mexico State University (Main campus)	New Mexico
=95	401–500	Northern Illinois University	Illinois
=95	401–500	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	New York
=95	401–500	SUNY University at Albany	New York
=95	401–500	SUNY Binghamton University	New York
=95	401–500	University of Texas at Dallas	Texas
=95	401–500	University of Wyoming	Wyoming
=108	501–600	The University of Alabama	Alabama
=108	501–600	University of Central Florida	Florida
=108	501–600	Illinois Institute of Technology	Illinois
=108	501–600	Kansas State University	Kansas
=108	501–600	Lehigh University	Pennsylvania
=108	501–600	Louisiana State University	Louisiana
=108	501–600	Marquette University	Wisconsin
=108	501–600	Mizzou - University of Missouri	Missouri
=108	501–600	Montana State University	Montana
=108	501–600	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	Nevada
=108	501–600	Old Dominion University	Virginia
=108	501–600	Rochester Institute of Technology	New York
=108	501–600	University of Texas at Arlington	Texas
=108	501–600	The University of Texas at San Antonio	Texas
=108	501–600	University of Toledo	Ohio
=108	501–600	Wake Forest University	North Carolina
=108	501–600	Wayne State University	Michigan
=108	501–600	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	Massachusetts
=126	601–800	University of Arkansas	Arkansas
=126	601–800	Clarkson University	New York
=126	601–800	Clemson University	South Carolina
=126	601–800	University of Colorado Denver /Anschutz Medical Campus	Colorado
=126	601–800	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	Florida
=126	601–800	University of Georgia	Georgia
=126	601–800	Georgia State University	Georgia
=126	601–800	Howard University	Washington DC
=126	601–800	University of Kansas	Kansas
=126	601–800	University of Kentucky	Kentucky
=126	601–800	Mississippi State University	Mississippi
=126	601–800	New Jersey Institute of Technology	New Jersey
=126	601–800	University of North Carolina at Greensboro	North Carolina
=126	601–800	Oklahoma State University	Oklahoma
=126	601–800	University of Rhode Island	Rhode Island
=126	601–800	Rowan University	New Jersey
=126	601–800	Saint Louis University	Missouri
=126	601–800	San Diego State University	California
=126	601–800	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	Illinois
=126	601–800	Stevens Institute of Technology	New Jersey
=126	601–800	University of Texas at El Paso	Texas
=126	601–800	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	Texas
=126	601–800	Texas Tech University	Texas
=126	601–800	Tulane University	Louisiana
=126	601–800	Virginia Commonwealth University	Virginia
=151	801–1000	Baylor University	Texas
=151	801–1000	Bowling Green State University	Ohio
=151	801–1000	Chapman University	California
=151	801–1000	University of Dayton	Ohio
=151	801–1000	Florida Institute of Technology	Florida
=151	801–1000	Georgetown University	Washington DC
=151	801–1000	Georgia Southern University	Georgia
=151	801–1000	University of North Carolina at Charlotte	North Carolina
=151	801–1000	University of North Carolina Wilmington	North Carolina
=151	801–1000	Oakland University	Michigan
=151	801–1000	Portland State University	Ohio
=151	801–1000	Western Michigan University	Michigan
=163	1001+	University of Memphis	Tennessee
=163	1001+	Texas State University	Texas