Best universities in the US for physics and maths 2025

By Joy.Hunter@tim…, 7 July, 2025

Top universities for physics, chemistry and maths 2025

US Physical Sciences Rank 2025Global Physical Sciences Rank 2025UniversityOverallResearch QualityIndustryInternational OutlookResearch EnvironmentTeaching
11California Institute of Technology97.298.310090.797.996.4
=2=2Harvard University96.598.193.491.898.494.1
=2=2Stanford University96.598.71008995.496.2
44Massachusetts Institute of Technology96.198.198.791.694.595.9
55Princeton University9697.499.891.894.196.8
66University of California, Berkeley95.597.910090.396.792
7=12Yale University90.294.267.888.688.790.4
815Columbia University89.59585.293.386.584.9
916The University of Chicago8991.673.690.88888.5
1017University of California, Los Angeles88.593.675.987.689.982.5
1118Cornell University8794.568.188.783.283.4
1223University of Washington81.791.768.38678.372.6
1324University of Michigan-Ann Arbor81.588.574.584.676.377.7
14=28University of Pennsylvania80.392.879.987.270.971.2
1533Johns Hopkins University79.194.290.188.571.462.8
1634University of California, Santa Barbara78.595.999.987.970.957.4
1736Northwestern University76.694.977.782.666.360.8
1837University of Texas at Austin76.291.479.861.171.664.7
=19=41University of California, San Diego748999.878.964.758.2
=19=41University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign7486.775.766.972.460.7
2145University of Wisconsin-Madison73.681.474.484.369.164.8
2247New York University72.984.571.194.168.956.1
2349Georgia Institute of Technology71.993.48273.561.851.8
=24=50Brown University71.890.465.584.951.664.5
=24=50University of Arizona71.891.3997559.953
2652Duke University71.586.781.786.155.162
2753University of Colorado Boulder71.282.383.564.467.160.7
2857Carnegie Mellon University70.396.667.18754.347.3
2958Penn State (Main campus)70.285.87370.760.758.5
3062University of Maryland, College Park6892.973.153.956.449.9
3169University of California, Irvine66.593.489.190.244.642.8
3272University of Massachusetts65.78970.888.543.350.3
3378Rice University64.787.872.488.440.950
3484Stony Brook University63.584.262.490.845.946.2
3589Purdue University West Lafayette62.772.888.382.650.352.4
36=90University of California, Davis62.48373.786.94544.1
37=92University of Minnesota62.37999.165.249.147
3894Michigan State University62.280.866.687.444.447.7
=39101–125Boston University59.1–61.186.466.984.135.840.3
=39101–125Ohio State University (Main campus)59.1–61.182.568.681.640.742.7
=39101–125Texas A&M University59.1–61.175.468.478.451.146.3
=39101–125University of California, Santa Cruz59.1–61.189.362.181.340.233
=42126–150University of Hawai’i at Mānoa56.0–59.082.871.778.141.333.6
=42126–150University of Rochester56.0–59.076.665.786.53738.5
=42126–150University of Southern California56.0–59.078.873.276.539.636.9
=42126–150Washington University in St Louis56.0–59.081.869.285.431.638.1
=46151–175Arizona State University (Tempe)54.4–55.985.367.58034.430
=46151–175University of California, Riverside54.4–55.988.669.282.325.429.4
=46151–175University of Florida54.4–55.979.470.36237.238.3
=46151–175University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill54.4–55.977.872.857.637.640.7
=50176–200North Carolina State University52.6–54.369.375.570.735.339.2
=50176–200The University of Tennessee-Knoxville52.6–54.384.368.472.22728.3
=50176–200Vanderbilt University52.6–54.383.967.881.427.830.4
=53201–250Brandeis University49.7–52.580.55593.517.228.9
=53201–250Colorado School of Mines49.7–52.570.388.743.733.735.7
=53201–250Colorado State University, Fort Collins49.7–52.573.571.457.929.737.7
=53201–250Emory University49.7–52.57570.679.226.134.6
=53201–250Florida State University49.7–52.569.366.286.630.237.3
=53201–250Northeastern University, US49.7–52.579.476.187.524.324
=53201–250University of Notre Dame49.7–52.56873.483.529.141.1
=53201–250University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus49.7–52.585.868.459.722.325.1
=53201–250University of Virginia (Main campus)49.7–52.578.368.677.621.333.6
=62251–300Boston College47.1–49.673.461.182.117.734.5
=62251–300Dartmouth College47.1–49.664.362.761.622.344.5
=62251–300George Washington University47.1–49.672.86287.820.135.6
=62251–300Indiana University47.1–49.665.990.682.423.733.2
=62251–300Rutgers University–New Brunswick47.1–49.67768.876.222.628
=62251–300Tufts University47.1–49.672.967.678.619.328.6
=62251–300University of Delaware47.1–49.667.183.884.627.333.8
=62251–300University of Houston47.1–49.666.368.288.823.432.8
=62251–300University of Nebraska-Lincoln47.1–49.670.668.985.12327.8
=62251–300University of Utah47.1–49.67071.350.431.434.5
=62251–300Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University47.1–49.676.267.671.324.828.8
=62251–300Washington State University47.1–49.674.676.171.220.127.9
=74301–400Case Western Reserve University42.4–46.972.365.77817.727.5
=74301–400Drexel University42.4–46.976.965.760.31231.2
=74301–400Iowa State University42.4–46.962.183.461.325.934.4
=74301–400Louisiana State University42.4–46.970.960.561.814.928.7
=74301–400Missouri University of Science and Technology42.4–46.970.871.678.619.221
=74301–400Oklahoma State University42.4–46.967.952.778.714.626.1
=74301–400Syracuse University42.4–46.975.359.368.517.829.4
=74301–400Temple University42.4–46.975.356.861.71325.3
=74301–400University at Buffalo42.4–46.970.270.683.116.524.1
=74301–400University of Alaska Fairbanks42.4–46.962.453.677.223.424.6
=74301–400University of Central Florida42.4–46.9707347.83124.4
=74301–400University of Connecticut42.4–46.97166.6851821.9
=74301–400University of Illinois Chicago42.4–46.972.468.368.925.223.9
=74301–400University of Iowa42.4–46.966.262.279.924.730.2
=74301–400University of Kansas42.4–46.958.869.983.921.729.6
=74301–400University of South Carolina-Columbia42.4–46.966.366.180.915.826.1
=74301–400University of South Florida42.4–46.978.36681.513.623.8
=74301–400University of Texas at Dallas42.4–46.975.970.674.715.824.9
=92401–500American University39.7–42.373.630.7669.620.4
=92401–500Auburn University39.7–42.365.461.873.116.321.6
=92401–500Florida Atlantic University39.7–42.368.645.369.410.821.7
=92401–500Florida International University39.7–42.370.14953.114.420
=92401–500George Mason University39.7–42.368.645.663.21519.2
=92401–500Kansas State University39.7–42.360.965.688.716.327
=92401–500Mississippi State University39.7–42.372.546.664.312.115.9
=92401–500Mizzou - University of Missouri39.7–42.358.762.568.319.327.2
=92401–500Northern Illinois University39.7–42.36948.880.99.922.1
=92401–500Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute39.7–42.362.190.573.917.720.7
=92401–500Rochester Institute of Technology39.7–42.376.653.750.313.721.2
=92401–500Texas Tech University39.7–42.365.859.184.412.322.9
=92401–500The University of Tulsa39.7–42.37470.153.714.318.7
=92401–500University of California, Merced39.7–42.376.643.851.413.223.2
=92401–500University of Maryland, Baltimore County39.7–42.368.253.85618.823.3
=92401–500University of Miami39.7–42.357.854.884.321.827.9
=92401–500University of Oregon39.7–42.370.443.354.816.225.2
=92401–500University of Texas at Arlington39.7–42.358.159.970.820.626.5
=92401–500University of Wyoming39.7–42.371.856.443.514.422.8
=92401–500Wayne State University39.7–42.361.271.664.417.627.8
=112501–600Clarkson University36.6–39.651.663.381.811.826.5
=112501–600Florida Institute of Technology36.6–39.66244.16316.421.6
=112501–600Lehigh University36.6–39.659.86575.514.822.9
=112501–600Montana State University36.6–39.660.657.744.215.922
=112501–600New Jersey Institute of Technology36.6–39.651.749.191.613.724
=112501–600New Mexico State University (Main campus)36.6–39.65259.46516.227.6
=112501–600Stevens Institute of Technology36.6–39.654.152.978.918.719.7
=112501–600SUNY University at Albany36.6–39.660.765.374.914.717.9
=112501–600The Catholic University of America36.6–39.657.137.661.217.824.2
=112501–600The University of Alabama36.6–39.663.153.659.216.117.5
=112501–600University of Georgia (USA)36.6–39.648.263.154.321.128.1
=112501–600University of Kentucky36.6–39.658.363.370.413.527.2
=112501–600University of Rhode Island36.6–39.657.350.767.819.724.4
=112501–600University of Toledo36.6–39.65867.879.211.924.1
=112501–600William & Mary36.6–39.659.947.147.121.327.2
=112501–600Worcester Polytechnic Institute36.6–39.666.949.257.61122.2
=128601–800Clark University32.1–36.554.630.38311.415.8
=128601–800Illinois Institute of Technology32.1–36.555.763.169.110.422.6
=128601–800Ohio University (Main campus)32.1–36.554.55257.61422.7
=128601–800Old Dominion University32.1–36.563.239.245.112.317.9
=128601–800South Dakota State University32.1–36.566.8384511.316.7
=128601–800SUNY Binghamton University32.1–36.550.859.248.612.322.8
=128601–800The University of Texas at San Antonio32.1–36.561.153.251.512.719.2
=128601–800Tulane University32.1–36.547.156.165.914.519.8
=128601–800University of Arkansas32.1–36.557.261.945.515.823.1
=128601–800University of Denver32.1–36.5524163.412.623
=128601–800University of Nevada, Las Vegas32.1–36.557.441.348.213.917.8
=128601–800University of South Dakota32.1–36.566.735.4599.617.4
=128601–800Wake Forest University32.1–36.550.963.271.210.123.6
=128601–800Western Michigan University32.1–36.550.730.767.510.523.5
=142801–1000Baylor University26.1–32.044.137.664.211.823.6
=142801–1000Central Michigan University26.1–32.040.220.750.912.218.9
=142801–1000Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University26.1–32.044.337.159.813.817.3
=142801–1000Georgetown University26.1–32.04158.356.513.822.9
=142801–1000Georgia State University26.1–32.045.247.57310.718.5
=142801–1000Portland State University26.1–32.0394938.810.818.4
=142801–1000Rowan University26.1–32.056.232.446.87.218
=142801–1000Saint Louis University26.1–32.036.550.959.910.324.6
=142801–1000San Diego State University26.1–32.0534745.78.214.6
=142801–1000Texas State University26.1–32.038.144.755.413.612.3
=142801–1000University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus26.1–32.052.264.635.21614.9
=142801–1000University of Memphis26.1–32.035.233.649.39.923.3
=142801–1000University of North Carolina at Charlotte26.1–32.051.149.744.89.915.2
=142801–1000University of Texas at El Paso26.1–32.038.339.162.615.818.7
=142801–1000University of Texas Rio Grande Valley26.1–32.048.318.5556.511.1
=142801–1000Virginia Commonwealth University26.1–32.039.373.543.415.821.3
=1581001+Bowling Green State University9.3–26.022.736.451.78.121.8
=1581001+Georgia Southern University9.3–26.034.844.552.77.416.2
=1581001+Morgan State University9.3–26.02319.77112.918.6
=1581001+Oakland University9.3–26.027.14561.510.218.9
=1581001+University of Nebraska Omaha9.3–26.019.125.9337.114.9

Key insights into the top universities in the US for physics

  • The California Institute of Technology takes the first place position in this year's table for physical sciences, followed by Harvard University and Stanford University in joint second.
  • There are 162 US universities ranked in total.
  • The University of California, Berkeley achieves a top score for its links to industry
  • Four Ivy League universities are ranked in the top 10.
  • The physical sciences ranking ranks universities that offer courses in physics, chemistry, astronomy, maths, statistics, geology, environmental, earth and marine sciences. 

Choosing the right university for physical sciences in the US

Choosing the best school for physics, chemistry or maths is a crucial step for prospective students. The Times Higher Education Physical Science Rankings help identify universities with strong reputations in teaching, research, and industry collaboration.

The table for the best universities for physical sciences in the US was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you. 

 

Thumbnail image
Image
physics and maths
Standfirst

Discover the Times Higher Education rankings for the best physical science schools in the US 2025. 

This list highlights the top-ranked universities for physics and maths in the US, based on the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings: Physical Sciences 2025. These rankings provide valuable insights into the leading institutions for physical sciences education and research. 

A total of 162 US universities have been ranked for their excellence in teaching, research, industry collaboration, and international outlook.

The rankings are based on a rigorous methodology designed by Times Higher Education’s data experts, ensuring accuracy and reliability for students, academics, and industry leaders worldwide. 

Country
Display TAP Popcard?
On

Comments