Best Paleontology Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

For Paleontology

#1 in North America #1 in United States

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

2

United States | California

Stanford University

For Paleontology

#2 in North America #2 in United States

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

For Paleontology

#3 in North America #3 in United States

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

4

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

For Paleontology

#4 in North America #4 in United States

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

5

United States | New York State

Cornell University

For Paleontology

#5 in North America #5 in United States

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

6

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

For Paleontology

#6 in North America #6 in United States

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

7

United Kingdom | England

University of Oxford

For Paleontology

#1 in Europe #1 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

8

United Kingdom | England

University of Cambridge

For Paleontology

#2 in Europe #2 in United Kingdom

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

9

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

For Paleontology

#7 in North America #1 in Canada

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

10

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

For Paleontology

#8 in North America #7 in United States

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

11

United States | California

University of California – Davis

For Paleontology

#9 in North America #8 in United States

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

12

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

For Paleontology

#10 in North America #9 in United States

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

13

United States | Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Paleontology

#11 in North America #10 in United States

5% Acceptance

4,535 Enrollment

1550 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

14

Canada | British Columbia

University of British Columbia

For Paleontology

#12 in North America #2 in Canada

52% Acceptance

71,201 Enrollment

1908 Founded

15

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For Paleontology

#13 in North America #11 in United States

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Japan | Tokyo

University of Tokyo

For Paleontology

#1 in Asia #1 in Japan

36% Acceptance

28,918 Enrollment

1877 Founded

17

United Kingdom | England

University College London

For Paleontology

#3 in Europe #3 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

18

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Paleontology

#14 in North America #12 in United States

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

19

United States | Connecticut

Yale University

For Paleontology

#15 in North America #13 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1701 Founded

20

United States | Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

For Paleontology

#16 in North America #14 in United States

6% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

21

United States | Florida

University of Florida

For Paleontology

#17 in North America #15 in United States

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

22

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

For Paleontology

#18 in North America #16 in United States

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

23

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

For Paleontology

#19 in North America #17 in United States

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

24

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

For Paleontology

#20 in North America #18 in United States

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

25

Brazil | Sao Paulo

University of Sao Paulo

For Paleontology

#1 in Latin America #1 in Brazil

9% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1827 Founded

26

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

For Paleontology

#21 in North America #19 in United States

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

27

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

For Paleontology

#22 in North America #20 in United States

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

28

United States | New York State

Columbia University

For Paleontology

#23 in North America #21 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

29

United Kingdom | England

Imperial College London

For Paleontology

#4 in Europe #4 in United Kingdom

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

30

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

For Paleontology

#24 in North America #22 in United States

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

31

Australia | St Lucia

University of Queensland

For Paleontology

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

70% Acceptance

48,771 Enrollment

1909 Founded

32

Australia | Sydney

University of Sydney

For Paleontology

#2 in Oceania #2 in Australia

71% Acceptance

63,602 Enrollment

1850 Founded

33

Denmark | Copenhagen

University of Copenhagen

For Paleontology

#5 in Europe #1 in Denmark

37% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1479 Founded

34

United States | Michigan

Michigan State University

For Paleontology

#25 in North America #23 in United States

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

35

Canada | Alberta

University of Alberta

For Paleontology

#26 in North America #3 in Canada

53% Acceptance

31,185 Enrollment

1908 Founded

36

Japan | Kyoto

Kyoto University

For Paleontology

#2 in Asia #2 in Japan

11% Acceptance

22,365 Enrollment

1897 Founded

37

Netherlands | Utrecht

Utrecht University

For Paleontology

#6 in Europe #1 in Netherlands

22% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1636 Founded

38

Australia | Canberra

Australian National University

For Paleontology

#3 in Oceania #3 in Australia

71% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1946 Founded

39

Switzerland | Zurich

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

For Paleontology

#7 in Europe #1 in Switzerland

8% Acceptance

23,420 Enrollment

40

United States | Missouri

Washington University in St Louis

For Paleontology

#27 in North America #24 in United States

12% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

41

United States | North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

For Paleontology

#28 in North America #25 in United States

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

42

United States | Texas

Texas A&M University – College Station

For Paleontology

#29 in North America #26 in United States

57% Acceptance

60,710 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

43

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

For Paleontology

#30 in North America #27 in United States

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

44

Australia | Melbourne

University of Melbourne

For Paleontology

#4 in Oceania #4 in Australia

77% Acceptance

77,162 Enrollment

1853 Founded

45

Belgium | Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven

For Paleontology

#8 in Europe #1 in Belgium

33% Acceptance

62,693 Enrollment

1425 Founded

46

Belgium | Ghent

Ghent University

For Paleontology

#9 in Europe #2 in Belgium

34% Acceptance

50,000 Enrollment

1817 Founded

47

China | Hangzhou

Zhejiang University

For Paleontology

#3 in Asia #1 in China

20% Acceptance

60,739 Enrollment

1897 Founded

48

France | Ile-de-France

Pierre and Marie Curie University

For Paleontology

#10 in Europe #1 in France

20% Acceptance

35,114 Enrollment

1150 Founded

49

United States | New Jersey

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

For Paleontology

#31 in North America #28 in United States

58% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1766 Founded

50

United Kingdom | England

University of Bristol

For Paleontology

#11 in Europe #5 in United Kingdom

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

51

Canada | Quebec State

McGill University

For Paleontology

#32 in North America #4 in Canada

46% Acceptance

37,888 Enrollment

1821 Founded

52

United States | California

University of California – San Francisco

For Paleontology

#33 in North America #29 in United States

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

53

United Kingdom | Scotland

University of Edinburgh

For Paleontology

#12 in Europe #6 in United Kingdom

51% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1583 Founded

54

United Kingdom | England

University of Manchester

For Paleontology

#13 in Europe #7 in United Kingdom

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

55

United States | Georgia, US

University of Georgia

For Paleontology

#34 in North America #30 in United States

38% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

1375 Avg SAT

1785 Founded

56

United States | North Carolina

Duke University

For Paleontology

#35 in North America #31 in United States

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

57

United States | California

California Institute of Technology

For Paleontology

#36 in North America #32 in United States

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

58

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

For Paleontology

#37 in North America #33 in United States

58% Acceptance

25,900 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1787 Founded

59

Sweden | Lund

Lund University

For Paleontology

#14 in Europe #1 in Sweden

58% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1666 Founded

60

China | Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

For Paleontology

#4 in Asia #2 in China

17% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1911 Founded

61

United States | Utah

University of Utah

For Paleontology

#38 in North America #34 in United States

86% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

62

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

For Paleontology

#39 in North America #35 in United States

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

63

United States | California

University of Southern California

For Paleontology

#40 in North America #36 in United States

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

64

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

For Paleontology

#5 in Oceania #5 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

65

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

For Paleontology

#41 in North America #37 in United States

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

66

China | Beijing

Peking University

For Paleontology

#5 in Asia #3 in China

21% Acceptance

44,730 Enrollment

1898 Founded

67

Netherlands | Wageningen

Wageningen University

For Paleontology

#15 in Europe #2 in Netherlands

47% Acceptance

12,819 Enrollment

1918 Founded

68

China | Beijing

Tsinghua University

For Paleontology

#6 in Asia #4 in China

22% Acceptance

48,739 Enrollment

1911 Founded

69

Finland | Helsinki

University of Helsinki

For Paleontology

#16 in Europe #1 in Finland

12% Acceptance

31,312 Enrollment

1640 Founded

70

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

For Paleontology

#42 in North America #38 in United States

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

71

United States | Colorado

University of Colorado Boulder

For Paleontology

#43 in North America #39 in United States

78% Acceptance

34,096 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

72

United States | New York State

New York University

For Paleontology

#44 in North America #40 in United States

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

73

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

For Paleontology

#45 in North America #41 in United States

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

74

South Korea | Seoul

Seoul National University

For Paleontology

#7 in Asia #1 in South Korea

20% Acceptance

28,378 Enrollment

1946 Founded

75

Australia | Clayton

Monash University

For Paleontology

#6 in Oceania #6 in Australia

73% Acceptance

78,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

76

Canada | Alberta

University of Calgary

For Paleontology

#46 in North America #5 in Canada

55% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1966 Founded

77

Switzerland | Zurich

University of Zurich

For Paleontology

#17 in Europe #2 in Switzerland

19% Acceptance

25,732 Enrollment

78

Mexico | Mexico City

National Autonomous University of Mexico

For Paleontology

#2 in Latin America #1 in Mexico

43% Acceptance

360,883 Enrollment

1551 Founded

79

United States | Iowa State

University of Iowa

For Paleontology

#47 in North America #42 in United States

84% Acceptance

22,738 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

80

United States | Arizona

Arizona State University – Tempe

For Paleontology

#48 in North America #43 in United States

90% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

81

United Kingdom | England

University of Leeds

For Paleontology

#18 in Europe #8 in United Kingdom

48% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1904 Founded

82

United States | North Carolina

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For Paleontology

#49 in North America #44 in United States

42% Acceptance

28,422 Enrollment

1385 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

83

United Kingdom | England

University of Sheffield

For Paleontology

#19 in Europe #9 in United Kingdom

28% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1905 Founded

84

United States | Oregon

Oregon State University

For Paleontology

#50 in North America #45 in United States

77% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

85

Singapore | Singapore City

National University of Singapore

For Paleontology

#8 in Asia #1 in Singapore

20% Acceptance

30,098 Enrollment

1905 Founded

86

Japan | Suita

Osaka University

For Paleontology

#9 in Asia #3 in Japan

13% Acceptance

23,234 Enrollment

1931 Founded

87

Netherlands | Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

For Paleontology

#20 in Europe #3 in Netherlands

51% Acceptance

41,000 Enrollment

1632 Founded

88

China | Shanghai

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

For Paleontology

#10 in Asia #5 in China

20% Acceptance

47,000 Enrollment

1896 Founded

89

Japan | Sendai

Tohoku University

For Paleontology

#11 in Asia #4 in Japan

30% Acceptance

17,975 Enrollment

1907 Founded

90

Switzerland | Bern

University of Bern

For Paleontology

#21 in Europe #3 in Switzerland

26% Acceptance

19,608 Enrollment

91

Denmark | Aarhus

Aarhus University

For Paleontology

#22 in Europe #2 in Denmark

42% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1928 Founded

92

Netherlands | Groningen

University of Groningen

For Paleontology

#23 in Europe #4 in Netherlands

50% Acceptance

34,000 Enrollment

1614 Founded

93

United States | California

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Paleontology

#51 in North America #46 in United States

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

94

Denmark | Kongens Lyngby

Technical University of Denmark

For Paleontology

#24 in Europe #3 in Denmark

38% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1829 Founded

95

Sweden | Uppsala

Uppsala University

For Paleontology

#25 in Europe #2 in Sweden

69% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1477 Founded

96

United States | Virginia

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

For Paleontology

#52 in North America #47 in United States

55% Acceptance

31,035 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

97

United States | Colorado

Colorado State University – Fort Collins

For Paleontology

#53 in North America #48 in United States

89% Acceptance

10,813 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

98

United Kingdom | England

University of Liverpool

For Paleontology

#26 in Europe #10 in United Kingdom

24% Acceptance

28,693 Enrollment

1881 Founded

99

Norway | Oslo

University of Oslo

For Paleontology

#27 in Europe #1 in Norway

27% Acceptance

26,650 Enrollment

1811 Founded

100

Netherlands | Delft

Delft University of Technology

For Paleontology

#28 in Europe #5 in Netherlands

50% Acceptance

24,703 Enrollment

1842 Founded

100 Best Universities in the World for Paleontology

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