Graduate Schools for Planetary Science

Planetary science is a dynamic and diverse discipline. Typically, research scientists earn a PhD in a field such as geology, chemistry, astronomy, physics, etc. while focusing their research in that area to planetary or solar system oriented topics. Because of the great diversity in represented fields, we have attempted to compile a list of the graduate programs which can lead to a PhD with a planetary science focus. The data are divided into groups based on location, either in the USA/Canada or International. The USA/Canada group is further subdivided by size as defined by the number of planetary science researchers at the institution based on DPS membership. The individual program entries include information on the major fields of study/research, degrees offered, and information related to applying for the particular graduate program. The information here is meant as a starting point, a first-stop to see a summary of such information all at once. Of course, if you plan to apply to any of these programs, be sure to contact them directly in order to get the most up-to-date details. In general, application deadlines are in December for admission to the program in the following Fall semester and will typically require GRE scores at the time of the application, so plan ahead!

While the list is extensive, it is most likely not comprehensive and we are always happy to add programs as we find out about them. If you have any additions, corrections, or additional information, please email us! — David Klassen, Sanlyn Buxner

If you would like information about obtaining career advice, see the DPS MentorNet program.

This spreadsheet lists open MS/PhD positions in planetary science starting Fall 2021. If you are faculty and would like to be added to this list, please fill out the form here.

Institution Department
Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration
Boston University Astronomy
Brigham Young University, Provo Physics and Astronomy
Brown University Planetary Geosciences
California Institute of Technology Geological and Planetary Sciences
Catholic University of America Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Science
Clemson University Physics & Astronomy
Colorado School of Mines Geophysics
Cornell University Astronomy
Curtin University School of Earth & Planetary Sciences (Space Science & Technology Centre)
Florida Institute of Technology Physics and Space Sciences
George Mason University Physics and Astronomy
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Hampton University Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
Harvard University Earth and Planetary Sciences
Howard University Physics and Astronomy
Institutet för rymdfysik Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Johns Hopkins University Earth and Planetary Sciences
Kansas University Physics
Keele University Astrophysics Group
Kyung Hee University Astronomy and Space Science
Leiden University Leiden Observatory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Michigan State University Earth and Environmental Sciences
New Mexico State University Astronomy
Northern Arizona University Astronomy & Planetary Science
Northwestern University Earth and Planetary Sciences
Princeton University Astrophysical Sciences
Purdue University Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Rice University Physics and Astronomy
Stanford University Planetary Science Program
SUNY Stony Brook Geosciences
SUNY Stony Brook Physics and Astronomy 
Texas Tech University Geosciences
The Australian National University Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Universidad de Chile Astronomia
University College London Astrophysics Group
University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute
University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arkansas Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences
University of British Columbia Institute of Planetary Science
University of California Berkeley Astronomy
University of California Berkeley Earth and Planetary Science
University of California Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of California Los Angeles Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences
University of California Los Angeles Physics and Astronomy
University of California Los Angeles Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
University of California Riverside Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of California Santa Cruz Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of California Santa Cruz Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Cambridge Institute for Astronomy
University of Cantebury Physics and Astronomy
University of Central Florida Planetary Sciences Group
University of Chicago Geophysical Sciences
University of Chicago Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Colorado Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences; Physics; Geological Sciences; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Aerospace Engineering; Chemistry
University of Florida, Gainesville Astronomy
University of Göttingen Solar System School
University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy
University of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
University of Idaho Physics
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Geology
University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy
University of Leicester Physics & Astronomy
University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics
University of Manitoba Physics and Astronomy
University of Maryland Astronomy
University of Massachusetts Amherst Astronomy
University of Michigan Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences
University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy
University of New Hampshire Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space
University of Oxford Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics
University of Pittsburgh Geology and Environmental Science
University of St. Andrews School of Physics and Astronomy
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Earth and Planetary Sciences
University of Texas, Arlington Physics and Astronomy
University of Texas, Austin Astronomy Program
University of Texas, Austin Geological Sciences
University of Texas, San Antonio/Southwest Research Institute Physics & Astronomy
University of Tokyo Earth and Planetary Science
University of Toledo Physics and Astronomy 
University of Toronto Astronomy and Astrophysics
University of Virginia Astronomy
University of Wales, Aberystwyth Institute of Mathematics and Physics
University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences
University of Washington Astronomy
Vanderbilt University Physics & Astronomy
Washington University in St Louis Earth and Planetary Sciences
Wesleyan University Planetary Sciences Group
Western University Earth Science; Physics & Astronomy; Engineering; Health Sciences; Law
Yale University Astronomy
Yale University Earth and Planetary Sciences
York University Earth and Space Science and Engineering; Physics and Astronomy