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 in the Fall of the next academic year. If you are faculty and would like to be added to this list, please fill out the form here.

Clear All Filters
Institution Department Size Faculty
Aberystwyth University Physics none 18
Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration Large 79
Boston University Astronomy Medium 17
Brigham Young University, Provo Physics and Astronomy Medium 47
Brown University Planetary Geosciences Medium 35
California Institute of Technology Geological and Planetary Sciences Large 41
Catholic University of America Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Science Medium 20
Clemson University Physics and Astronomy Medium 25
Colorado School of Mines Geophysics Medium 25
Cornell University Astronomy Large 20
Curtin University School of Earth & Planetary Sciences (Space Science & Technology Centre) Medium 77
Florida Institute of Technology Physics and Space Sciences Medium 17
George Mason University Physics and Astronomy Medium 68
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Medium 35
Hampton University Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Medium 7
Harvard University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 35
Howard University Atmospheric Science Medium 9
Howard University Physics and Astronomy Medium 17
Institutet För Rymdfysik Swedish Institute of Space Physics Medium 14
Johns Hopkins University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 19
Kansas University Physics Medium 31
Keele University Astrophysics Group Medium 10
Kyung Hee University Astronomy and Space Science none 10
Leiden University Leiden Observatory none 39
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Large 49
Michigan State University Earth and Environmental Sciences Medium 21
New Mexico State University Astronomy Medium 10
New Mexico Tech Physics Medium 16
Northern Arizona University Astronomy & Planetary Science Medium 14
Northwestern University Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences Medium 14
Princeton University Astrophysical Sciences Medium 36
Purdue University Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Medium 15
Rice University Physics and Astronomy Medium 46
Stanford University Planetary Science Program Medium 16
SUNY Stony Brook Geosciences Medium 22
SUNY Stony Brook Physics and Astronomy  Medium 18
Texas Tech University Geosciences Medium 33
The Australian National University Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics none 22
Universidad de Chile Astronomia none 20
University College London Astrophysics Group none 22
University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Medium 69
University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Large 35
University of Arkansas Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences Medium 17
University of British Columbia Institute of Planetary Science Medium 6
University of California Berkeley Astronomy Large 18
University of California Berkeley Earth and Planetary Science Large 32
University of California Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 20
University of California Los Angeles Physics and Astronomy Large 60
University of California Los Angeles Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Large 21
University of California Los Angeles Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Large 28
University of California Riverside Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 21
University of California Santa Cruz Earth and Planetary Sciences Large 21
University of California Santa Cruz Astronomy and Astrophysics Medium 20
University of Cambridge Institute for Astronomy none 19
University of Canterbury Physics and Astronomy none 4
University of Central Florida Planetary Sciences Group Large 13
University of Chicago Astronomy and Astrophysics Medium 32
University of Chicago Geophysical Sciences Medium 43
University of Colorado Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences; Physics; Geological Sciences; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Aerospace Engineering; Chemistry Large 20  (7 APS, 3 Phys, 3 Geo, 1 AaOS, 5 AE, 1 Chem) 
University of Florida, Gainesville Astronomy Medium 17
University of Göttingen Solar System School none 13
University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy Large 40
University of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology Large 42
University of Idaho Physics Medium 11
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Earth Science & Environmental Change Medium 14
University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Medium 30
University of Leicester Physics & Astronomy none 43
University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics none 27
University of Manitoba Physics and Astronomy Medium 24
University of Maryland, College Park Astronomy Large 19
University of Massachusetts Amherst Astronomy Medium 20
University of Michigan Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences Large 25
University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy Medium 64
University of New Hampshire Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space Medium 39
University of Oxford Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics none 13
University of Pittsburgh Geology and Environmental Science Medium 18
University of St. Andrews School of Physics and Astronomy none 50
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences Large 18
University of Texas, Arlington Physics and Astronomy Medium 32
University of Texas, Austin Astronomy Program Large 20
University of Texas, Austin Geological Sciences Medium 49
University of Texas, San Antonio/Southwest Research Institute Physics & Astronomy Large 19
University of Tokyo Earth and Planetary Science none 47
University of Toledo Physics and Astronomy  Medium 15
University of Toronto Astronomy and Astrophysics Medium 35
University of Virginia Astronomy Medium 24
University of Washington Astronomy Large 20
University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences Large 24
Vanderbilt University Physics & Astronomy Medium 6
Washington University in St Louis Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences Medium 22
Wesleyan University Planetary Sciences Group Medium 7
Western University Earth Science; Physics & Astronomy; Engineering; Health Sciences; Law Medium 47
Yale University Astronomy Medium 19
Yale University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 25
York University Earth and Space Science and Engineering; Physics and Astronomy Medium 21