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.

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Institution Department Size Faculty DPS Members Planetary Researchers
Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration Large ~60 3 17
Boston University Astronomy Medium 16 6
Brigham Young University, Provo Physics and Astronomy Medium 4 planetary astronomy (32 Total) 3
Brown University Planetary Geosciences Medium 0
California Institute of Technology Geological and Planetary Sciences Large 12 24
Catholic University of America Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Science Medium 2 12
Clemson University Physics & Astronomy Medium 1
Colorado School of Mines Geophysics Medium 25 0
Cornell University Astronomy Large 15–20 19
Curtin University School of Earth & Planetary Sciences (Space Science & Technology Centre) Medium 77 (15 Planetary)
Florida Institute of Technology Physics and Space Sciences Medium 17 2
George Mason University Physics and Astronomy Medium 3
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Medium 26 2
Hampton University Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Medium 3 0
Harvard University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 17
Howard University Physics and Astronomy Medium 0
Institutet för rymdfysik Swedish Institute of Space Physics Medium 0 5.5
Johns Hopkins University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 14 (4 in planetary science) 24
Johns Hopkins University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 14 (4 in planetary science) 24
Kansas University Physics Medium 0
Keele University Astrophysics Group Medium 0
Kyung Hee University Astronomy and Space Science 1
Leiden University Leiden Observatory 0
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Large 10 specifically in planetary science, 38 total 13 9.5
Michigan State University Earth and Environmental Sciences Medium 17 1 9
New Mexico State University Astronomy Medium 11 and 2–3 research faculty 3
Northern Arizona University Astronomy & Planetary Science Medium 11 12
Northwestern University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 1
Princeton University Astrophysical Sciences Medium 4
Purdue University Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Medium 10 4
Rice University Physics and Astronomy Medium 46 0
Stanford University Planetary Science Program Medium 69
SUNY Stony Brook Geosciences Medium 0
SUNY Stony Brook Physics and Astronomy  Medium 0
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Texas Tech University Geosciences Medium 0
The Australian National University Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics 0
Universidad de Chile Astronomia 25 1
University College London Astrophysics Group 1
University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Medium 0
University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Large 33 tenure-track faculty + 5 non-tenure-track faculty 30 16
University of Arkansas Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences Medium 0
University of British Columbia Institute of Planetary Science Medium 5 2
University of California Berkeley Astronomy Large 18 8
University of California Berkeley Earth and Planetary Science Large 29 8
University of California Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium ~21 1 4
University of California Los Angeles Physics and Astronomy Large 15
University of California Los Angeles Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Large 15
University of California Los Angeles Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Large ~30 15 10
University of California Riverside Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 22
University of California Santa Cruz Earth and Planetary Sciences Large 20 8 17
University of California Santa Cruz Astronomy and Astrophysics Medium 16 (3 planetary) 3 3
University of Cambridge Institute for Astronomy 1 7
University of Cantebury Physics and Astronomy 0
University of Central Florida Planetary Sciences Group Large 17 in planetary science 18 25
University of Chicago Astronomy and Astrophysics Medium 3
University of Chicago Geophysical Sciences Medium 24 3
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)  20 33
University of Florida, Gainesville Astronomy Medium 8
University of Göttingen Solar System School 13 0
University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy Large 40 16
University of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology Large 42 (16 with planetary focus) 16
University of Idaho Physics Medium 11 (3 planetary) 4
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Geology Medium 1
University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Medium 31 0
University of Leicester Physics & Astronomy 10 in planetary science fields 0 10
University of Manchester Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics 0 0.5
University of Manitoba Physics and Astronomy Medium 0
University of Maryland Astronomy Large 15 18 23
University of Massachusetts Amherst Astronomy Medium 3
University of Michigan Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences Large 8 17
University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy Medium 2 10
University of New Hampshire Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space Medium 50 0
University of Oxford Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics 3
University of Pittsburgh Geology and Environmental Science Medium 1
University of St. Andrews School of Physics and Astronomy 0
University of Tennessee, Knoxville Earth and Planetary Sciences Large 8 planetary (21 total) 5
University of Texas, Arlington Physics and Astronomy Medium 0
University of Texas, Austin Astronomy Program Large 23 (plus ~24 research scientists who can supervise PhD students) 8 11
University of Texas, Austin Geological Sciences Medium 54 faculty, 90 research scientists
University of Texas, San Antonio/Southwest Research Institute Physics & Astronomy Large 19 6 10
University of Texas, San Antonio/Southwest Research Institute Astronomy/Space Science Large 19 6 10
University of Tokyo Earth and Planetary Science 3
University of Toledo Physics and Astronomy  Medium 0
University of Toronto Astronomy and Astrophysics Medium 1
University of Virginia Astronomy Medium 6
University of Wales, Aberystwyth Institute of Mathematics and Physics 0
University of Washington Astronomy Large 15 5
University of Washington Earth and Space Sciences Large 11 5
Vanderbilt University Physics & Astronomy Medium 0
Washington University in St Louis Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium 20 teaching (tenured/tenure track) faculty, 4 research faculty 3
Wesleyan University Planetary Sciences Group Medium 10 0
Western University Earth Science; Physics & Astronomy; Engineering; Health Sciences; Law Medium 65 3 30
Yale University Astronomy Medium 23 (4 planetary) 3
Yale University Earth and Planetary Sciences Medium ~20
York University Earth and Space Science and Engineering; Physics and Astronomy Medium ~40 total 2