Field Studied: Interiors

University of Colorado

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences; Physics; Geological Sciences; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Aerospace Engineering; Chemistry
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Dust, Exoplanets, Instrumentation, Interiors, Ionospheres, Magnetospheres, Mars, Planetary Dynamics, Rings, Surfaces
URL: https://lasp.colorado.edu/our-expertise/science/planetary-lunar/
State/Province: CO
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA:
General GRE Required: Yes
Subject GRE Required: Physics required for some departments
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 20  (7 APS, 3 Phys, 3 Geo, 1 AaOS, 5 AE, 1 Chem) 
Planetary Researchers: 20
Students: ~50 across all departments
Admission Percentage: ~20%
Nearby Research Institutions: SWRI, SSI, UCAR
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Yes, varies with department
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: http://lasp.colorado.edu/planetary/departments.html
Notes: 21 Jan deadline for international admission; for further information, see also http://www.colorado.edu/aps/ and http://www.colorado.edu/aps/prospective-students

University of California Santa Cruz

Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Atmospheres, Interiors, Magnetospheres, Planet Formation, Surfaces
URL: http://eps.ucsc.edu/
State/Province: CA
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: Yes
Subject GRE Required: No
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 21
Planetary Researchers: 4
Students: 36
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions: NASA Ames, SETI, USGS Menlo Park
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Yes (In general, our admitted students are fully funded through fellowships, teaching assistantships, and/or research assitantships.) 
Fall Application Deadline: 05 Jan
Spring Application Deadline:
Admissions URL: https://eps.ucsc.edu/graduate/appl-adm.html
Notes:

University of British Columbia

Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Institute of Planetary Science
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Asteroids, Comets, Exoplanets, Interiors, Magnetospheres, Planet Formation
URL: http://www.ipsubc.org
State/Province: British Columbia
Country: Canada
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.3
General GRE Required: Optional
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 6
Planetary Researchers: 6
Students: 6
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions: Hertaberg Institute (NRC), University of Victoria
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Admitted students with a research advisor commitment are guaranteed 2 (MSc) or 4 (PhD) years of funding
Fall Application Deadline: 01 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://phas.ubc.ca/graduate-program-prospective-students
Notes: Honors undergraduate degree required for admission; secondary contact email of [email protected]

University of Arizona

Last modified: April 1, 2025
Department: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids, Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Comets, Cosmochemistry, Exoplanets, Geochemistry, Interiors, Mars, Meteorites, Moon, Optical Astronomy, Planet Formation, Planetary Dynamics, Planetary Evolution, Planetary Science, Small Bodies, Space Plasma Physics, Surfaces, Volcanology
URL: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu
State/Province: AZ
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: N/A
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: N/A
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 35
Planetary Researchers: 35
Students: 48
Admission Percentage: 12%
Nearby Research Institutions: Planetary Science Institute; National Optical Astronomy Observatory; University of Arizona Depts. of Astronomy/Steward Observatory, Atmospheric Sciences, Geosciences; College of Optical Sciences; College of Engineering; Biosphere 2
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Up to five (5) years of financial support towards completion of the Ph.D. (GRA or GTA)
Fall Application Deadline: 13 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/admissions
Notes: Applicants should have completed an undergraduate major in a physical science such as astronomy, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, geology, mathematics, or physics. However, admission is based on the overall demonstrated capability and preparation of the applicant.

Cornell University

Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Exoplanets, Infrared Astronomy, Instrumentation, Interiors, Ionospheres, Mars, Optical Astronomy, Planetary Evolution, Rings, Small Bodies, Surfaces
URL: https://astro.cornell.edu/
State/Province: NY
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA:
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 20
Planetary Researchers: 14
Students: 34
Admission Percentage: a few %
Nearby Research Institutions:
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Guaranteed through RAs, TAs, and fellowships
Fall Application Deadline: 1 Dec
Spring Application Deadline:
Admissions URL: https://astro.cornell.edu/graduate-how-to-apply
Notes: The Field of Space Sciences and Astronomy draws faculty from several Cornell departments including Astronomy, Physics, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Geological Sciences, Applied Physics, Engineering etc. The majority of the faculty are housed within the Astronomy Dept.

California Institute of Technology

Last modified: April 1, 2025
Department: Geological and Planetary Sciences
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids, Astrobiology, Atmospheres, Climate, Comets, Cosmochemistry, Dust, Exoplanets, Geobiology, Geochemistry, Geology, Geophysics, Hydrodynamics, Infrared Astronomy, Instrumentation, Interiors, Ionospheres, Kuiper Belt Objects, Magnetospheres, Mars, Meteorites, Moon, Optical Astronomy, Planet Formation, Planetary Dynamics, Planetary Evolution, Pluto/KBOs, Radio Astronomy, Remote Sensing, Rings, Saturn, Small Bodies, Space Plasma Physics, Surfaces, Venus, Volcanology
URL: https://www.gps.caltech.edu/
State/Province: CA
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: None noted
General GRE Required: Yes
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 41
Planetary Researchers: 11
Students: 135
Admission Percentage: 10%
Nearby Research Institutions: JPL
Contact Email: [email protected]
Funding: Guaranteed funding for first 5 terms
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://www.gps.caltech.edu/academics/graduate-program/graduate-admissions-and-entrance-procedures
Notes: Exoplanet research can be pursued in Planetary Sciences or Astronomy