Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Planetary Science Program
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Astrobiology,
Atmospheres,
Climate,
Exoplanets,
Geobiology,
Geochemistry,
Geology,
Geophysics,
Icy Satellites,
Instrumentation,
Interiors,
Jupiter,
Magnetospheres,
Mars,
Mercury,
Moon,
Neptune,
Ocean Worlds (Titan, Enceladus, Europa),
Optical Astronomy,
Planet Formation,
Planetary Dynamics,
Planetary Evolution,
Planetary Science,
Pluto/KBOs,
Remote Sensing,
Saturn,
Surfaces,
Uranus,
Venus,
Volcanology
URL: https://earth.stanford.edu/planetary-science
State/Province: California
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: None noted
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 16
Students: 36
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions: NASA Ames Research Center, SLAC National Accelerator Lab, Stanford Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, SETI Institute
Funding: Varies by department
Fall Application Deadline: 06 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://epsci.stanford.edu/academics-admissions/graduate-program
Notes: This program spans several departments; see department links on Admissions URL link to get admissions specifics
Department/Program: Institute for Astronomy
URL: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/reu/
State/Province: HI
Country: USA
Application Deadline: 1 Feb
Notes:
Department/Program: Astronomy & Planetary Science
URL: http://www.astro.nau.edu/~reu/
State/Province: AZ
Country: USA
Application Deadline: 1 Feb
Notes: See https://nau.edu/astronomy-and-planetary-science for department details
Last modified: April 1, 2025
Department: Physics and Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Brown Dwarfs,
Comets,
Exoplanets,
Geology,
Infrared Astronomy,
Kuiper Belt Objects,
Ocean Worlds (Titan, Enceladus, Europa),
Optical Astronomy,
Planet Formation,
Planetary Dynamics,
Pluto/KBOs
URL: https://www.physics.byu.edu/
State/Province: UT
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: Recommended
Subject GRE Required: Physics, may be waived for MS degree—contact department for details
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 47
Students: ~50
Admission Percentage: 40% (entire program)
Nearby Research Institutions:
Funding: Guaranteed TA funding
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://gradstudies.prod.brigham-young.psdops.com/admissions/applying
Notes: BYU welcomes students of all faith. Each student that attends BYU agrees to abide by the honor code and the dress and grooming standards. These expectations can be found at the admissions URL address and prospective applicants should read these requirements when considering whether or not to apply to BYU.
Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Asteroids,
Astrobiology,
Comets,
Cosmochemistry,
Geology,
Infrared Astronomy,
Kuiper Belt Objects,
Mars,
Meteorites,
Moon,
Ocean Worlds (Titan, Enceladus, Europa),
Planetary Science,
Pluto/KBOs,
Remote Sensing,
Small Bodies,
Surfaces
URL: https://eeps.utk.edu/
State/Province: TN
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 2.7
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 18
Students: 44
Admission Percentage: 10%
Nearby Research Institutions: Oak Ridge National Lab
Funding: Almost all are admitted with guaranteed funding.
Fall Application Deadline: 01 Jan
Spring Application Deadline: 15 Oct
Admissions URL: https://eeps.utk.edu/graduate-students/apply/
Notes:
Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids,
Comets,
Dust,
Exoplanets,
Infrared Astronomy,
Instrumentation,
Meteorites,
Moon,
Optical Astronomy,
Planet Formation,
Planetary Dynamics,
Planetary Evolution,
Pluto/KBOs,
Radio Astronomy,
Remote Sensing,
Rings,
Small Bodies,
Space Plasma Physics,
Surfaces,
X-Ray Astronomy
URL: http://www.astro.umd.edu/
State/Province: MD
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: 3
General GRE Required: Optional
Subject GRE Required: Physics (optional)
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 19
Students: 37
Admission Percentage: ~5%
Nearby Research Institutions: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie Institution, US Naval Observatory, Space Telescope Science Institute
Funding: The department provides full funding (with tuition waivers) for up to six years while students maintain adequate progress toward degree completion.
Fall Application Deadline: 15 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://www.astro.umd.edu/graduate/admissions.html
Notes:
Last modified: April 2, 2025
Department: Institute for Astronomy
Display Category: USA-Canada Large
Field Studied: Asteroids,
Astrobiology,
Brown Dwarfs,
Comets,
Exoplanets,
Infrared Astronomy,
Instrumentation,
Optical Astronomy,
Pluto/KBOs,
Small Bodies
URL: https://gradprog.ifa.hawaii.edu/
State/Province: HI
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: MS, PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: Optional
Subject GRE Required: Optional
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 40
Students: 39
Admission Percentage:
Nearby Research Institutions: The Mauna Kea Observatories (IRTF, CFHT, Gemini, Keck, JCMT, Subaru, SMA, UH88, and UKIRT) are located on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Funding: Guaranteed through RAs and TAs
Fall Application Deadline: 1 Dec
Spring Application Deadline: N/A
Admissions URL: https://gradprog.ifa.hawaii.edu/how-to-apply/
Notes: 2 recommendations are mandatory, 3 are preferred
Last modified: April 3, 2025
Department: Astronomy & Planetary Science
Display Category: USA-Canada Medium
Field Studied: Asteroids,
Astrobiology,
Exoplanets,
Geochemistry,
Geology,
Instrumentation,
Planetary Evolution,
Planetary Science,
Pluto/KBOs,
Remote Sensing,
Small Bodies,
Surfaces
URL: https://nau.edu/astronomy-and-planetary-science
State/Province: AZ
Country: USA
Degrees Offered: PhD
Minimum GPA: 3.0
General GRE Required: No
Subject GRE Required: None
Recommendations: 3
Faculty: 14
Students: 27
Admission Percentage: ~10%
Nearby Research Institutions: Lowell Observatory, USGS/Astrogeology
Funding: Students typically receive full-tuition waivers, a GTA or GRA stipend, and health insurance
Fall Application Deadline: 1 Dec
Spring Application Deadline:
Admissions URL: https://nau.edu/astronomy-and-planetary-science/phd-astronomy-planetary-science/
Notes:
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
Students: 135
Admission Percentage: 10%
Nearby Research Institutions: JPL
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
