Fifth Consecutive Year with Number 64 Ranking
For the fifth consecutive year, the University of Houston’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences ranked 64 among all earth science departments in the United States. Rankings are based on an “average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding) taken from a survey of academics at peer institutions.”
This year’s rankings showed a dramatic rise in the number of departments with the same ranking. For example, EAS now shares the number 64 ranking with four other earth science departments, all with the score of 2.8/5.0 – Boston University, Lehigh University, Syracuse University and University of Virginia.
In 2016, EAS shared its long-held, number 64 ranking only with Boston University.
Because of tied rankings, the “top 25” nationally-ranked departments include 29 departments with scores ranging from number 1 with a ranking of 4.9/5.0 (California Institute of Technology) to number 25 with a ranking of 3.6/5.0 (five tied departments: Colorado School of Mines, Rice University, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Southern California, and Washington University in St. Louis).
Other Ranked Texas Universities
- University of Texas at Austin: 8 (Score: 4.2) (Rank in 2016: 8)
- Rice University: 25 (Score: 3.5) (Rank in 2016: 25)
- Texas A&M University: 35 (Score 3.4) (Rank in 2016: 32) – Dropped three places
- University of Houston: 64 (Score 2.8) (Rank in 2016: 64)
- SMU: 69 (Score: 2.7) (Rank in 2016: 69)
- Texas Tech: 88 (Score 2.5) (Rank in 2016: 88)
- University of Texas at El Paso: 102 (Score 2.5) (Rank in 2016: 88) – Dropped 14 places
- University of Texas at Dallas: 102 (Score 2.5) (Rank in 2016: 102)
- Baylor University: 106 (Score 2.3) (Rank in 2016: 106)
Complete list of all ranked departments from 1 to 117: www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/earth-sciences-rankings