<p>After looking at countless ranking, and with such errors in ranking I have taken the liberty of organizing the Best Astrophysics Institutions available to Americans. These lists are organized for both the Graduate school and Undergraduate school. Each section has its specific criteria. Please refer to this ranking when making you selection, I had to dig for information and I have posted my findings, so take advantage of it. </p>
<p>The Ivory Dozen-
These schools are ranked with the quality of the education, research, connections, and student outcome. this should be your primary guide. The quality of the program is extremely secretive to the school's ranking below-
1. California Institute of Technology.
2. Cambridge University.
3. Princeton University.
4. University of Chicago.
5. Harvard University.
6. University of California-Berkeley.
7. Ohio State University.
8. Columbia University.
9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
10. Pennsylvania State University.
11. Cornell University
12. University of Washington.</p>
<p>The Shangri-La List-
N.B- you should select a few of these as "dream schools."
If you are looking for the prestige, this is a list of the most prestigious Astrophysics degrees on the planet, if you can get your self into one of them, you are good for life. But they also represent the most selective schools.
In no particular order-<br>
Princeton University.
Harvard University.
University of Oxford.
University of Chicago.
Yale University.
Cambridge University.</p>
<p>The Rationalists List
This is a list of excellent Astronomy departments/schools with relatively lower admissions rate. Do not be fooled by this, some of these programs are traditionally ranked higher than Ivy league Astronomy/physics departments. The list is ranked in quality NOT ease of admissions-<br>
1. Pennsylvania State University.
2. Ohio State University-Main Campus.
3. University of Arizona.
4. University of Maryland (College Park).
5. University of Virginia.
6. Rutgers University.</p>
<p>The Elite 5
This are the 5 best schools over all. These schools should be on everyone's Astrophysics school lists. Listed in no particular order-<br>
California Institute of Technology.
Princeton University.
University of Chicago.
University of California-Berkeley.
Pennsylvania State University.</p>
<p>British counter parts, Oxbridge, are also considered one of the elites, they are not included due to the difficulty in gaining admissions. </p>
<p>Worthy runner ups-
Ohio State University-Main Campus.
University of Arizona.</p>
<p>What about the others-
Yes, yes what about Stanford, Duke, Rice, Penn or Brown? well they are very good schools and programs but they are not the best in ASTRONOMY! They have very good physics programs though.</p>