Penn State ranks No. 20 in space science in US News 2026-27 'Global Universities'

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From discovering planets beyond our solar system and analyzing samples returned from asteroids, to understanding the large-scale structure and evolution of the cosmos, Penn State researchers are helping to address fundamental questions about the universe — How did life begin? What is humanity’s future in space? What are the origins and fate of the universe? — while also leading some of today’s key advancements in space-related innovation and instrumentation.

“Penn State’s strength in space science comes from the depth of our long-standing scientific leadership and the breadth of disciplines we unite to tackle complex questions,” said Tracy Langkilde, Verne M. Willaman Dean of the Eberly College of Science. “Our space science story is one of quiet power — rooted in interdisciplinary excellence and a relentless drive to explore.”

For the second year in a row, Penn State ranks No. 20 in the world (No. 13 nationally) for space science research, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 “Best Global Universities,” released on July 16, with additional top-100 world rankings in related research areas.

In addition to Penn State’s research strength in astronomy, geosciences (ranked No. 31), physics (No. 40), materials science (No. 41), meteorology and atmospheric sciences (No. 65), engineering (No. 93), and other fields converge at the University to create a highly collaborative environment for space science. In separate U.S. News rankings, Penn State comes in at No. 9 in the U.S. for gravitation/cosmology/astrophysics (“Best Graduate Schools”), and No. 13 in the U.S. for aerospace engineering in both undergraduate (“Best Colleges”) and graduate programs (“Best Graduate Schools").

An integrated approach

This integrated approach spans fundamental research, advanced instrumentation, student education, and national leadership in space exploration, according to Lee Kump, the John Leone Dean in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

“Space science at Penn State takes a systems approach,” Kump said. “Through collaboration among astronomers, astrophysicists and geoscientists, we strive to answer the question, ‘What makes a habitable world?’ using investigations of Earth’s past and the search for unambiguous signatures of life on other planets.”

That approach helps position Penn State to make meaningful contributions by expanding the boundaries of human knowledge for tomorrow and making visible, applied impact today, while also preparing students for leadership in a rapidly evolving space economy, Langkilde added.

According to NASA, space science activities in Pennsylvania supported 1,749 jobs and generated $409 million in economic output in fiscal year 2023, with Penn State at the heart of this ecosystem.

Later this month, alongside industry partners Katalyst Space and Northrop Grumman, Penn State will be an integral partner for a high-profile mission to boost NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, for which the Eberly College runs mission operations.

In a Q&A, Donald Schneider, distinguished professor and, as of July 1, interim head of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Christopher House, professor of geosciences and director of the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium and of the Penn State Consortium for Planetary and Exoplanetary Science and Technology (CPEST), discuss what distinguishes Penn State’s space science programs and how their work contributes to scientific discovery and societal impact.

Q: What makes Penn State’s space science program unique?

Schneider: Penn State’s distinguishing feature is the wide-ranging, strong expertise across multiple areas of science housed in different colleges and departments. The Eberly College of Science maintains strong programs in instrumentation, exoplanets, astrobiology, high-energy astrophysics, observational cosmology, and astrostatistics, each of which is internationally recognized.

Equally important is the degree of integration across disciplines as well as the University’s infrastructure of core facilities and institutes, such as the Materials Research Institute (MRI) and Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS). The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics operates in close collaboration with other college departments — physics, chemistry, statistics — as well as programs across the University, such as aerospace engineering, geosciences, meteorology, and other fields, creating opportunities for discovery at the intersections of fields.

Instrumentation has been particularly important historically across Penn State and continues to be a defining strength. Penn State researchers have designed and built instruments for major telescopes and space missions such as the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, Neil Gherels Swift Observatory, Hobby-Eberly Telescope, NEID spectrometer, BlackCAT satellite and the Dragonfly rotorcraft and continue to develop technologies — both space-based and ground-based — that enable new observations.

House: A second central strength lies in the study of habitable worlds, which spans disciplines from astronomy to geosciences and chemistry to engineering. Astronomers identify exoplanets and characterize their atmospheres, while geoscientists investigate how environments support life, how biological signatures are preserved, and how planets evolve over time. Forward-thinking engineers and architects are also exploring new materials for spacecraft and how to construct habitats in space or on the moon.

This coordinated approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding planetary habitability, linking observations of distant worlds to insights derived from Earth and the solar system.

Q: What are key areas of space research strength at Penn State?

Schneider: As Chris mentioned, Penn State maintains a strong exoplanet research program supported by the Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds. The University is also home to a unique formal academic program on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), providing a foundation for research and education in this emerging field.

Additional strengths include high-energy astrophysics, observational cosmology — the study of the origin and evolution of the universe — and large-scale survey science. Penn State researchers have played significant roles in major observational initiatives and data-driven approaches, including the development of astrostatistics as a discipline.

House: Within geosciences, longstanding strengths include astrobiology, particularly the study of subsurface microbial worlds, ancient microfossils, geochemical tracers of life and the co-evolution of life and Earth’s environment.

Penn State researchers are also directly involved in multiple NASA missions. For example, faculty recently contributed to the analysis of samples from the asteroid Bennu, expanding understanding of organic compounds beyond Earth.

These efforts integrate laboratory research, field studies and space mission data.

Q: How does interdisciplinary collaboration shape research?

House: The connection between exoplanet science and geosciences illustrates this integration. Observations of distant planets must be interpreted in the context of atmospheric chemistry, geological processes and the requirements for life.

Engineering advances are also essential, particularly to enable space missions. Penn State has contributed to projects such as NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Titan and ongoing efforts related to lunar and deep-space exploration.

These partnerships bridge fundamental science and practical exploration. In fact, Penn State has been involved in 12 past, current or future NASA missions, and more, if you include our alumni.

Schneider: I agree, and interdisciplinary collaboration is embedded in the structure of research at Penn State. Faculty often hold joint or courtesy appointments in multiple departments, and research programs regularly span department and college boundaries.

Examples include work on gravitational waves, which connects physics and astronomy, as well as planetary science efforts that integrate astronomy, geosciences, meteorology and engineering. These collaborations enable scientific questions to be addressed more comprehensively than within a single discipline alone.

Penn State also has an environment that is not a zero-sum game. For example, we view a geoscience win as a win for astronomy; an astronomy win is a win for aerospace engineering; etc. If one department hires a great researcher, that's someone whom we all might collaborate with in the future. It’s a strength, and I give credit to the University’s leadership, especially the college deans, who built this environment.

Q: What is the impact of this work?

House: A primary impact is the training of the next generation of scientists and engineers. Students engage in research early in their academic careers, including laboratory work and participation in engineering groups that design and build hardware. These experiences prepare students for careers at NASA, in aerospace, engineering and related industries, as well as for advanced study.

Penn State graduates occupy positions across NASA, industry and academia, including leadership roles. Alumni participation in major missions further illustrates this influence.

As an example, there are eight Penn State alumni (three with bachelor’s degrees and five with doctoral degrees) serving as members of science teams for active Mars rover missions, and three Penn Staters (including alumni and faculty) serving or having served as NASA astronauts. A few space science alumni in leadership roles include Shawn Goldman, Astrophysics Division director at NASA HQ; Jane Rigby, the senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope; and Arpita Roy, director of astrophysics and space at Schmidt Sciences.

Penn State also leads the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium (PSGC), one of 52 members of the National NASA Space Grant Program, with the goal of expanding opportunities for Pennsylvanians to learn about and participate in NASA’s aeronautics and space programs by supporting STEM education, research and outreach programs.

Overall, Penn State certainly has a sustained contribution to the space workforce representing a long-term institutional impact.

Schneider: Technological advances developed for astronomy often extend beyond their original purpose. Imaging detectors and related instrumentation have found applications in a wide range of technologies.

The educational impact is equally significant. Space science frequently plays an early role in inspiring interest in science and engineering, while also contributing to the development of a technologically skilled workforce. The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving skills, particularly the ability to address complex and open-ended questions. Students learn to identify relevant information, evaluate uncertainty, and develop solutions to problems that are not fully specified — skills that are broadly applicable across careers.

Space science also provides a framework for non-scientists to understand scientific evidence and reasoning, which is essential for informed decision-making in society. Penn State teaches more undergraduate astronomy credit hours than any other U.S. university, and our general education courses reach a large proportion of students pursuing non-STEM majors, providing critical exposure to scientific reasoning and evidence-based thinking, a vital contribution to increasing broader scientific literacy.