Science Advances Impact Factor: Best Guide to Metrics, Ranking 2025

Hey, fellow researchers and science enthusiasts! If you’re knee-deep in journal submissions or grant proposals, you’ve likely Googled “Science Advances impact factor” at least once.

It’s that golden number that screams “prestige” in academia, influencing everything from tenure decisions to invitations to collaborate.

I understand how confusing metrics can be, especially when they change from year to year. In this comprehensive 2025 guide, we’ll break down Science Advances impact factor in simple terms, supported by the latest Clarivate data (released in June 2025).

Whether you’re a grad student eyeing a submission or a prof comparing journals, this breakdown covers rankings, h-index, scope, and tips to boost your citation game.

Let’s dive into what makes this AAAS powerhouse a top-tier choice!

What Is the Impact Factor? A Quick Refresher

Before we zoom in on Science Advances, let’s level-set. The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is a metric from Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports (JCR), which measures the frequency with which a journal’s recent articles are cited.

The formula? Divide citations in a given year (e.g., 2024) to articles published in the previous two years (2022-2023) by the number of citable items from those years.

Why it matters:

High JIF signals influence—think easier funding or promotions. However, it’s not everything; critics, such as the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), warn against over-relying on it due to biases toward trendy fields.

2024 Global Context:

Top journals like Nature hit 64.8, but multidisciplinary ones like Science Advances thrive in the 10-15 range for broad appeal.

For Science Advances, the 2024 JIF is 14.136—a slight dip from 2023’s 13.6 but still elite, reflecting its steady climb since launch. This places it in the top quartile (Q1) for Multidisciplinary Sciences, according to Web of Science.

Science Advances Impact Factor Breakdown: 2024-2025 Insights

Science Advances (ISSN: 2375-2548) is the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) flagship open-access journal, launched in 2015 to democratize high-impact research.

It’s multidisciplinary, spanning biology, physics, earth sciences, and more—think breakthroughs like CRISPR tweaks or climate modeling.

Latest Impact Factor Details

• 2024 JIF: 14.136 (up from 13.098 in 2023; calculated as citations to 2022-2023 articles in 2024, divided by citable items).
• Trend Over Years: The upward tick? More citations in emerging fields like AI-driven biology, with 2,319 articles published in 2024 alone.
• 5-Year Impact Factor: Around 13.5 (averages citations over five years for long-term influence).
• Eigenfactor Score: 0.045 (measures journal’s networked influence; higher = more “pure” impact).
• Article Influence Score: 3.2 (average influence per article, like a “Google PageRank” for papers).

These metrics show Science Advances punches above its weight—faster peer review (median 4 weeks) and gold OA (APC ~$4,500, waivers for low-income countries) make it accessible yet prestigious.

Journal Ranking and Metrics: Where Does It Stand?

In the 2024 JCR (covering ~21,000 journals), Science Advances ranks:

• Overall: #18 in Multidisciplinary Sciences (out of 73 journals).
• Quartile: Q1 (top 25%)—elite company with Nature (Q1, IF 64.8) and PNAS (Q1, IF 11.1).
• H-Index: 284 (at least 284 papers cited 284+ times; stellar for a 10-year-old journal).
• SJR (Scimago Journal Rank): 5.5 (weights citations by prestige; Q1 in all categories).
• CiteScore: 17.2 (Scopus equivalent, emphasizing recent citations).

Geographically, it’s global, with 40% of submissions coming from North America/Europe, but rising from Asia (e.g., China at 25%). Acceptance rate is ~20-25%, with a faster turnaround time than Science (median 12 weeks). For early-career researchers in developing regions, its OA model levels the playing field.

Data Annotation Jobs.

Scope and Focus: What Gets Published?

Science Advances is AAAS’s open-access arm, extending the reach of Science. It publishes:

• Article Types: Research Articles, Reviews, Perspectives, Registered Reports (pre-registered studies to curb bias).
• Topics: All sciences—e.g., quantum computing in physics, mRNA vaccines in biomed, or exoplanet detection in astronomy. Emphasis on interdisciplinary work, like AI for climate modeling.
• Unique Edge: Flexible formats (up to 10,000 words), no page charges beyond APC, and rapid publication (median 3 months from submission).

How Impact Factor Is Calculated: Step-by-Step

Curious about the math? Here’s the transparent process:

1. Select Period: Citations in 2024 to articles from 2022-2023.
2. Count Citable Items: ~2,000 articles/reviews (excludes editorials).
3. Tally Citations: ~28,272 (per Clarivate).
4. Divide: 28,272 / 2,000 ≈ 14.136.

Self-cites? Capped at 20% to prevent inflation. For 2025 JIF (released in June 2026), expect stability or a slight rise, particularly with AI/quantum trends.

Pros and Cons: Science Advances Impact Factor

Pros

• High Visibility: OA means global reach—articles average 10,000+ views/year.
• Prestige Boost: Q1 ranking aids CVs, especially in US/EU funding cycles.
• Fast Track: Shorter review than Science (4 vs. 6 months).
• Inclusive: Waivers for 80% of low/middle-income countries.

Cons

• APC Cost: $4,500—steep without institutional support.
• Competition: 20% acceptance weeds out non-breakthrough work.
• JIF Volatility: Slight 2024 dip (from 13.6) due to citation lags in emerging fields.
• Multidisciplinary Dilution: Less specialized than Nature Neuroscience (IF 25+).

For beginners: If your work’s innovative but not earth-shattering, it’s a sweet spot between PLOS ONE (IF 3.7) and Nature (IF 64.8).

Alternatives: Similar Journals for Comparison

Science Advances edges PNAS in speed, but Nature Communications leads in citations for visibility chasers.

Tips to Maximize Your Chances: Submission Secrets

1. Target Fit: Pitch interdisciplinary angles—e.g., “AI + ecology for urban biodiversity.”
2. Pre-Submit: Use tools like Journal Suggester on Elsevier’s site.
3. Boost Citations: Share on ResearchGate; collaborate globally (Asia’s rising).
4. Track Metrics: Use Altmetric for real-time attention scores.

For geospecific purposes: EU researchers appreciate its DORA alignment; US labs utilize AAAS networks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the 2024 Impact Factor for Science Advances?

14.136, per Clarivate JCR 2025.

How does it compare to Science?

Lower (14.1 vs. 56.9), but faster and fully OA.

What’s the acceptance rate?

~20-25%; median review time 4 weeks.

Is it Q1?

Yes, top quartile in Multidisciplinary Sciences.

APC waivers?

Yes, for corresponding authors from low-income countries.

H-Index?

284—strong for its age.

2025 Prediction?

Likely 14.5-15, with AI/climate paper surges.

Wrapping Up: Why Science Advances Still Shines in 2025

With a 14.136 Impact Factor, Science Advances remains a beacon for open, impactful Science—bridging labs from Cambridge to Copenhagen. It’s not just numbers; it’s a platform amplifying diverse voices in a post-DORA world.

If your research pushes boundaries, submit today at science.org. What’s your go-to journal for breakthroughs? Share below—let’s chat citations!

Data current as of October 2025; check Clarivate for updates.