Journal profile · Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
American Journal of Science
ISSN 0002-9599 · eISSN 1945-452X · Yale University · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1818
American Journal of Science: CAS Zone 4 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.32; hybrid open access; APC about USD 100; review over 12 weeks (community reports); community-reported acceptance: moderate; 19 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
American Journal of Science is published by Yale University and is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Geological and Geochemical Analysis, Geology and Paleoclimatology Research and Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping, together about 34% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The American Journal of Science is devoted to geology and related sciences and publishes articles from around the world presenting significant advances across the Earth sciences. Research published in AJS spans geochemistry, geochronology, geodynamics, geomorphology, basin analysis, Earth history, petrology, tectonics, thermochronology, and related fields. AJS serves an international readership of researchers, educators, and scientists working in academia, government institutions, and research organizations. Diamond Open Access AJS operates under a Diamond Open Access publication model. Most articles are published without publication charges within standard publication limits. Publication charges apply only to articles that exceed the journal's standard publication unit (PU) limits.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named Hong Kong, China 1, Denmark 1, Mexico 1 (3 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Geological and Geochemical AnalysisEarth and Planetary Sciences12.3%
- Geology and Paleoclimatology ResearchEarth and Planetary Sciences12.1%
- Geochemistry and Geologic MappingComputer Science9.6%
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsEarth and Planetary Sciences6.5%
- Geological Studies and ExplorationEarth and Planetary Sciences5.8%
- Mineralogy and Gemology StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences5.4%
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy StudiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.6%
- Geological formations and processesEarth and Planetary Sciences4.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.32LetPub ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.6LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.44LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.39LetPub ·
- h-index
- 97LetPub ·
- h-index
- 240OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 4,000OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.06OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 0%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 92.86%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 11LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 12,131 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 13 | 7 |
| 2025 | 19 | 19 | 37 |
| 2024 | 17 | 17 | 106 |
| 2023 | 12 | 12 | 118 |
| 2022 | 35 | 14 | 350 |
| 2021 | 42 | 5 | 585 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
- Average review time (community reports)
- over 12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- ModerateLetPub ·
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher website | USD 100 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 300 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 3
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 15,000 words
- Reference style
- APA
- Suggested reviewers
- Required
Article types accepted7
- commentA short critical assessment of a recent AJS publication.Length not stated
- errataCorrections to an AJS publication, as provided by the authors of that publication.Length not stated
- replyThe authors’ reply to a Comment about their AJS publication.Length not stated
- science noteA short contribution about a topic of broad interest. It may focus on new data, a new hypothesis or interpretation, or an opinion or perspective.Length not stated
- science paperA primary contribution presenting original research with full documentation of relevant research questions, background literature, methods, results, and conclus…Length not stated
- science reviewA secondary contribution focused on the assessment, integration, and synthesis of previously published work.Length not stated
- technical reportA publication describing methods with significant utility for scientific research, such as a laboratory procedure, computer program, or database.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAuthorship, Open access, Peer review
- Authorship Authorship
At AJS, the lead author is generally the person who has performed most of the work and taken the lead in writing the paper. Coauthors are those who have made significant scientific contributions and are generally listed in descending order of contribution. The paper must include an accurate statement describing the contribution of each listed author. All coauthors must agree to the submission. Upo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Diamond Open Access
Diamond Open Access publication model Model summary
AJS operates under a Diamond Open Access publication model. Most articles are published without publication charges within standard publication limits. Publication charges apply only to articles that exceed the journal's standard publication unit (PU) limits.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Peer-reviewed research Model summary
AJS publishes peer-reviewed research on the structure, composition, and evolution of the Earth, and the physical, chemical, and biological processes that shape our planet.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Yale University
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1818
- ISSN
- 0002-9599
- Electronic ISSN
- 1945-452X
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about American Journal of Science
What CAS zone is American Journal of Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, American Journal of Science is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Geosciences, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of American Journal of Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.32; CiteScore 5.6, h-index 240.
How long does peer review take at American Journal of Science?
Authors report an average review time of over 12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Moderate”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of American Journal of Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 300 words; Keywords: ≥ 3; Manuscript length: ≤ 15,000 words; Reference style: APA; Suggested reviewers: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of American Journal of Science based?
Of the 3 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Hong Kong, China (1), Denmark (1) and Mexico (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index American Journal of Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, American Journal of Science is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is American Journal of Science open access, and what is the APC?
American Journal of Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 100.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .