Science Advances Impact Factor 2025: JIF, Timeline, and Strategy
Targeting Science Advances?
See scope, acceptance rate, submission tips, and what editors actually want.
Science Advances has a Journal Impact Factor of 12.5 in JCR 2024. That's the figure referenced as "Science Advances impact factor 2025," since JCR 2024 data is released in mid-2025 and remains current through 2026.
Quick Numbers
Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Impact Factor (JCR 2024) | 12.5 |
Publisher | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) |
Open access | Fully open access |
APC | ~$5,200 |
Acceptance rate | ~16% |
Time to first decision | ~6-10 weeks |
What 12.5 Means in Context
Science Advances sits between the megajournals and the elite flagships. It's selective (16% acceptance) and broad-scope, functioning as a companion to Science (IF 45.8) for strong work that doesn't quite reach Science's threshold.
Journal | IF | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
45.8 | Flagship, requires breakthrough-level work | |
15.7 | Nature family, slightly higher IF | |
Science Advances | 12.5 | AAAS family, open access, broad scope |
9.1 | Broad scope, multiple submission tracks | |
No JIF | Open review, life sciences focus |
The natural comparison is with Nature Communications. Both are broad-scope, open-access, and publish significant-but-not-groundbreaking work. Nature Communications has the higher IF; Science Advances has the AAAS pedigree and slightly lower APC.
IF Trend Over Time
- 2020: 14.1
- 2021: 14.9
- 2022: 13.6
- 2023: 11.7
- 2024: 12.5
The IF dipped in 2023 but recovered. Science Advances has been remarkably consistent in the 12-15 range since its launch in 2015.
Science Advances vs Nature Communications
This is the most common comparison researchers make:
Science Advances | Nature Communications | |
|---|---|---|
IF | 12.5 | 15.7 |
APC | ~$5,200 | ~$6,290 |
Publisher | AAAS | Springer Nature |
Acceptance rate | ~16% | ~25% |
Review time | Slower (6-10 weeks) | Moderate (4-8 weeks) |
Strengths | Physics, earth science, engineering | Biology, chemistry, materials |
If your work is in physical sciences or engineering, Science Advances may give better visibility. For biology and chemistry, Nature Communications typically has stronger readership in those fields.
Who Should Target Science Advances
Good fit:
- Strong multidisciplinary research that narrowly missed Science
- Physics, earth science, and engineering papers needing broad visibility
- Open-access mandated work at a lower APC than Nature Communications
- Papers with Science family editorial alignment (rigorous, concise, broad-appeal)
Better options elsewhere:
- If your work is biology-heavy, Nature Communications may give more field-specific visibility
- If your work is narrowly specialist, a focused high-IF journal in your subfield may be more impactful
- If budget is tight, PNAS (no APC for some tracks) or eLife may be alternatives
Submission Tips
- Science Advances uses the same editorial style as Science — concise, significance-forward writing
- Presubmission inquiries are accepted and useful for borderline-scope papers
- Review is thorough but can be slow (6-10 weeks). Plan timeline accordingly
- If rejected from Science, editor may suggest transfer to Science Advances — accept unless there's a strategic reason not to
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