100 Best colleges for Biophysics in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Biophysics. A graph of 23.4M citations received by 435K academic papers made by 377 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Biophysics

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biophysics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Biophysics

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

4. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Biophysics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

5. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biophysics

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

6. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Biophysics

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

7. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Biophysics

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

8. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Biophysics

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Biophysics

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Biophysics

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Biophysics

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Biophysics

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

13. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Biophysics

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Biophysics

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

16. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Biophysics

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Biophysics

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

18. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biophysics

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Biophysics

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

20. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Biophysics

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

21. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Biophysics

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

22. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Biophysics

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

23. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Biophysics

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

24. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Biophysics

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

25. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Biophysics

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

26. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Biophysics

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

27. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Biophysics

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

28. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Biophysics

#29 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

29. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biophysics

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Biophysics

#31 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

31. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Biophysics

#32 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

32. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#33 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 286
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1901

33. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biophysics

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

34. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#35 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

35. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Biophysics

#37 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Biophysics

#38 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

37. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Biophysics

#40 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

38. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Biophysics

#41 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

39. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Biophysics

#42 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

40. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biophysics

#43 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Biophysics

#44 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

42. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biophysics

#45 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

43. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Biophysics

#46 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

44. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Biophysics

#48 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

45. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Biophysics

#49 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

46. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Biophysics

#51 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

47. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Biophysics

#52 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

48. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Biophysics

#53 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

49. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Biophysics

#54 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

50. University of Texas at Austin

For Biophysics

#55 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

51. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Biophysics

#56 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

52. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Biophysics

#57 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,394
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1962

53. Brandeis University

Massachusetts | Waltham

For Biophysics

#58 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,668

54. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Biophysics

#59 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

55. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Biophysics

#60 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

56. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Biophysics

#61 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

57. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Biophysics

#62 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 100%

58. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Biophysics

#63 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

59. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Biophysics

#64 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

60. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Biophysics

#65 in North America

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

61. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Biophysics

#66 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

62. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biophysics

#67 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

63. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Biophysics

#68 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

64. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Biophysics

#69 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

65. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Biophysics

#70 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

66. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Biophysics

#71 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

67. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Biophysics

#72 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

68. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Biophysics

#74 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

69. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Biophysics

#75 in North America

#133 in the World

Enrollment: 1,661
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1893

70. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Biophysics

#76 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,315
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

71. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#77 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

72. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Biophysics

#78 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Biophysics

#79 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Biophysics

#80 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Biophysics

#82 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Biophysics

#83 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

77. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biophysics

#84 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

78. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Biophysics

#85 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

79. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Biophysics

#86 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

80. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Biophysics

#87 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

81. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biophysics

#89 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

82. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Biophysics

#90 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

83. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Biophysics

#91 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

84. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Biophysics

#92 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,640
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

85. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biophysics

#93 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

86. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biophysics

#94 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

87. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Biophysics

#95 in North America

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

88. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Biophysics

#97 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

89. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Biophysics

#98 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

90. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Biophysics

#99 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

91. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Biophysics

#100 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

92. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Biophysics

#101 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

93. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Biophysics

#102 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

94. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Biophysics

#103 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Biophysics

#104 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

96. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biophysics

#106 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,592

97. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Biophysics

#107 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,121
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

98. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Biophysics

#108 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

99. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Biophysics

#109 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

100. University of Nevada - Reno

For Biophysics

#110 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $6,658
Enrollment: 21,778

The best cities to study Biophysics in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Philadelphia, Stanford, and New Haven.