100 Best colleges for Biophysics in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 24M citations received by 441K academic papers made by 379 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biophysics

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

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: $25,078

4. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Biophysics

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

5. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biophysics

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

6. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Biophysics

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

7. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Biophysics

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

8. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Biophysics

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

9. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Biophysics

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

10. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Biophysics

#10 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
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: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Biophysics

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

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: $22,408

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Biophysics

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

16. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Biophysics

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

17. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Biophysics

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

18. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biophysics

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

19. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Biophysics

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

20. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Biophysics

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

21. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Biophysics

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

22. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Biophysics

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

23. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Biophysics

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

24. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Biophysics

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

25. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Biophysics

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

26. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Biophysics

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

27. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Biophysics

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

28. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Biophysics

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

29. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biophysics

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Biophysics

#31 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
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: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

32. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#33 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 281
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1901

33. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biophysics

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
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: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

35. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Biophysics

#37 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Biophysics

#38 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

37. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Biophysics

#40 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
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: $25,186

39. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biophysics

#42 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

40. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Biophysics

#43 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

41. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Biophysics

#44 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

42. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Biophysics

#45 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

43. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biophysics

#46 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

44. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Biophysics

#48 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

45. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Biophysics

#49 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

46. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Biophysics

#50 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

47. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Biophysics

#52 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

48. University of Texas at Austin

For Biophysics

#53 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

49. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Biophysics

#54 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

50. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Biophysics

#55 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

51. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Biophysics

#56 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

52. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Biophysics

#57 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

53. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Biophysics

#58 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

54. Brandeis University

Massachusetts | Waltham

For Biophysics

#59 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

55. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Biophysics

#60 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

56. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Biophysics

#61 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

57. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Biophysics

#62 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

58. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Biophysics

#63 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

59. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Biophysics

#64 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

60. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Biophysics

#65 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

61. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biophysics

#66 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

62. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Biophysics

#67 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

63. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Biophysics

#68 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

64. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Biophysics

#69 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

65. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Biophysics

#70 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

66. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Biophysics

#71 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

67. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Biophysics

#72 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

68. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Biophysics

#73 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

69. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Biophysics

#75 in North America

#135 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

70. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Biophysics

#76 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

71. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Biophysics

#77 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

72. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Biophysics

#78 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Biophysics

#79 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Biophysics

#80 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

75. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Biophysics

#82 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
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: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

77. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biophysics

#84 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

78. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Biophysics

#85 in North America

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

79. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Biophysics

#86 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

80. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Biophysics

#87 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

81. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Biophysics

#89 in North America

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

82. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Biophysics

#90 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biophysics

#91 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

84. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biophysics

#92 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

85. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Biophysics

#93 in North America

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

86. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biophysics

#94 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

87. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Biophysics

#95 in North America

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

88. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Biophysics

#97 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

89. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Biophysics

#98 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

90. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Biophysics

#99 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Biophysics

#100 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Biophysics

#101 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

93. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Biophysics

#102 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Biophysics

#103 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

95. Loyola University Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biophysics

#104 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,147

96. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Biophysics

#105 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

97. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Biophysics

#107 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

98. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Biophysics

#108 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,101
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

99. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Biophysics

#109 in North America

#226 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

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 95%

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.