100 Best colleges for Microbiology 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 Microbiology. A graph of 29.4M citations received by 632K academic papers made by 523 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 Microbiology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Microbiology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Microbiology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Microbiology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Microbiology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Microbiology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Microbiology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

8. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Microbiology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

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

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Microbiology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

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

10. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Microbiology

#10 in North America

#10 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#13 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Microbiology

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

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

13. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Microbiology

#15 in North America

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Microbiology

#16 in North America

#17 in the World

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

15. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Microbiology

#17 in North America

#18 in the World

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

16. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Microbiology

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Microbiology

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Microbiology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Microbiology

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

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

20. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#22 in North America

#29 in the World

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

21. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Microbiology

#23 in North America

#30 in the World

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

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Microbiology

#24 in North America

#31 in the World

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

23. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Microbiology

#25 in North America

#34 in the World

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

24. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Microbiology

#26 in North America

#35 in the World

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

25. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Microbiology

#27 in North America

#36 in the World

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

26. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Microbiology

#28 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

27. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Microbiology

#29 in North America

#41 in the World

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

28. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Microbiology

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

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

29. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Microbiology

#31 in North America

#45 in the World

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

30. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Microbiology

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

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

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Microbiology

#34 in North America

#48 in the World

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

32. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#37 in North America

#53 in the World

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

33. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Microbiology

#38 in North America

#57 in the World

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

34. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Microbiology

#39 in North America

#62 in the World

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

35. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Microbiology

#40 in North America

#65 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Microbiology

#41 in North America

#70 in the World

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

37. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Microbiology

#42 in North America

#73 in the World

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

38. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Microbiology

#44 in North America

#75 in the World

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

39. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Microbiology

#45 in North America

#78 in the World

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

40. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Microbiology

#46 in North America

#79 in the World

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

41. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Microbiology

#47 in North America

#81 in the World

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

42. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Microbiology

#49 in North America

#85 in the World

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

43. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#50 in North America

#86 in the World

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

44. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#51 in North America

#88 in the World

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

45. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Microbiology

#52 in North America

#93 in the World

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

46. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Microbiology

#53 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Microbiology

#54 in North America

#97 in the World

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

48. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Microbiology

#55 in North America

#98 in the World

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

49. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#56 in North America

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

50. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Microbiology

#57 in North America

#102 in the World

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

51. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Microbiology

#59 in North America

#106 in the World

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

52. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Microbiology

#60 in North America

#107 in the World

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

53. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Microbiology

#61 in North America

#108 in the World

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

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Microbiology

#62 in North America

#112 in the World

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

55. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Microbiology

#63 in North America

#116 in the World

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

56. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#64 in North America

#123 in the World

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

57. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Microbiology

#65 in North America

#124 in the World

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

58. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Microbiology

#66 in North America

#127 in the World

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

59. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Microbiology

#69 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

60. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Microbiology

#70 in North America

#146 in the World

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

61. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Microbiology

#71 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

62. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Microbiology

#72 in North America

#150 in the World

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

63. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Microbiology

#73 in North America

#156 in the World

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

64. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Microbiology

#74 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

65. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Microbiology

#75 in North America

#158 in the World

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

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Microbiology

#76 in North America

#162 in the World

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

67. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Microbiology

#77 in North America

#163 in the World

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

68. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#78 in North America

#167 in the World

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

69. University of Texas at Austin

For Microbiology

#79 in North America

#169 in the World

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

70. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Microbiology

#80 in North America

#170 in the World

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

71. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Microbiology

#81 in North America

#174 in the World

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

72. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Microbiology

#82 in North America

#179 in the World

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

73. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Microbiology

#83 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

74. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Microbiology

#84 in North America

#191 in the World

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

75. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Microbiology

#85 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

76. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Microbiology

#86 in North America

#207 in the World

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

77. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Microbiology

#87 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

78. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Microbiology

#88 in North America

#211 in the World

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

79. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#89 in North America

#212 in the World

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

80. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Microbiology

#90 in North America

#216 in the World

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

81. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Microbiology

#92 in North America

#223 in the World

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

82. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Microbiology

#93 in North America

#229 in the World

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

83. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Microbiology

#94 in North America

#232 in the World

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

84. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Microbiology

#95 in North America

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 3,563
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1900

85. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Microbiology

#96 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

86. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Microbiology

#97 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

87. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Microbiology

#98 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

88. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Microbiology

#99 in North America

#246 in the World

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

89. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Microbiology

#100 in North America

#247 in the World

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

90. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Microbiology

#102 in North America

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1972

91. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Microbiology

#103 in North America

#268 in the World

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

92. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Microbiology

#104 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

93. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Microbiology

#105 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

94. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Microbiology

#106 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,117
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1824

95. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Microbiology

#107 in North America

#285 in the World

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

96. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Microbiology

#108 in North America

#287 in the World

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

97. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Microbiology

#109 in North America

#290 in the World

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

98. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Microbiology

#110 in North America

#294 in the World

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

99. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Microbiology

#111 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 81%

100. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Microbiology

#112 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

The best cities to study Microbiology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Seattle, Ithaca, and Baltimore.