100 Best colleges for Microbiology 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 Microbiology. A graph of 30.8M citations received by 651K academic papers made by 531 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Microbiology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Microbiology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Microbiology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Microbiology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Microbiology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
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: $25,078

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: $22,408

9. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Microbiology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

10. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Microbiology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

12. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Microbiology

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

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

13. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Microbiology

#15 in North America

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Microbiology

#16 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

15. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Microbiology

#17 in North America

#18 in the World

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

16. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Microbiology

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Microbiology

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Microbiology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Microbiology

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

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

20. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#22 in North America

#30 in the World

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

21. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Microbiology

#23 in North America

#31 in the World

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

22. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Microbiology

#24 in North America

#33 in the World

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

23. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Microbiology

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

24. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Microbiology

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

25. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Microbiology

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

26. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Microbiology

#28 in North America

#38 in the World

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

27. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Microbiology

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

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

28. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Microbiology

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

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

29. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Microbiology

#31 in North America

#45 in the World

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

30. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Microbiology

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

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

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Microbiology

#34 in North America

#48 in the World

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

32. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Microbiology

#37 in North America

#58 in the World

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

33. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#38 in North America

#59 in the World

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

34. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Microbiology

#39 in North America

#66 in the World

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

35. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Microbiology

#40 in North America

#69 in the World

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

36. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Microbiology

#41 in North America

#72 in the World

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

37. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Microbiology

#43 in North America

#75 in the World

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

38. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Microbiology

#44 in North America

#77 in the World

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

39. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Microbiology

#45 in North America

#78 in the World

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

40. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Microbiology

#46 in North America

#82 in the World

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

41. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Microbiology

#47 in North America

#83 in the World

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

42. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Microbiology

#49 in North America

#87 in the World

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

43. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#50 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

44. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#51 in North America

#94 in the World

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

45. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Microbiology

#52 in North America

#95 in the World

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

46. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Microbiology

#53 in North America

#96 in the World

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

47. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Microbiology

#55 in North America

#98 in the World

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

48. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Microbiology

#56 in North America

#99 in the World

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

49. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#57 in North America

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

50. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Microbiology

#58 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

51. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Microbiology

#59 in North America

#106 in the World

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

52. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Microbiology

#60 in North America

#107 in the World

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

53. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Microbiology

#61 in North America

#109 in the World

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

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Microbiology

#62 in North America

#111 in the World

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

55. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Microbiology

#63 in North America

#119 in the World

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

56. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Microbiology

#64 in North America

#126 in the World

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

57. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Microbiology

#65 in North America

#127 in the World

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

58. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#66 in North America

#128 in the World

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

59. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Microbiology

#69 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

60. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Microbiology

#70 in North America

#149 in the World

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

61. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Microbiology

#71 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

62. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Microbiology

#72 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Microbiology

#73 in North America

#158 in the World

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

64. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Microbiology

#74 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

65. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Microbiology

#75 in North America

#161 in the World

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

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Microbiology

#76 in North America

#162 in the World

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

67. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#77 in North America

#168 in the World

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

68. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Microbiology

#78 in North America

#170 in the World

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

69. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Microbiology

#79 in North America

#171 in the World

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

70. University of Texas at Austin

For Microbiology

#80 in North America

#174 in the World

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

71. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Microbiology

#81 in North America

#178 in the World

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

72. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Microbiology

#82 in North America

#182 in the World

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

73. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Microbiology

#83 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

74. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Microbiology

#84 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

75. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Microbiology

#85 in North America

#206 in the World

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

76. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Microbiology

#86 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

77. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Microbiology

#87 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

78. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#88 in North America

#214 in the World

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

79. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Microbiology

#89 in North America

#217 in the World

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

80. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Microbiology

#90 in North America

#221 in the World

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

81. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Microbiology

#92 in North America

#229 in the World

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

82. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Microbiology

#93 in North America

#230 in the World

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

83. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Microbiology

#94 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

84. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Microbiology

#95 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

85. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Microbiology

#96 in North America

#240 in the World

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

86. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Microbiology

#97 in North America

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 3,680
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1900

87. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Microbiology

#98 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

88. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Microbiology

#99 in North America

#251 in the World

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

89. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Microbiology

#100 in North America

#253 in the World

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

90. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Microbiology

#101 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

91. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Microbiology

#103 in North America

#273 in the World

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

92. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Microbiology

#104 in North America

#278 in the World

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

93. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Microbiology

#105 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

94. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Microbiology

#106 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

95. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Microbiology

#107 in North America

#293 in the World

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

96. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Microbiology

#108 in North America

#295 in the World

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

97. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Microbiology

#109 in North America

#298 in the World

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

98. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Microbiology

#110 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 85%

99. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Microbiology

#111 in North America

#306 in the World

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

100. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Microbiology

#112 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

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.