100 Best colleges for Microbiology in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 23.4M citations received by 565K academic papers made by 484 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: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Microbiology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

3. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Microbiology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

4. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Microbiology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

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: 74%

6. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Microbiology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

7. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Microbiology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

8. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Microbiology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

9. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Microbiology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

10. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Microbiology

#12 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
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: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Microbiology

#14 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

13. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Microbiology

#15 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

14. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Microbiology

#16 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
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: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

16. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Microbiology

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

17. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Microbiology

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

18. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Microbiology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

19. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Microbiology

#21 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

20. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#22 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

21. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Microbiology

#23 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

22. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Microbiology

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

23. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Microbiology

#25 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

24. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Microbiology

#26 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

25. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Microbiology

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Microbiology

#28 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

27. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Microbiology

#29 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

28. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Microbiology

#30 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

29. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Microbiology

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

30. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Microbiology

#32 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Microbiology

#35 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

32. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#37 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

33. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Microbiology

#38 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

34. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Microbiology

#39 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

35. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Microbiology

#40 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

36. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Microbiology

#41 in North America

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

37. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Microbiology

#42 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,518
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

38. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Microbiology

#43 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

39. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Microbiology

#46 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

40. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#47 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

41. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#48 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1901

42. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Microbiology

#49 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

43. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Microbiology

#50 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

44. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Microbiology

#51 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

45. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Microbiology

#52 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

46. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Microbiology

#53 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

47. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#54 in North America

#93 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

48. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Microbiology

#55 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

49. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Microbiology

#56 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

50. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Microbiology

#57 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

51. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Microbiology

#58 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

52. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Microbiology

#59 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

53. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Microbiology

#60 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

54. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Microbiology

#62 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

55. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Microbiology

#63 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

56. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Microbiology

#64 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

57. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Microbiology

#67 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

58. Montana State University

Montana | Bozeman

For Microbiology

#68 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

59. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Microbiology

#69 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

60. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Microbiology

#70 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

61. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#71 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

62. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Microbiology

#72 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

63. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Microbiology

#73 in North America

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

64. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Microbiology

#74 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

65. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Microbiology

#75 in North America

#153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

66. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Microbiology

#76 in North America

#155 in the World

Enrollment: 5,354
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1972

67. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Microbiology

#77 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

68. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Microbiology

#78 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

69. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Microbiology

#79 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

70. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Microbiology

#80 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,361
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

71. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Microbiology

#81 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

72. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Microbiology

#82 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

73. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Microbiology

#83 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

74. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Microbiology

#84 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

75. University of Texas at Austin

For Microbiology

#85 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

76. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Microbiology

#86 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

77. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Microbiology

#87 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

78. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Microbiology

#88 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,352
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

79. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Microbiology

#89 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

80. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Microbiology

#91 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

81. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Microbiology

#92 in North America

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 1,615
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

82. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Microbiology

#93 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,660
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1869

83. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Microbiology

#94 in North America

#228 in the World

Enrollment: 3,389
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1900

84. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Microbiology

#95 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

85. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Microbiology

#96 in North America

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

86. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Microbiology

#97 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

87. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Microbiology

#98 in North America

#243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

88. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Microbiology

#99 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,139
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1911

89. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Microbiology

#100 in North America

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

90. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Microbiology

#101 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

91. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Microbiology

#102 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,263

92. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Microbiology

#103 in North America

#263 in the World

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

93. Auburn University

Alabama | Auburn

For Microbiology

#104 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 79%

94. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Microbiology

#105 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

95. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Microbiology

#106 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,360

96. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Microbiology

#107 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Microbiology

#108 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

98. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Microbiology

#109 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

99. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Microbiology

#110 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

100. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Microbiology

#112 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

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.