Best Universities for Biology in North America

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 612M citations received by 16M academic papers made by 1,668 universities in North America 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

United States | Massachusetts

For Biology

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Biology

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Biology

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Biology

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Biology

#5 in the United States

#5 in the World

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

6. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Biology

#1 in Canada

#6 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

7. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Biology

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

8. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Biology

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

9. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Biology

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

10. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Biology

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Biology

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

12. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Biology

#11 in the United States

#15 in the World

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

13. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Biology

#12 in the United States

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Biology

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Biology

#14 in the United States

#19 in the World

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

16. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Biology

#15 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Biology

#16 in the United States

#22 in the World

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

18. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Biology

#17 in the United States

#23 in the World

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

19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Biology

#18 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

20. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Biology

#19 in the United States

#25 in the World

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

21. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Biology

#20 in the United States

#26 in the World

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

22. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Biology

#21 in the United States

#27 in the World

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

23. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Biology

#2 in Canada

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

24. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Biology

#22 in the United States

#29 in the World

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

25. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Biology

#23 in the United States

#32 in the World

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

26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Biology

#24 in the United States

#33 in the World

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

27. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Biology

#25 in the United States

#34 in the World

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

28. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Biology

#3 in Canada

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

29. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Biology

#26 in the United States

#37 in the World

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

30. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Biology

#27 in the United States

#39 in the World

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

31. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Biology

#28 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

32. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Biology

#29 in the United States

#41 in the World

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

33. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Biology

#30 in the United States

#42 in the World

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

34. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Biology

#31 in the United States

#44 in the World

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

35. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Biology

#32 in the United States

#45 in the World

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

36. New York University

United States | New York State

For Biology

#33 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

37. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Biology

#4 in Canada

#54 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

38. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Biology

#34 in the United States

#56 in the World

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

39. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Biology

#35 in the United States

#58 in the World

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

40. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Biology

#36 in the United States

#59 in the World

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

41. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Biology

#37 in the United States

#61 in the World

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

42. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Biology

#38 in the United States

#62 in the World

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

43. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Biology

#39 in the United States

#65 in the World

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

44. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Biology

#40 in the United States

#67 in the World

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

45. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Biology

#41 in the United States

#71 in the World

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

46. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Biology

#42 in the United States

#72 in the World

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

47. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Biology

#43 in the United States

#74 in the World

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

48. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Biology

#44 in the United States

#76 in the World

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

49. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Biology

#45 in the United States

#82 in the World

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

50. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Biology

#46 in the United States

#83 in the World

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

51. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Biology

#47 in the United States

#88 in the World

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

52. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Biology

#48 in the United States

#89 in the World

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

53. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Biology

#49 in the United States

#91 in the World

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

54. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Biology

#50 in the United States

#96 in the World

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

55. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Biology

#51 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

56. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Biology

#52 in the United States

#99 in the World

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

57. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Biology

#53 in the United States

#101 in the World

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

58. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Biology

#54 in the United States

#105 in the World

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

59. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Biology

#55 in the United States

#107 in the World

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

60. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Biology

#5 in Canada

#108 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

61. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Biology

#56 in the United States

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

62. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Biology

#6 in Canada

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

63. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Biology

#57 in the United States

#116 in the World

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

64. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Biology

#58 in the United States

#117 in the World

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

65. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Biology

#59 in the United States

#121 in the World

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

66. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Biology

#60 in the United States

#123 in the World

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

67. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Biology

#61 in the United States

#124 in the World

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

68. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Biology

#62 in the United States

#127 in the World

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

69. Rockefeller University

United States | New York State

For Biology

#63 in the United States

#128 in the World

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

70. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Biology

#7 in Canada

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

71. Oregon Health & Science University

United States | Oregon

For Biology

#64 in the United States

#132 in the World

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

72. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Biology

#65 in the United States

#134 in the World

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

73. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Biology

#66 in the United States

#135 in the World

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

74. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Biology

#67 in the United States

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

75. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Biology

#68 in the United States

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

76. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Biology

#8 in Canada

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

77. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Biology

#69 in the United States

#148 in the World

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

78. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Biology

#70 in the United States

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

79. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Biology

#71 in the United States

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

80. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Biology

#72 in the United States

#160 in the World

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

81. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Biology

#9 in Canada

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

82. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Biology

#73 in the United States

#170 in the World

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

83. Washington State University

United States | Washington

For Biology

#74 in the United States

#172 in the World

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

84. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Biology

#75 in the United States

#174 in the World

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

85. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Biology

#10 in Canada

#180 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

86. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Biology

#76 in the United States

#181 in the World

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

87. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

United States | Massachusetts

For Biology

#77 in the United States

#183 in the World

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

88. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

United States | Texas

For Biology

#78 in the United States

#186 in the World

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

89. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Biology

#79 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

90. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Biology

#80 in the United States

#189 in the World

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

91. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Biology

#81 in the United States

#194 in the World

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

92. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Biology

#82 in the United States

#199 in the World

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

93. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Biology

#83 in the United States

#201 in the World

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

94. University of Guelph

Canada | Ontario

For Biology

#11 in Canada

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1964

95. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Biology

#84 in the United States

#205 in the World

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

96. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Biology

#85 in the United States

#206 in the World

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

97. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Biology

#86 in the United States

#208 in the World

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

98. University of Manitoba

Canada | Manitoba

For Biology

#12 in Canada

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 29,800
Founded: 1877

99. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Biology

#87 in the United States

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

100. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Biology

#88 in the United States

#214 in the World

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