Best Universities for Neuroscience 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 Neuroscience. A graph of 123M citations received by 3.05M academic papers made by 1,151 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 Neuroscience

#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 Neuroscience

#2 in the United States

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#3 in the United States

#4 in the World

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

4. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Neuroscience

#4 in the United States

#5 in the World

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

5. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Neuroscience

#1 in Canada

#6 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

6. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#5 in the United States

#7 in the World

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

7. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Neuroscience

#6 in the United States

#8 in the World

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

8. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

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

9. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#9 in the United States

#11 in the World

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

11. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Neuroscience

#10 in the United States

#12 in the World

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

12. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Neuroscience

#11 in the United States

#13 in the World

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

13. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Neuroscience

#12 in the United States

#14 in the World

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

14. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Neuroscience

#2 in Canada

#16 in the World

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

15. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Neuroscience

#13 in the United States

#17 in the World

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

16. New York University

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#14 in the United States

#20 in the World

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

17. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#15 in the United States

#21 in the World

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

18. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Neuroscience

#16 in the United States

#22 in the World

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

19. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Neuroscience

#3 in Canada

#23 in the World

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

20. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Neuroscience

#17 in the United States

#24 in the World

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

21. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Neuroscience

#18 in the United States

#25 in the World

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

22. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Neuroscience

#19 in the United States

#26 in the World

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

23. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#20 in the United States

#28 in the World

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

24. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#21 in the United States

#29 in the World

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

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Neuroscience

#22 in the United States

#30 in the World

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

26. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Neuroscience

#23 in the United States

#32 in the World

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

27. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Neuroscience

#24 in the United States

#33 in the World

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

28. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#25 in the United States

#35 in the World

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

29. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Neuroscience

#26 in the United States

#36 in the World

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

30. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Neuroscience

#27 in the United States

#38 in the World

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

31. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#28 in the United States

#39 in the World

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

32. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Neuroscience

#29 in the United States

#40 in the World

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

33. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Neuroscience

#30 in the United States

#42 in the World

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

34. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#31 in the United States

#43 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Neuroscience

#32 in the United States

#44 in the World

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

36. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Neuroscience

#33 in the United States

#46 in the World

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

37. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Neuroscience

#34 in the United States

#47 in the World

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

38. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#35 in the United States

#48 in the World

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

39. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Neuroscience

#36 in the United States

#49 in the World

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

40. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Neuroscience

#37 in the United States

#50 in the World

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

41. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#38 in the United States

#52 in the World

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

42. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Neuroscience

#39 in the United States

#53 in the World

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

43. Oregon Health & Science University

United States | Oregon

For Neuroscience

#40 in the United States

#56 in the World

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

44. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Neuroscience

#4 in Canada

#57 in the World

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

45. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Neuroscience

#41 in the United States

#60 in the World

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

46. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Neuroscience

#42 in the United States

#63 in the World

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

47. Rockefeller University

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#43 in the United States

#64 in the World

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

48. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Neuroscience

#44 in the United States

#67 in the World

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

49. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Neuroscience

#45 in the United States

#68 in the World

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

50. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Neuroscience

#5 in Canada

#69 in the World

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

51. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Neuroscience

#46 in the United States

#71 in the World

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

52. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Neuroscience

#6 in Canada

#74 in the World

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

53. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Neuroscience

#47 in the United States

#78 in the World

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

54. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#48 in the United States

#80 in the World

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

55. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Neuroscience

#49 in the United States

#83 in the World

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

56. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Neuroscience

#50 in the United States

#84 in the World

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

57. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Neuroscience

#51 in the United States

#85 in the World

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

58. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Neuroscience

#52 in the United States

#87 in the World

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

59. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#53 in the United States

#88 in the World

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

60. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Neuroscience

#7 in Canada

#90 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

61. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Neuroscience

#54 in the United States

#94 in the World

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

62. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Neuroscience

#55 in the United States

#96 in the World

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

63. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#56 in the United States

#97 in the World

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

64. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Neuroscience

#57 in the United States

#98 in the World

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

65. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Neuroscience

#58 in the United States

#100 in the World

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

66. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Neuroscience

#8 in Canada

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

67. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Neuroscience

#59 in the United States

#106 in the World

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

68. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#60 in the United States

#109 in the World

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

69. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Neuroscience

#9 in Canada

#114 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

70. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#61 in the United States

#115 in the World

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

71. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Neuroscience

#62 in the United States

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

72. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Neuroscience

#63 in the United States

#120 in the World

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

73. Wake Forest University

United States | North Carolina

For Neuroscience

#64 in the United States

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

74. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Neuroscience

#10 in Canada

#124 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

75. Medical University of South Carolina

United States | South Carolina

For Neuroscience

#65 in the United States

#129 in the World

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

76. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Neuroscience

#66 in the United States

#130 in the World

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

77. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Neuroscience

#67 in the United States

#133 in the World

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

78. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Neuroscience

#68 in the United States

#135 in the World

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

79. Georgetown University

United States | District of Columbia

For Neuroscience

#69 in the United States

#136 in the World

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

80. Dalhousie University

Canada | Nova Scotia

For Neuroscience

#11 in Canada

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 30,867
Founded: 1818

81. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Neuroscience

#70 in the United States

#146 in the World

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

82. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Neuroscience

#71 in the United States

#148 in the World

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

83. University of South Florida

United States | Florida

For Neuroscience

#72 in the United States

#149 in the World

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

84. Medical College of Wisconsin

United States | Wisconsin

For Neuroscience

#73 in the United States

#150 in the World

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

85. University of Cincinnati

United States | Ohio

For Neuroscience

#74 in the United States

#155 in the World

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

86. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#75 in the United States

#158 in the World

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

87. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#76 in the United States

#160 in the World

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

88. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Neuroscience

#77 in the United States

#163 in the World

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

89. Temple University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Neuroscience

#78 in the United States

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

90. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Neuroscience

#79 in the United States

#172 in the World

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

91. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Neuroscience

#80 in the United States

#173 in the World

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

92. University of Texas Medical Branch

United States | Texas

For Neuroscience

#81 in the United States

#176 in the World

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

93. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Neuroscience

#12 in Canada

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

94. Dartmouth College

United States | New Hampshire

For Neuroscience

#82 in the United States

#184 in the World

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

95. Thomas Jefferson University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Neuroscience

#83 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

96. Brandeis University

United States | Massachusetts

For Neuroscience

#84 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,565

97. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Neuroscience

#85 in the United States

#191 in the World

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

98. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Neuroscience

#86 in the United States

#194 in the World

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

99. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Neuroscience

#87 in the United States

#195 in the World

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

100. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Neuroscience

#88 in the United States

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%