100 Best colleges for Neuroscience 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 Neuroscience. A graph of 148M citations received by 3.05M academic papers made by 1,137 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 Neuroscience

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neuroscience

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Neuroscience

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

4. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Neuroscience

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Neuroscience

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Neuroscience

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Neuroscience

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Neuroscience

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Neuroscience

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neuroscience

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

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

13. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Neuroscience

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

14. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Neuroscience

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Neuroscience

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neuroscience

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Neuroscience

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Neuroscience

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

20. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Neuroscience

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

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

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Neuroscience

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

22. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Neuroscience

#25 in North America

#30 in the World

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

23. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Neuroscience

#26 in North America

#32 in the World

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

24. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Neuroscience

#27 in North America

#33 in the World

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

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Neuroscience

#28 in North America

#34 in the World

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

26. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Neuroscience

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

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

27. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Neuroscience

#30 in North America

#37 in the World

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

28. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Neuroscience

#31 in North America

#38 in the World

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

29. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#32 in North America

#40 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Neuroscience

#33 in North America

#41 in the World

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

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Neuroscience

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

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

32. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Neuroscience

#35 in North America

#43 in the World

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

33. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neuroscience

#36 in North America

#45 in the World

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

34. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Neuroscience

#37 in North America

#46 in the World

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

35. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Neuroscience

#38 in North America

#47 in the World

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

36. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Neuroscience

#39 in North America

#51 in the World

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

37. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#40 in North America

#52 in the World

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

38. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Neuroscience

#41 in North America

#53 in the World

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

39. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Neuroscience

#42 in North America

#54 in the World

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

40. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Neuroscience

#43 in North America

#58 in the World

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

41. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Neuroscience

#45 in North America

#62 in the World

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

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Neuroscience

#46 in North America

#64 in the World

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

43. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Neuroscience

#48 in North America

#68 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Neuroscience

#49 in North America

#69 in the World

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

45. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#50 in North America

#72 in the World

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

46. University of Texas at Austin

For Neuroscience

#51 in North America

#73 in the World

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

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neuroscience

#52 in North America

#75 in the World

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

48. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Neuroscience

#54 in North America

#77 in the World

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

49. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Neuroscience

#55 in North America

#79 in the World

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

50. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neuroscience

#56 in North America

#83 in the World

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

51. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Neuroscience

#57 in North America

#84 in the World

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

52. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neuroscience

#58 in North America

#85 in the World

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

53. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Neuroscience

#59 in North America

#87 in the World

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

54. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Neuroscience

#60 in North America

#90 in the World

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

55. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Neuroscience

#62 in North America

#94 in the World

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

56. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Neuroscience

#63 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

57. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Neuroscience

#64 in North America

#104 in the World

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

58. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Neuroscience

#66 in North America

#106 in the World

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

59. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Neuroscience

#67 in North America

#109 in the World

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

60. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neuroscience

#68 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

61. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Neuroscience

#70 in North America

#117 in the World

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

62. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Neuroscience

#71 in North America

#123 in the World

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

63. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Neuroscience

#72 in North America

#124 in the World

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

64. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Neuroscience

#73 in North America

#126 in the World

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

65. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Neuroscience

#75 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

66. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Neuroscience

#76 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

67. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Neuroscience

#77 in North America

#137 in the World

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

68. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neuroscience

#78 in North America

#138 in the World

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

69. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Neuroscience

#79 in North America

#143 in the World

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

70. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Neuroscience

#80 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

71. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Neuroscience

#81 in North America

#150 in the World

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

72. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Neuroscience

#82 in North America

#151 in the World

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

73. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Neuroscience

#83 in North America

#153 in the World

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

74. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Neuroscience

#84 in North America

#154 in the World

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

75. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Neuroscience

#86 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

76. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#87 in North America

#163 in the World

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

77. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Neuroscience

#88 in North America

#170 in the World

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

78. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#89 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

79. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Neuroscience

#90 in North America

#175 in the World

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

80. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Neuroscience

#91 in North America

#176 in the World

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

81. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Neuroscience

#93 in North America

#186 in the World

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

82. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neuroscience

#94 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

83. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Neuroscience

#95 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

84. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Neuroscience

#96 in North America

#195 in the World

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

85. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#97 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

86. Brandeis University

Massachusetts | Waltham

For Neuroscience

#98 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

87. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Neuroscience

#99 in North America

#203 in the World

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

88. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Neuroscience

#100 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

89. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#101 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

90. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Neuroscience

#102 in North America

#209 in the World

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

91. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Neuroscience

#103 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

92. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Neuroscience

#105 in North America

#219 in the World

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

93. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Neuroscience

#106 in North America

#222 in the World

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

94. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Neuroscience

#107 in North America

#224 in the World

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

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Neuroscience

#108 in North America

#226 in the World

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

96. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Neuroscience

#109 in North America

#229 in the World

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

97. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Neuroscience

#110 in North America

#230 in the World

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

98. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Neuroscience

#112 in North America

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

99. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#113 in North America

#239 in the World

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

100. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#114 in North America

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

The best cities to study Neuroscience in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Baltimore, Stanford, and New Haven.