100 Best colleges for Neuroscience in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 142M citations received by 2.97M academic papers made by 1,126 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neuroscience

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

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: $17,998

4. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Neuroscience

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Neuroscience

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

7. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Neuroscience

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Neuroscience

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

9. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Neuroscience

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

10. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

11. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Neuroscience

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

12. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neuroscience

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

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: $22,440

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: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Neuroscience

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Neuroscience

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neuroscience

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

18. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Neuroscience

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Neuroscience

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

20. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Neuroscience

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

21. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Neuroscience

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
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: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

23. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Neuroscience

#26 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

24. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Neuroscience

#27 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Neuroscience

#28 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

26. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Neuroscience

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

27. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Neuroscience

#30 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

28. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Neuroscience

#31 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

29. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#32 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Neuroscience

#33 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

31. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Neuroscience

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

32. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Neuroscience

#35 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

33. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neuroscience

#36 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

34. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Neuroscience

#37 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

35. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Neuroscience

#38 in North America

#47 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

36. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Neuroscience

#39 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

37. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Neuroscience

#40 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

38. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Neuroscience

#41 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

39. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#42 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,234
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1963

40. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Neuroscience

#43 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,877
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

41. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Neuroscience

#44 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Neuroscience

#46 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

43. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#47 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 286
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1901

44. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Neuroscience

#49 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

45. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Neuroscience

#50 in North America

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

46. University of Texas at Austin

For Neuroscience

#51 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neuroscience

#52 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

48. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Neuroscience

#53 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

49. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Neuroscience

#54 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

50. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neuroscience

#56 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

51. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neuroscience

#57 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

52. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Neuroscience

#58 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

53. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Neuroscience

#59 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

54. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Neuroscience

#60 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

55. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Neuroscience

#62 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
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: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

57. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Neuroscience

#64 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

58. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Neuroscience

#66 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

59. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Neuroscience

#67 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,640
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

60. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neuroscience

#68 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

61. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Neuroscience

#70 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

62. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Neuroscience

#71 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

63. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Neuroscience

#72 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,117
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1824

64. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Neuroscience

#73 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

65. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Neuroscience

#74 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

66. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Neuroscience

#76 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

67. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Neuroscience

#77 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

68. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neuroscience

#78 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,967

69. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Neuroscience

#79 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

70. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Neuroscience

#80 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

71. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Neuroscience

#81 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Neuroscience

#82 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

73. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Neuroscience

#83 in North America

#150 in the World

Enrollment: 1,661
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1893

74. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Neuroscience

#84 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 90%

75. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Neuroscience

#86 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

76. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#87 in North America

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 5,048
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

77. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Neuroscience

#88 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

78. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#89 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

79. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Neuroscience

#90 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

80. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Neuroscience

#91 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

81. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Neuroscience

#93 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,315
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1891

82. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neuroscience

#94 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

83. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Neuroscience

#95 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

84. Brandeis University

Massachusetts | Waltham

For Neuroscience

#96 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,668

85. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Neuroscience

#97 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

86. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#98 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

87. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Neuroscience

#99 in North America

#200 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: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

89. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Neuroscience

#101 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,394
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1962

90. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Neuroscience

#102 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

91. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Neuroscience

#103 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,631

92. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#105 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

93. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Neuroscience

#106 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

94. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Neuroscience

#107 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

95. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Neuroscience

#108 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,121
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

96. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Neuroscience

#109 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

97. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Neuroscience

#110 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

98. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Neuroscience

#112 in North America

#231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 93%

99. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#113 in North America

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

100. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#114 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
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.