100 Best colleges for Neuroscience 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 Neuroscience. A graph of 110M citations received by 2.69M academic papers made by 1,080 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: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neuroscience

#2 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Neuroscience

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

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: $18,647

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Neuroscience

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Neuroscience

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Neuroscience

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Neuroscience

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Neuroscience

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neuroscience

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

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

13. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Neuroscience

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Neuroscience

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

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

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Neuroscience

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neuroscience

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

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

18. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Neuroscience

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

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

19. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Neuroscience

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Neuroscience

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

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

21. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Neuroscience

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Neuroscience

#25 in North America

#30 in the World

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

23. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Neuroscience

#26 in North America

#32 in the World

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

24. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Neuroscience

#27 in North America

#33 in the World

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

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Neuroscience

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

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

26. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Neuroscience

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

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

27. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Neuroscience

#30 in North America

#38 in the World

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

28. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#31 in North America

#39 in the World

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

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Neuroscience

#32 in North America

#40 in the World

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

30. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neuroscience

#33 in North America

#42 in the World

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

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Neuroscience

#34 in North America

#43 in the World

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

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Neuroscience

#35 in North America

#44 in the World

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

33. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Neuroscience

#36 in North America

#46 in the World

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

34. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Neuroscience

#37 in North America

#47 in the World

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

35. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Neuroscience

#38 in North America

#48 in the World

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

36. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Neuroscience

#39 in North America

#49 in the World

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

37. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Neuroscience

#40 in North America

#50 in the World

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

38. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#41 in North America

#52 in the World

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

39. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Neuroscience

#42 in North America

#53 in the World

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

40. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Neuroscience

#43 in North America

#56 in the World

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

41. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Neuroscience

#45 in North America

#60 in the World

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

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Neuroscience

#46 in North America

#63 in the World

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

43. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Neuroscience

#47 in North America

#64 in the World

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

44. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Neuroscience

#48 in North America

#67 in the World

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

45. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Neuroscience

#49 in North America

#68 in the World

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

46. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Neuroscience

#51 in North America

#71 in the World

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

47. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neuroscience

#53 in North America

#78 in the World

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

48. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Neuroscience

#54 in North America

#80 in the World

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

49. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Neuroscience

#55 in North America

#83 in the World

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

50. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neuroscience

#56 in North America

#84 in the World

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

51. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neuroscience

#57 in North America

#85 in the World

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

52. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Neuroscience

#58 in North America

#87 in the World

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

53. University of Texas at Austin

For Neuroscience

#59 in North America

#88 in the World

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

54. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Neuroscience

#61 in North America

#94 in the World

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

55. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Neuroscience

#62 in North America

#96 in the World

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

56. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Neuroscience

#63 in North America

#97 in the World

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

57. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neuroscience

#64 in North America

#98 in the World

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

58. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Neuroscience

#65 in North America

#100 in the World

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

59. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Neuroscience

#67 in North America

#106 in the World

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

60. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Neuroscience

#68 in North America

#109 in the World

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

61. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Neuroscience

#70 in North America

#115 in the World

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

62. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neuroscience

#71 in North America

#119 in the World

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

63. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Neuroscience

#72 in North America

#120 in the World

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

64. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Neuroscience

#73 in North America

#123 in the World

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

65. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Neuroscience

#75 in North America

#129 in the World

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

66. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Neuroscience

#76 in North America

#130 in the World

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

67. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Neuroscience

#77 in North America

#133 in the World

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

68. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Neuroscience

#78 in North America

#135 in the World

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

69. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neuroscience

#79 in North America

#136 in the World

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

70. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Neuroscience

#81 in North America

#146 in the World

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

71. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Neuroscience

#82 in North America

#148 in the World

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

72. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Neuroscience

#83 in North America

#149 in the World

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

73. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Neuroscience

#84 in North America

#150 in the World

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

74. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Neuroscience

#85 in North America

#155 in the World

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

75. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Neuroscience

#86 in North America

#158 in the World

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

76. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#87 in North America

#160 in the World

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

77. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Neuroscience

#88 in North America

#163 in the World

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

78. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#89 in North America

#170 in the World

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

79. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Neuroscience

#90 in North America

#172 in the World

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

80. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Neuroscience

#91 in North America

#173 in the World

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

81. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Neuroscience

#92 in North America

#176 in the World

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

82. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Neuroscience

#94 in North America

#184 in the World

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

83. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#95 in North America

#186 in the World

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

84. Brandeis University

Massachusetts | Waltham

For Neuroscience

#96 in North America

#187 in the World

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

85. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neuroscience

#97 in North America

#191 in the World

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

86. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Neuroscience

#98 in North America

#194 in the World

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

87. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Neuroscience

#99 in North America

#195 in the World

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

88. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Neuroscience

#100 in North America

#196 in the World

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

89. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Neuroscience

#101 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

90. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Neuroscience

#102 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

91. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Neuroscience

#103 in North America

#200 in the World

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

92. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Neuroscience

#104 in North America

#207 in the World

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

93. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Neuroscience

#106 in North America

#216 in the World

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

94. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Neuroscience

#107 in North America

#218 in the World

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

95. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Neuroscience

#108 in North America

#219 in the World

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

96. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Neuroscience

#109 in North America

#223 in the World

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

97. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Neuroscience

#110 in North America

#225 in the World

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

98. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neuroscience

#112 in North America

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

99. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Neuroscience

#113 in North America

#230 in the World

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

100. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neuroscience

#114 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
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.