100 Best colleges for Biology 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 Biology. A graph of 551M citations received by 14.2M academic papers made by 1,582 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 Biology

#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 Biology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Biology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Biology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Biology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Biology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

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

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Biology

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Biology

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Biology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Biology

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

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

12. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Biology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Biology

#14 in North America

#17 in the World

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

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Biology

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Biology

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

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

17. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Biology

#18 in North America

#23 in the World

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

18. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Biology

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

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

20. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biology

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

21. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Biology

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

22. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Biology

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

23. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Biology

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

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

24. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Biology

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

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

25. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Biology

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

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

26. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biology

#29 in North America

#37 in the World

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

27. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#30 in North America

#39 in the World

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

28. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Biology

#31 in North America

#40 in the World

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

29. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Biology

#32 in North America

#41 in the World

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

30. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Biology

#33 in North America

#42 in the World

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

31. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biology

#34 in North America

#44 in the World

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

32. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Biology

#35 in North America

#45 in the World

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

33. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#36 in North America

#46 in the World

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

34. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Biology

#38 in North America

#56 in the World

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

35. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Biology

#39 in North America

#58 in the World

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

36. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Biology

#40 in North America

#59 in the World

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

37. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Biology

#41 in North America

#61 in the World

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

38. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Biology

#42 in North America

#62 in the World

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

39. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Biology

#43 in North America

#65 in the World

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

40. University of Texas at Austin

For Biology

#44 in North America

#67 in the World

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

41. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Biology

#45 in North America

#71 in the World

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

42. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Biology

#46 in North America

#72 in the World

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

43. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Biology

#47 in North America

#74 in the World

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

44. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Biology

#48 in North America

#76 in the World

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

45. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Biology

#49 in North America

#82 in the World

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

46. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#50 in North America

#83 in the World

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

47. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Biology

#51 in North America

#88 in the World

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

48. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Biology

#52 in North America

#89 in the World

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

49. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Biology

#53 in North America

#91 in the World

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

50. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biology

#54 in North America

#96 in the World

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

51. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Biology

#55 in North America

#98 in the World

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

52. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Biology

#56 in North America

#99 in the World

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

53. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Biology

#57 in North America

#101 in the World

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

54. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Biology

#58 in North America

#105 in the World

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

55. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Biology

#59 in North America

#107 in the World

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

56. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biology

#61 in North America

#109 in the World

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

57. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Biology

#63 in North America

#116 in the World

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

58. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Biology

#64 in North America

#117 in the World

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

59. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Biology

#65 in North America

#121 in the World

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

60. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Biology

#66 in North America

#123 in the World

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

61. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Biology

#67 in North America

#124 in the World

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

62. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Biology

#68 in North America

#127 in the World

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

63. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#69 in North America

#128 in the World

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

64. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Biology

#71 in North America

#132 in the World

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

65. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Biology

#72 in North America

#134 in the World

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

66. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Biology

#73 in North America

#135 in the World

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

67. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Biology

#74 in North America

#138 in the World

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

68. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biology

#75 in North America

#140 in the World

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

69. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biology

#77 in North America

#148 in the World

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

70. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Biology

#78 in North America

#157 in the World

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

71. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Biology

#79 in North America

#158 in the World

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

72. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biology

#80 in North America

#160 in the World

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

73. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Biology

#82 in North America

#170 in the World

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

74. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Biology

#83 in North America

#172 in the World

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

75. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Biology

#84 in North America

#174 in the World

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

76. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Biology

#86 in North America

#181 in the World

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

77. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Biology

#87 in North America

#183 in the World

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

78. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Biology

#88 in North America

#186 in the World

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

79. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Biology

#89 in North America

#187 in the World

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

80. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Biology

#90 in North America

#189 in the World

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

81. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Biology

#91 in North America

#194 in the World

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

82. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Biology

#92 in North America

#199 in the World

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

83. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Biology

#93 in North America

#201 in the World

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

84. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Biology

#95 in North America

#205 in the World

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

85. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Biology

#96 in North America

#206 in the World

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

86. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Biology

#97 in North America

#208 in the World

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

87. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Biology

#99 in North America

#212 in the World

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

88. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Biology

#100 in North America

#214 in the World

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

89. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Biology

#101 in North America

#216 in the World

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

90. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Biology

#102 in North America

#217 in the World

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

91. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#103 in North America

#219 in the World

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

92. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Biology

#104 in North America

#225 in the World

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

93. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Biology

#105 in North America

#229 in the World

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

94. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biology

#106 in North America

#231 in the World

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

95. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Biology

#108 in North America

#238 in the World

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

96. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Biology

#110 in North America

#241 in the World

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

97. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Biology

#111 in North America

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#112 in North America

#249 in the World

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

99. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Biology

#115 in North America

#277 in the World

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

100. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Biology

#116 in North America

#280 in the World

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

The best cities to study Biology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Baltimore, Stanford, and Ann Arbor.