100 Best colleges for Biology 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 Biology. A graph of 717M citations received by 15.9M academic papers made by 1,609 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: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Biology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

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: 66%

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Biology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

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

6. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Biology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

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

7. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Biology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

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

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

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: $26,044

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Biology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Biology

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

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

12. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Biology

#13 in North America

#16 in the World

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

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Biology

#14 in North America

#18 in the World

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

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Biology

#15 in North America

#19 in the World

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

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#16 in North America

#20 in the World

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

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Biology

#17 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

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: $22,440

18. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Biology

#19 in North America

#24 in the World

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

19. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biology

#20 in North America

#25 in the World

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

20. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Biology

#21 in North America

#26 in the World

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

21. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#22 in North America

#27 in the World

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

22. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Biology

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

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

23. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Biology

#25 in North America

#30 in the World

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

24. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Biology

#26 in North America

#32 in the World

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

25. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Biology

#27 in North America

#35 in the World

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

26. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biology

#28 in North America

#36 in the World

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

27. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Biology

#29 in North America

#37 in the World

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

28. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#31 in North America

#40 in the World

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

29. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Biology

#32 in North America

#42 in the World

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

30. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Biology

#33 in North America

#43 in the World

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

31. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Biology

#34 in North America

#44 in the World

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

32. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biology

#35 in North America

#45 in the World

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

33. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#36 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

34. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Biology

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

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

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Biology

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

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

36. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Biology

#40 in North America

#59 in the World

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

37. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Biology

#41 in North America

#61 in the World

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

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Biology

#42 in North America

#63 in the World

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

39. University of Texas at Austin

For Biology

#43 in North America

#64 in the World

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

40. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Biology

#44 in North America

#70 in the World

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

41. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Biology

#45 in North America

#72 in the World

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

42. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Biology

#46 in North America

#73 in the World

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

43. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Biology

#47 in North America

#75 in the World

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

44. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Biology

#48 in North America

#77 in the World

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

45. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#49 in North America

#81 in the World

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

46. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Biology

#50 in North America

#83 in the World

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

47. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Biology

#51 in North America

#85 in the World

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

48. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Biology

#52 in North America

#88 in the World

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

49. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Biology

#53 in North America

#91 in the World

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

50. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Biology

#54 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

51. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biology

#55 in North America

#96 in the World

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

52. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Biology

#56 in North America

#97 in the World

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

53. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Biology

#57 in North America

#100 in the World

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

54. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Biology

#58 in North America

#106 in the World

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

55. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biology

#59 in North America

#108 in the World

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

56. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Biology

#61 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

57. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Biology

#62 in North America

#112 in the World

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

58. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Biology

#64 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

59. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Biology

#65 in North America

#122 in the World

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

60. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Biology

#66 in North America

#124 in the World

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

61. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Biology

#68 in North America

#127 in the World

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

62. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Biology

#69 in North America

#128 in the World

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

63. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Biology

#70 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

64. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Biology

#71 in North America

#133 in the World

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

65. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#72 in North America

#136 in the World

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

66. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Biology

#74 in North America

#138 in the World

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

67. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Biology

#75 in North America

#140 in the World

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

68. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biology

#76 in North America

#147 in the World

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

69. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biology

#77 in North America

#151 in the World

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

70. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Biology

#79 in North America

#161 in the World

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

71. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Biology

#80 in North America

#164 in the World

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

72. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Biology

#81 in North America

#170 in the World

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

73. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Biology

#82 in North America

#173 in the World

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

74. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Biology

#83 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

75. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Biology

#84 in North America

#178 in the World

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

76. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Biology

#85 in North America

#179 in the World

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

77. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Biology

#87 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

78. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Biology

#88 in North America

#187 in the World

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

79. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Biology

#89 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

80. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Biology

#90 in North America

#196 in the World

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

81. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Biology

#91 in North America

#197 in the World

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

82. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Biology

#92 in North America

#199 in the World

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

83. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Biology

#94 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

84. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Biology

#95 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

85. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Biology

#96 in North America

#207 in the World

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

86. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Biology

#97 in North America

#208 in the World

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

87. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Biology

#98 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

88. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#99 in North America

#210 in the World

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

89. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Biology

#100 in North America

#211 in the World

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

90. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Biology

#102 in North America

#213 in the World

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

91. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Biology

#103 in North America

#215 in the World

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

92. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#104 in North America

#219 in the World

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

93. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biology

#106 in North America

#229 in the World

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

94. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Biology

#107 in North America

#232 in the World

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

95. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Biology

#108 in North America

#235 in the World

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

96. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Biology

#110 in North America

#244 in the World

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

97. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Biology

#111 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Biology

#112 in North America

#262 in the World

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

99. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Biology

#114 in North America

#271 in the World

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

100. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#115 in North America

#276 in the World

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

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.