100 Best colleges for Biology in the United States

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 693M citations received by 21.4M academic papers made by 1,528 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: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

2. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Biology

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Biology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Biology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Biology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,165
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

6. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

7. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Biology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Biology

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

10. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Biology

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

11. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Biology

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Biology

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Biology

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Biology

#15 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

15. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#16 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

16. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Biology

#17 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

17. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Biology

#18 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

18. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biology

#19 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

19. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Biology

#20 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

20. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Biology

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

21. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#23 in North America

#28 in the World

Enrollment: 358
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

22. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Biology

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

23. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Biology

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

24. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Biology

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

25. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Biology

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

26. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biology

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

27. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Biology

#30 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

28. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Biology

#31 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,596
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1900

29. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Biology

#32 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

30. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biology

#33 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

31. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Biology

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

32. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#35 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Biology

#37 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

34. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Biology

#38 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

35. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Biology

#39 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

36. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Biology

#40 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

37. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Biology

#41 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Net Price: $11,188
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $2,100

38. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Biology

#42 in North America

#58 in the World

Enrollment: 2,308
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1943

39. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Biology

#43 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,166

40. University of Texas at Austin

For Biology

#44 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

41. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Biology

#45 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

42. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Biology

#46 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

43. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Biology

#47 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

44. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Biology

#48 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1281
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

45. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Biology

#49 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

46. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#50 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,249
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1963

47. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Biology

#51 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

48. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Biology

#52 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

49. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Biology

#53 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,162
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $47,556

50. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Biology

#54 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

51. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Biology

#55 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

52. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Biology

#56 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

53. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Biology

#58 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 268
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1901

54. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Biology

#59 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,492

55. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Biology

#61 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

56. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Biology

#62 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $31,630

57. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Biology

#63 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 74%

58. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Biology

#64 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Biology

#65 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,125

60. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Biology

#67 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,984
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1887

61. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Biology

#68 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

62. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Biology

#69 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

63. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Biology

#70 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 65%

64. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Biology

#71 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

65. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Biology

#72 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

66. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Biology

#74 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

67. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biology

#75 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,028

68. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Biology

#76 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

69. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Biology

#77 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 82%

70. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Biology

#78 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

71. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Biology

#79 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

72. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Biology

#81 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $39,566

73. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Biology

#82 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,292
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

74. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Biology

#83 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 7,244
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1807

75. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Biology

#84 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

76. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Biology

#86 in North America

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

77. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Biology

#87 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

78. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Biology

#89 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $18,676
Enrollment: 26,847

79. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Biology

#90 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

80. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Biology

#91 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

81. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Biology

#92 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,993
Enrollment: 29,843

82. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Biology

#93 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

83. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Biology

#95 in North America

#196 in the World

Enrollment: 1,538
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

84. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#96 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $24,227

85. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Biology

#97 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $24,643
Receiving Aid: 41%
Average Aid: $53,244

86. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Biology

#98 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

87. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Biology

#99 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,499
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1959

88. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Biology

#100 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

89. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Biology

#101 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

90. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Biology

#102 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

91. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Biology

#103 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,484
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1891

92. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Biology

#104 in North America

#217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,240
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1824

93. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Biology

#106 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,531

94. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Biology

#108 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Biology

#109 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 83%

96. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Biology

#110 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

97. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Biology

#112 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,078

98. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Biology

#113 in North America

#255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,048

99. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Biology

#115 in North America

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,292
Enrollment: 35,626

100. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Biology

#116 in North America

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

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