100 Best colleges for Neurosurgery 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 Neurosurgery. A graph of 467K citations received by 19.3K academic papers made by 108 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 Neurosurgery

#1 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Neurosurgery

#3 in North America

#6 in the World

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

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neurosurgery

#4 in North America

#7 in the World

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

4. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Neurosurgery

#5 in North America

#9 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Neurosurgery

#6 in North America

#12 in the World

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

6. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Neurosurgery

#7 in North America

#13 in the World

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

7. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neurosurgery

#8 in North America

#14 in the World

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

8. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Neurosurgery

#9 in North America

#19 in the World

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

9. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#10 in North America

#20 in the World

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

10. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Neurosurgery

#11 in North America

#24 in the World

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

11. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Neurosurgery

#12 in North America

#25 in the World

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

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Neurosurgery

#13 in North America

#31 in the World

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

13. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Neurosurgery

#14 in North America

#32 in the World

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

14. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Neurosurgery

#15 in North America

#33 in the World

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

15. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Neurosurgery

#16 in North America

#35 in the World

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

16. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Neurosurgery

#17 in North America

#38 in the World

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

17. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#18 in North America

#42 in the World

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

18. Catholic University of America

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neurosurgery

#19 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $35,008
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $38,232

19. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#20 in North America

#46 in the World

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

20. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Neurosurgery

#22 in North America

#50 in the World

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

21. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Neurosurgery

#23 in North America

#52 in the World

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

22. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#25 in North America

#59 in the World

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

23. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neurosurgery

#26 in North America

#62 in the World

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

24. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Neurosurgery

#27 in North America

#69 in the World

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

25. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Neurosurgery

#28 in North America

#72 in the World

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

26. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Neurosurgery

#29 in North America

#74 in the World

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

27. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Neurosurgery

#30 in North America

#77 in the World

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

28. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Neurosurgery

#31 in North America

#79 in the World

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

29. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neurosurgery

#32 in North America

#80 in the World

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

30. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Neurosurgery

#34 in North America

#89 in the World

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

31. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Neurosurgery

#35 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

32. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Neurosurgery

#36 in North America

#93 in the World

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

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Neurosurgery

#37 in North America

#103 in the World

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

34. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Neurosurgery

#38 in North America

#105 in the World

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

35. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Neurosurgery

#39 in North America

#108 in the World

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

36. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#40 in North America

#109 in the World

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

37. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neurosurgery

#41 in North America

#124 in the World

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

38. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Neurosurgery

#42 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,275
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1879

39. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Neurosurgery

#43 in North America

#134 in the World

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

40. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neurosurgery

#44 in North America

#135 in the World

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

41. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Neurosurgery

#45 in North America

#136 in the World

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

42. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Neurosurgery

#46 in North America

#138 in the World

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

43. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Neurosurgery

#47 in North America

#139 in the World

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

44. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Neurosurgery

#48 in North America

#142 in the World

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

45. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neurosurgery

#49 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

46. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Neurosurgery

#50 in North America

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 4,202
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

47. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Neurosurgery

#51 in North America

#146 in the World

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

48. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Neurosurgery

#52 in North America

#149 in the World

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

49. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Neurosurgery

#53 in North America

#152 in the World

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

50. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Neurosurgery

#55 in North America

#159 in the World

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

51. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neurosurgery

#56 in North America

#165 in the World

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

52. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Neurosurgery

#57 in North America

#170 in the World

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

53. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Neurosurgery

#58 in North America

#174 in the World

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

54. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neurosurgery

#59 in North America

#175 in the World

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

55. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Neurosurgery

#60 in North America

#177 in the World

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

56. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Neurosurgery

#61 in North America

#189 in the World

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

57. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport

Louisiana | Shreveport

For Neurosurgery

#62 in North America

#196 in the World

Enrollment: 1,045
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1969

58. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Neurosurgery

#63 in North America

#205 in the World

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

59. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Neurosurgery

#64 in North America

#211 in the World

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

60. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Neurosurgery

#65 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $23,885

61. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Neurosurgery

#69 in North America

#219 in the World

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

62. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Neurosurgery

#70 in North America

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 834
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1839

63. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Neurosurgery

#71 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,470
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

64. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Neurosurgery

#72 in North America

#228 in the World

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

65. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Neurosurgery

#73 in North America

#234 in the World

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

66. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neurosurgery

#74 in North America

#235 in the World

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

67. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Neurosurgery

#75 in North America

#240 in the World

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

68. University of Mississippi Medical Center

Mississippi | Jackson

For Neurosurgery

#76 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1955

69. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Neurosurgery

#77 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

70. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Neurosurgery

#78 in North America

#247 in the World

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

71. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Neurosurgery

#79 in North America

#254 in the World

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

72. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Neurosurgery

#80 in North America

#259 in the World

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

73. Illinois College

Illinois | Jacksonville

For Neurosurgery

#81 in North America

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1081
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $17,255

74. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Neurosurgery

#82 in North America

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 1972

75. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Neurosurgery

#83 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

76. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Neurosurgery

#84 in North America

#273 in the World

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

77. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#85 in North America

#275 in the World

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

78. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Neurosurgery

#87 in North America

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

79. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Neurosurgery

#88 in North America

#289 in the World

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

80. Upstate Medical University

New York State | Syracuse

For Neurosurgery

#89 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,286
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1834

81. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Neurosurgery

#90 in North America

#294 in the World

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

82. Capital University

Ohio | Columbus

For Neurosurgery

#91 in North America

#295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,480

83. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Neurosurgery

#92 in North America

#296 in the World

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

84. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Neurosurgery

#93 in North America

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $30,911

85. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Neurosurgery

#94 in North America

#301 in the World

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

86. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Neurosurgery

#95 in North America

#303 in the World

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

87. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Neurosurgery

#96 in North America

#304 in the World

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

88. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Neurosurgery

#97 in North America

#306 in the World

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

89. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Neurosurgery

#98 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 100%

90. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#99 in North America

#315 in the World

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

91. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Neurosurgery

#100 in North America

#322 in the World

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

92. Mercer University

Georgia | Macon

For Neurosurgery

#101 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $24,197

93. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Neurosurgery

#102 in North America

#337 in the World

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

94. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Neurosurgery

#103 in North America

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

95. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Neurosurgery

#104 in North America

#344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 2,683
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1931

96. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Neurosurgery

#105 in North America

#352 in the World

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

97. Johnson University

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Neurosurgery

#106 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,713

98. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Neurosurgery

#107 in North America

#362 in the World

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

99. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#111 in North America

#382 in the World

Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 12:88

100. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neurosurgery

#113 in North America

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $46,645

The best cities to study Neurosurgery in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Rochester.