98 Best colleges for Neurosurgery 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 Neurosurgery. A graph of 331K citations received by 16.5K academic papers made by 98 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: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neurosurgery

#3 in North America

#7 in the World

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

3. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Neurosurgery

#4 in North America

#8 in the World

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

4. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Neurosurgery

#5 in North America

#11 in the World

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

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: 74%

6. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Neurosurgery

#7 in North America

#15 in the World

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

7. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Neurosurgery

#8 in North America

#16 in the World

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

8. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Neurosurgery

#9 in North America

#18 in the World

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

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Neurosurgery

#10 in North America

#19 in the World

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

10. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Neurosurgery

#11 in North America

#25 in the World

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

11. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#12 in North America

#26 in the World

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

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Neurosurgery

#13 in North America

#28 in the World

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

13. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#14 in North America

#29 in the World

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

14. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Neurosurgery

#16 in North America

#33 in the World

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

15. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Neurosurgery

#17 in North America

#38 in the World

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

16. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Neurosurgery

#18 in North America

#43 in the World

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

17. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Neurosurgery

#19 in North America

#45 in the World

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

18. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Neurosurgery

#20 in North America

#46 in the World

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

19. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Neurosurgery

#21 in North America

#48 in the World

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

20. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Neurosurgery

#22 in North America

#56 in the World

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

21. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Neurosurgery

#24 in North America

#61 in the World

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

22. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#25 in North America

#63 in the World

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

23. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#26 in North America

#70 in the World

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

24. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Neurosurgery

#27 in North America

#71 in the World

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

25. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neurosurgery

#28 in North America

#73 in the World

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

26. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Neurosurgery

#29 in North America

#75 in the World

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

27. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Neurosurgery

#30 in North America

#77 in the World

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

28. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Neurosurgery

#31 in North America

#87 in the World

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

29. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Neurosurgery

#32 in North America

#88 in the World

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

30. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#33 in North America

#89 in the World

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

31. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Neurosurgery

#34 in North America

#91 in the World

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

32. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Neurosurgery

#35 in North America

#93 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Neurosurgery

#36 in North America

#94 in the World

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

34. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neurosurgery

#37 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

35. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Neurosurgery

#39 in North America

#106 in the World

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

36. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Neurosurgery

#40 in North America

#108 in the World

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

37. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Neurosurgery

#41 in North America

#109 in the World

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

38. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Neurosurgery

#42 in North America

#116 in the World

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

39. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Neurosurgery

#43 in North America

#117 in the World

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

40. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Neurosurgery

#44 in North America

#122 in the World

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

41. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Neurosurgery

#45 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,240
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1879

42. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Neurosurgery

#46 in North America

#127 in the World

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

43. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Neurosurgery

#47 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

44. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Neurosurgery

#48 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 4,280
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

45. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Neurosurgery

#49 in North America

#146 in the World

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

46. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Neurosurgery

#50 in North America

#150 in the World

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

47. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Neurosurgery

#51 in North America

#153 in the World

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

48. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Neurosurgery

#52 in North America

#160 in the World

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

49. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Neurosurgery

#53 in North America

#166 in the World

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

50. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Neurosurgery

#54 in North America

#167 in the World

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

51. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neurosurgery

#55 in North America

#168 in the World

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

52. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neurosurgery

#56 in North America

#169 in the World

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

53. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Neurosurgery

#58 in North America

#171 in the World

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

54. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Neurosurgery

#59 in North America

#174 in the World

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

55. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Neurosurgery

#61 in North America

#179 in the World

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

56. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Neurosurgery

#62 in North America

#183 in the World

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

57. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Neurosurgery

#64 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 837
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1839

58. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Neurosurgery

#65 in North America

#200 in the World

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

59. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Neurosurgery

#66 in North America

#201 in the World

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

60. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Neurosurgery

#67 in North America

#207 in the World

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

61. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Neurosurgery

#68 in North America

#209 in the World

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

62. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Neurosurgery

#69 in North America

#210 in the World

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

63. University of Mississippi Medical Center

Mississippi | Jackson

For Neurosurgery

#70 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1955

64. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Neurosurgery

#71 in North America

#215 in the World

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

65. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Neurosurgery

#72 in North America

#218 in the World

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

66. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Neurosurgery

#73 in North America

#223 in the World

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

67. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Neurosurgery

#74 in North America

#225 in the World

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

68. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Neurosurgery

#75 in North America

#230 in the World

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

69. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Neurosurgery

#76 in North America

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,454
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

70. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Neurosurgery

#77 in North America

#238 in the World

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

71. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Neurosurgery

#78 in North America

#243 in the World

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

72. Illinois College

Illinois | Jacksonville

For Neurosurgery

#79 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1043
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $16,296

73. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Neurosurgery

#80 in North America

#254 in the World

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

74. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport

Louisiana | Shreveport

For Neurosurgery

#81 in North America

#255 in the World

Enrollment: 1,015
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1969

75. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Neurosurgery

#82 in North America

#260 in the World

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

76. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Neurosurgery

#84 in North America

#264 in the World

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

77. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Neurosurgery

#85 in North America

#268 in the World

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

78. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Neurosurgery

#86 in North America

#271 in the World

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

79. Upstate Medical University

New York State | Syracuse

For Neurosurgery

#87 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,431
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1834

80. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Neurosurgery

#88 in North America

#278 in the World

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

81. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Neurosurgery

#89 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

82. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Neurosurgery

#91 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,651

83. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Neurosurgery

#92 in North America

#294 in the World

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

84. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Neurosurgery

#93 in North America

#304 in the World

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

85. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Neurosurgery

#94 in North America

#305 in the World

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

86. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#95 in North America

#310 in the World

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

87. Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

New York State | New York City

For Neurosurgery

#96 in North America

#313 in the World

Receiving Aid: 0%
Enrollment: 329
Male:Female: 13:87

88. Johnson University

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Neurosurgery

#97 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1088
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,012

89. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Neurosurgery

#98 in North America

#316 in the World

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

90. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Neurosurgery

#99 in North America

#318 in the World

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

91. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Neurosurgery

#100 in North America

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

92. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Neurosurgery

#101 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

93. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Neurosurgery

#102 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,660
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1869

94. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Neurosurgery

#103 in North America

#328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

95. Mercer University

Georgia | Macon

For Neurosurgery

#104 in North America

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $22,087

96. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Neurosurgery

#105 in North America

#356 in the World

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

97. Catholic University of America

District of Columbia | Washington

For Neurosurgery

#109 in North America

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $36,031
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $34,449

98. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Neurosurgery

#110 in North America

#397 in the World

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

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