100 Best colleges for Oncology and Cancer research in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Oncology and Cancer research. A graph of 90.3M citations received by 1.86M academic papers made by 587 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 Oncology and Cancer research

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Oncology and Cancer research

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

4. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Oncology and Cancer research

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Oncology and Cancer research

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Oncology and Cancer research

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Oncology and Cancer research

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Oncology and Cancer research

#9 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

9. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Oncology and Cancer research

#10 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Oncology and Cancer research

#11 in North America

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

11. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

12. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Oncology and Cancer research

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

13. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Oncology and Cancer research

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

14. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Oncology and Cancer research

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

15. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Oncology and Cancer research

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

16. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Oncology and Cancer research

#17 in North America

#20 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

17. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Oncology and Cancer research

#18 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

18. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Oncology and Cancer research

#19 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

19. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Oncology and Cancer research

#20 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

20. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#21 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Oncology and Cancer research

#22 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Oncology and Cancer research

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

23. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Oncology and Cancer research

#24 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

24. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Oncology and Cancer research

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

25. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Oncology and Cancer research

#26 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

26. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Oncology and Cancer research

#27 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

27. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Oncology and Cancer research

#28 in North America

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

28. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Oncology and Cancer research

#29 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

29. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Oncology and Cancer research

#30 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Oncology and Cancer research

#31 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

31. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Oncology and Cancer research

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

32. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Oncology and Cancer research

#33 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Oncology and Cancer research

#35 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

34. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Oncology and Cancer research

#37 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

35. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Oncology and Cancer research

#38 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

36. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Oncology and Cancer research

#39 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

37. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Oncology and Cancer research

#40 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Oncology and Cancer research

#41 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

39. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Oncology and Cancer research

#42 in North America

#74 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

40. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Oncology and Cancer research

#43 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

41. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Oncology and Cancer research

#44 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

42. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Oncology and Cancer research

#45 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

43. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Oncology and Cancer research

#46 in North America

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

44. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Oncology and Cancer research

#47 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

45. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Oncology and Cancer research

#48 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

46. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#49 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

47. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Oncology and Cancer research

#50 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

48. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Oncology and Cancer research

#51 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

49. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Oncology and Cancer research

#52 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

50. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Oncology and Cancer research

#53 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

51. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Oncology and Cancer research

#54 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

52. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Oncology and Cancer research

#55 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

53. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Oncology and Cancer research

#56 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

54. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Oncology and Cancer research

#57 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

55. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Oncology and Cancer research

#58 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

56. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Oncology and Cancer research

#59 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

57. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Oncology and Cancer research

#61 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

58. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#62 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

59. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Oncology and Cancer research

#63 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

60. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#64 in North America

#142 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

61. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Oncology and Cancer research

#65 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

62. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Oncology and Cancer research

#66 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

63. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Oncology and Cancer research

#67 in North America

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

64. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Oncology and Cancer research

#68 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

65. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Oncology and Cancer research

#71 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

66. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Oncology and Cancer research

#72 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

67. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Oncology and Cancer research

#73 in North America

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

68. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Oncology and Cancer research

#75 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

69. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Oncology and Cancer research

#76 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 281
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1901

70. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Oncology and Cancer research

#78 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

71. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Oncology and Cancer research

#79 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Oncology and Cancer research

#80 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

73. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Oncology and Cancer research

#81 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

74. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Oncology and Cancer research

#82 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

75. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Oncology and Cancer research

#83 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,335

76. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Oncology and Cancer research

#84 in North America

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 3,101
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1911

77. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Oncology and Cancer research

#86 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

78. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

California | San Diego

For Oncology and Cancer research

#87 in North America

#216 in the World

Enrollment: 52
Male:Female: 32:68

79. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Oncology and Cancer research

#89 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

80. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Oncology and Cancer research

#90 in North America

#230 in the World

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

81. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Oncology and Cancer research

#92 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

82. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Oncology and Cancer research

#93 in North America

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

83. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Oncology and Cancer research

#94 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

84. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Oncology and Cancer research

#95 in North America

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

85. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Oncology and Cancer research

#97 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

86. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Oncology and Cancer research

#98 in North America

#258 in the World

Enrollment: 3,680
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1900

87. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Oncology and Cancer research

#99 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

88. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Oncology and Cancer research

#100 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

89. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Oncology and Cancer research

#101 in North America

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

90. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Oncology and Cancer research

#102 in North America

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

91. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Oncology and Cancer research

#103 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,471
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1860

92. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Oncology and Cancer research

#104 in North America

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

93. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Oncology and Cancer research

#105 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

California | Duarte

For Oncology and Cancer research

#106 in North America

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 90
Founded: 1994

95. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Oncology and Cancer research

#107 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

96. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Oncology and Cancer research

#108 in North America

#320 in the World

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

97. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Oncology and Cancer research

#109 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,749

98. Creighton University

Nebraska | Omaha

For Oncology and Cancer research

#110 in North America

#325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1336
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,636

99. Kettering University

Michigan | Flint

For Oncology and Cancer research

#111 in North America

#338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $35,609

100. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Oncology and Cancer research

#112 in North America

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

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