100 Best Surgeons Medical schools 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 Surgery. A graph of 146M citations received by 3.84M academic papers made by 982 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 Surgery

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Surgery

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

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

3. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Surgery

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

4. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Surgery

#5 in North America

#5 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 Surgery

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Surgery

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Surgery

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Surgery

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Surgery

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Surgery

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Surgery

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Surgery

#13 in North America

#14 in the World

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

13. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Surgery

#14 in North America

#15 in the World

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

14. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Surgery

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Surgery

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

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

16. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Surgery

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

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

17. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Surgery

#18 in North America

#20 in the World

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

18. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Surgery

#19 in North America

#21 in the World

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

19. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Surgery

#20 in North America

#22 in the World

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

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Surgery

#21 in North America

#23 in the World

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

21. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Surgery

#22 in North America

#24 in the World

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

22. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Surgery

#23 in North America

#26 in the World

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

23. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Surgery

#24 in North America

#27 in the World

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

24. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Surgery

#25 in North America

#28 in the World

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

25. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Surgery

#27 in North America

#31 in the World

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

26. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Surgery

#28 in North America

#32 in the World

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

27. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Surgery

#29 in North America

#33 in the World

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

28. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Surgery

#30 in North America

#36 in the World

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

29. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Surgery

#31 in North America

#40 in the World

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

30. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Surgery

#32 in North America

#41 in the World

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

31. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Surgery

#33 in North America

#42 in the World

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

32. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Surgery

#34 in North America

#43 in the World

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

33. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Surgery

#35 in North America

#44 in the World

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

34. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Surgery

#37 in North America

#49 in the World

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

35. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Surgery

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

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

36. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Surgery

#39 in North America

#52 in the World

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

37. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Surgery

#41 in North America

#55 in the World

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

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Surgery

#42 in North America

#56 in the World

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

39. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Surgery

#43 in North America

#61 in the World

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

40. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Surgery

#44 in North America

#63 in the World

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

41. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Surgery

#46 in North America

#71 in the World

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

42. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Surgery

#47 in North America

#78 in the World

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

43. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Surgery

#50 in North America

#84 in the World

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

44. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Surgery

#51 in North America

#85 in the World

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

45. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Surgery

#52 in North America

#86 in the World

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

46. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Surgery

#53 in North America

#90 in the World

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

47. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Surgery

#54 in North America

#92 in the World

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

48. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Surgery

#56 in North America

#98 in the World

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

49. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Surgery

#57 in North America

#99 in the World

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

50. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Surgery

#58 in North America

#103 in the World

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

51. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Surgery

#59 in North America

#105 in the World

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

52. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Surgery

#60 in North America

#106 in the World

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

53. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Surgery

#61 in North America

#107 in the World

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

54. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Surgery

#62 in North America

#116 in the World

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

55. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Surgery

#63 in North America

#117 in the World

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

56. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Surgery

#64 in North America

#120 in the World

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

57. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Surgery

#65 in North America

#122 in the World

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

58. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Surgery

#66 in North America

#123 in the World

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

59. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Surgery

#68 in North America

#128 in the World

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

60. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Surgery

#69 in North America

#129 in the World

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

61. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Surgery

#70 in North America

#134 in the World

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

62. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Surgery

#71 in North America

#139 in the World

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

63. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Surgery

#72 in North America

#143 in the World

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

64. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Surgery

#73 in North America

#150 in the World

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

65. University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Tennessee | Memphis

For Surgery

#74 in North America

#155 in the World

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

66. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Surgery

#75 in North America

#158 in the World

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

67. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Surgery

#76 in North America

#161 in the World

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

68. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Surgery

#77 in North America

#162 in the World

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

69. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Surgery

#78 in North America

#163 in the World

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

70. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Surgery

#79 in North America

#169 in the World

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

71. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Surgery

#80 in North America

#177 in the World

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

72. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Surgery

#81 in North America

#178 in the World

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

73. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Surgery

#82 in North America

#182 in the World

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

74. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Surgery

#83 in North America

#183 in the World

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

75. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Surgery

#84 in North America

#185 in the World

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

76. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Surgery

#88 in North America

#198 in the World

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

77. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Pennsylvania | Hershey

For Surgery

#89 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

78. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Surgery

#91 in North America

#208 in the World

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

79. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Surgery

#92 in North America

#212 in the World

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

80. Loma Linda University

California | Loma Linda

For Surgery

#93 in North America

#214 in the World

Enrollment: 4,210
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1905

81. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Surgery

#94 in North America

#216 in the World

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

82. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Surgery

#95 in North America

#219 in the World

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

83. New York Medical College

New York State | Valhalla

For Surgery

#96 in North America

#223 in the World

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

84. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Surgery

#97 in North America

#229 in the World

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

85. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Surgery

#98 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

86. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Surgery

#99 in North America

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

87. Augusta University

Georgia | Augusta

For Surgery

#100 in North America

#237 in the World

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

88. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Surgery

#101 in North America

#239 in the World

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

89. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Surgery

#102 in North America

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Surgery

#103 in North America

#248 in the World

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

91. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Surgery

#104 in North America

#251 in the World

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

92. University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma State | Oklahoma City

For Surgery

#105 in North America

#253 in the World

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

93. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Surgery

#106 in North America

#257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

94. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Maryland | Bethesda

For Surgery

#107 in North America

#258 in the World

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

95. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Surgery

#108 in North America

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

96. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Surgery

#109 in North America

#270 in the World

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

97. Albany Medical College

New York State | Albany

For Surgery

#110 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 814
Male:Female: 37:63
Founded: 1839

98. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Surgery

#111 in North America

#282 in the World

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

99. University of Mississippi Medical Center

Mississippi | Jackson

For Surgery

#112 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1955

100. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Surgery

#113 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

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