Top universities in the US for biology degrees

By Joy.Hunter@tim…, 7 April, 2026

Top universities in the US for biology and veterinary science 2026

US Life Sciences Rank 2026	Global Life Sciences Rank 2026	University	Overall	Teaching	Research Environment	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook
1	1	Harvard University	97.8	96.4	99.4	98.8	98.8	92.1
2	3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	96.9	99.3	93.5	99.4	94.8	90.1
3	4	Stanford University	96.6	98.3	94.9	99.3	100	82.2
4	6	Yale University	95.1	93.6	98.3	95.9	99.5	82.5
5	7	Princeton University	94.6	95.9	92.7	97.5	99.2	80.1
6	8	University of California, Berkeley	93.5	90.5	92.4	97.6	99.6	85.2
=7	=9	California Institute of Technology	92.2	92.6	87.9	96.2	100	83.3
=7	=9	Johns Hopkins University	92.2	92.3	94.7	91.6	96.1	83.7
9	15	Columbia University	90.6	87.7	90.1	95.1	78.8	88.8
10	16	Cornell University	90.2	93.3	92.4	91.2	69.7	77.4
11	17	University of Pennsylvania	89.5	88.9	93.9	92.4	75.7	69.5
12	20	The University of Chicago	88	83.7	82.3	97	81.4	84.8
13	22	University of Washington	87.1	78.1	91.1	96.3	67.4	73.3
14	23	University of California, Los Angeles	86.6	78.8	89.6	95.6	80.9	64.7
15	25	Duke University	85.4	86	80.2	89.2	100	76.1
16	26	University of California, Davis	84	87	90.4	77.8	81.7	80.8
17	27	University of California, San Diego	83.7	72.5	80.3	96.3	100	68.2
18	28	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	83.6	80.6	82.1	88.7	81.8	76.1
=19	=40	New York University	77	61.5	70.8	93.3	66.5	83.7
=19	=40	Washington University in St Louis	77	61.4	68.6	96.9	71	72.1
21	45	University of Wisconsin-Madison	75.7	74.6	73.6	80.6	82.9	60
22	52	Northwestern University	72.1	57.3	58.8	92.4	66.6	79.3
23	58	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	70.6	59.5	59.6	89.8	73.1	57.8
24	62	Boston University	68.1	50.5	49.2	92.1	81.9	78.3
25	63	University of Florida	68	67.1	68	70.2	85.3	51.8
26	=66	University of Massachusetts	67.1	57.3	54.3	81.8	77.7	73.1
27	69	Vanderbilt University	66.6	48.2	51.4	86.9	100	72.2
28	70	Emory University	66.5	48.1	49.5	89.8	81.8	75.1
29	79	Purdue University West Lafayette	65	57.8	56.1	72.7	85.3	74.9
30	=80	Michigan State University	64.8	59.4	57.9	74.1	65.8	64.6
31	=85	University of Minnesota	64.3	56.6	58.7	74.6	100	44.6
32	89	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	63.8	55.1	50.4	80.1	68.6	63.6
33	=91	University of Southern California	63.4	41	41.5	93.2	80.8	71.6
34	99	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus	62.5	40.6	54	84.9	94.9	49.1
=35	101–125	Brown University	59.1–62.1	55.9	41.2	72.3	65.9	67.8
=35	101–125	Dartmouth College	59.1–62.1	62.7	32	81.3	75.6	64.2
=35	101–125	Ohio State University (Main campus)	59.1–62.1	50.9	45.6	74.3	70.2	63.3
=35	101–125	Texas A&M University	59.1–62.1	55.1	54.3	66.5	71.1	56.5
=35	101–125	University of California, Irvine	59.1–62.1	37.1	39.6	84.6	90.1	76
=35	101–125	University of Texas at Austin	59.1–62.1	41.9	46.1	88.9	79.4	43.7
=41	126–150	Penn State (Main campus)	57.0–59.0	42.4	44.8	80	67.6	52.7
=41	126–150	Rice University	57.0–59.0	39.1	32.5	89.2	74.3	68.1
=41	126–150	University of California, Santa Barbara	57.0–59.0	29.6	32.2	95.4	82.9	75.5
=41	126–150	University of California, Santa Cruz	57.0–59.0	31.3	36	93.1	67.7	69.3
=41	126–150	University of Virginia (Main campus)	57.0–59.0	41.2	33.3	82	94.1	76.2
=46	151–175	University of California, Riverside	54.6–56.9	36.5	39.4	73.1	81.3	73
=46	151–175	University of Colorado Boulder	54.6–56.9	34.1	37.2	86.4	77	46.2
=46	151–175	University of Maryland, College Park	54.6–56.9	35.8	32	88.3	66.4	46.8
=49	176–200	North Carolina State University	52.5–54.5	42.9	43.1	65	70.3	56.7
=49	176–200	Northeastern University, US	52.5–54.5	19.4	28.6	88.1	92.4	77.5
=49	176–200	Tufts University	52.5–54.5	41.2	33.6	72.4	99	55.9
=49	176–200	University of Rochester	52.5–54.5	31.9	35.6	76.6	77.6	76.9
=53	201–250	Arizona State University (Tempe)	49.6–52.4	27	23.9	83.2	67.9	74.2
=53	201–250	Case Western Reserve University	49.6–52.4	37.9	30.5	69.4	68.2	71.8
=53	201–250	Rutgers University–New Brunswick	49.6–52.4	31.9	26.5	79	68.9	60.7
=53	201–250	University of Arizona	49.6–52.4	31.2	36.2	74	72	52.7
=53	201–250	University of Georgia (USA)	49.6–52.4	42.3	38.7	59.2	68.5	58.9
=53	201–250	University of Hawai’i at Mānoa	49.6–52.4	24.7	35.2	72.6	65.6	74.6
=59	251–300	Colorado State University, Fort Collins	47.1–49.5	38.2	31.3	71.2	64.8	43.8
=59	251–300	Florida State University	47.1–49.5	26	29.6	73.3	68.6	54.7
=59	251–300	George Washington University	47.1–49.5	33.8	25.5	67	63.6	78.9
=59	251–300	Indiana University	47.1–49.5	29.9	30.8	68.9	84.4	62
=59	251–300	Iowa State University	47.1–49.5	43.6	31.3	64.7	71.3	39.5
=59	251–300	Stony Brook University	47.1–49.5	27.4	27.3	70.5	76.4	71.3
=59	251–300	Temple University	47.1–49.5	20.7	22.8	83.6	98.7	45.3
=59	251–300	University of Connecticut	47.1–49.5	24.9	20.8	79.5	67.4	71.7
=59	251–300	University of Illinois Chicago	47.1–49.5	25.9	29.4	72	73.8	60.1
=59	251–300	University of Miami	47.1–49.5	30.6	30.1	71.5	71.2	69.8
=59	251–300	University of South Florida	47.1–49.5	21.7	30.4	69.2	100	75.1
=59	251–300	University of Utah	47.1–49.5	27.8	27.3	77.5	67.3	39.7
=59	251–300	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	47.1–49.5	33.7	27.2	69.6	66.9	59.2
=59	251–300	Washington State University	47.1–49.5	34.4	32.2	66.3	83.4	56.4
=73	301–400	Florida International University	42.4–47.0	19.6	29.5	65.1	54.8	55.7
=73	301–400	Georgetown University	42.4–47.0	29.8	18.6	73.6	71.6	49.1
=73	301–400	Mizzou - University of Missouri	42.4–47.0	31.3	26.2	68.2	74.1	56.2
=73	301–400	University of California, Merced	42.4–47.0	23.4	16.2	84.8	46	45.5
=73	301–400	University of Central Florida	42.4–47.0	17.2	20.1	82.6	63.3	35.6
=73	301–400	University of Delaware	42.4–47.0	22.7	23.4	74	78.2	54.7
=73	301–400	University of Iowa	42.4–47.0	31.9	27.8	69.7	70.2	44.2
=73	301–400	University of Kansas	42.4–47.0	24.1	31.5	66.8	98.8	48.6
=73	301–400	University of Kentucky	42.4–47.0	27.7	24.4	64.8	69.2	52.2
=73	301–400	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	42.4–47.0	27.9	23.1	64.4	64.5	66.8
=73	301–400	Virginia Commonwealth University	42.4–47.0	19.5	26.6	70	86.4	39.1
=73	301–400	Wake Forest University	42.4–47.0	25.6	14.3	75.9	80.4	40.3
=85	401–500	Auburn University	38.8–42.2	33.9	25.4	51.9	58.1	60
=85	401–500	Kansas State University	38.8–42.2	32.6	23.4	57.4	73.6	54.6
=85	401–500	Tulane University	38.8–42.2	27.3	22.1	60.8	67.3	57.7
=85	401–500	University at Buffalo	38.8–42.2	23.6	22	63.7	69.2	59.4
=85	401–500	University of Arkansas	38.8–42.2	22.4	27.3	61.3	73.9	38.7
=85	401–500	University of Nebraska Medical Center	38.8–42.2	24	16	63.5	68	60.1
=85	401–500	University of Notre Dame	38.8–42.2	24.7	25.5	59.9	69.1	58
=92	501–600	Brandeis University	35.5–38.7	29.3	19.9	46.7	67.3	73.9
=92	501–600	George Mason University	35.5–38.7	19.2	11.9	64.1	53.8	56.9
=92	501–600	Georgia State University	35.5–38.7	21	12.9	60.1	51.3	60.7
=92	501–600	Mississippi State University	35.5–38.7	22.3	16.4	57.8	44.2	50.9
=92	501–600	Saint Louis University	35.5–38.7	17.7	12.8	68.2	66.8	52
=92	501–600	Texas Tech University	35.5–38.7	20.9	15.7	54.8	48.5	60.5
=92	501–600	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	35.5–38.7	21.3	21.6	57.4	68	55.2
=92	501–600	University of Alaska Fairbanks	35.5–38.7	21.8	22.1	51.8	48.3	66.7
=92	501–600	University of South Carolina-Columbia	35.5–38.7	15.6	12.9	63.5	59.8	57.9
=92	501–600	University of Texas at Dallas	35.5–38.7	19.4	17.6	62.1	72.5	47.7
=102	601–800	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	29.3–35.4	16.8	15.7	44.7	25.5	59.7
=102	601–800	Louisiana State University	29.3–35.4	21.6	14.8	51.5	52.8	49.2
=102	601–800	Montana State University	29.3–35.4	16.9	19.1	51.7	75.2	44.5
=102	601–800	New Mexico State University (Main campus)	29.3–35.4	17.7	14.7	54.7	45.3	45
=102	601–800	Ohio University (Main campus)	29.3–35.4	18	16.6	51.2	55.3	47.7
=102	601–800	Oklahoma State University	29.3–35.4	26.1	14.1	50.5	47.2	55.1
=102	601–800	San Diego State University	29.3–35.4	16.8	10.2	58.3	62.9	39.7
=102	601–800	Syracuse University	29.3–35.4	17.4	11.3	50.3	50.8	56.8
=102	601–800	The University of Alabama	29.3–35.4	15.4	17.5	50.1	38	34.7
=102	601–800	University of Houston	29.3–35.4	16.9	18.4	51.6	63.6	70.6
=102	601–800	University of Maryland, Baltimore County	29.3–35.4	19.9	18.7	43.6	64.5	37.7
=102	601–800	University of Missouri-Kansas City	29.3–35.4	12.9	12.8	50.7	57.5	34.5
=102	601–800	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	29.3–35.4	16.2	17.6	58.5	36.1	38.7
=102	601–800	University of Oregon	29.3–35.4	25	16.9	54.3	48.9	40.5
=102	601–800	University of Rhode Island	29.3–35.4	15.3	17.6	56.9	47.9	55.4
=102	601–800	University of Texas at Arlington	29.3–35.4	18.4	14.1	46	51.5	42.1
=102	601–800	University of Texas at El Paso	29.3–35.4	18.7	20.6	53.5	36.6	41.6
=102	601–800	University of Wyoming	29.3–35.4	23.3	12.5	49.7	52.3	38
=102	601–800	Wayne State University	29.3–35.4	20.4	12.7	50.8	70.1	41.8
=102	601–800	William & Mary	29.3–35.4	23.8	17.4	43.2	33.3	33.2
=122	801–1000	Florida Atlantic University	23.4–29.1	14.7	12.1	44.2	43.9	57.4
=122	801–1000	Oakland University	23.4–29.1	15.7	14.4	45.3	56.4	36.7
=122	801–1000	SUNY University at Albany	23.4–29.1	16.1	8.5	41.3	66.8	54.2
=122	801–1000	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	23.4–29.1	17.6	11	35.7	52.5	53.8
=122	801–1000	Texas State University	23.4–29.1	12.2	15.8	41	38.1	52.8
=122	801–1000	The University of Texas at San Antonio	23.4–29.1	12.4	12.5	47.5	46.6	32.3
=122	801–1000	University of Memphis	23.4–29.1	14.6	9.5	48.3	36.3	45.1
=122	801–1000	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	23.4–29.1	9.9	7.5	47.5	20.4	47.5
=130	1001+	Central Michigan University	10.9–23.3	17.9	11.3	29.7	29.8	30.9
=130	1001+	Georgia Southern University	10.9–23.3	8.6	8.5	29.4	19.3	36.5
=130	1001+	Rowan University	10.9–23.3	12.1	10.5	36.6	33.2	37.8
=130	1001+	University of Nebraska Omaha	10.9–23.3	13.2	9	32.4	28.2	43
=130	1001+	University of South Dakota	10.9–23.3	14	10	32.7	39	28.9

Key insights into the top universities for life sciences in the US

Harvard University is the top university for life sciences in the US for 2026
There are 134 US universities ranked in total
Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology achieved perfect scores for their links to industry
The ranking for life sciences rank universites that teach courses in biology, veterinary medicine, biochemistry, agriculture and forestry and sport science.

Choosing the right university for life sciences in the US

The life sciences cover a wide range of subjects including biology, zoology, agriculture and many others.

Due to the multiple skills that students learn on a life sciences degree, graduates will be able to use their degree to enter a range of industries and jobs.

If you’re interested in a life sciences degree that offers flexibility and breadth, the US could be a good fit. You can choose to study across a range of courses in the life sciences and then home in on your interests in the third and fourth years.

Most veterinary medicine courses in the US are offered at the postgraduate level, and you will be expected to have completed an undergraduate degree already.

Choosing the best school for biology, agriculture or sports science is a crucial step for prospective students. The Times Higher Education Life Science Rankings help identify universities with strong reputations in teaching, research, and industry collaboration.

The table for the best universities for life sciences in the US was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.

To explore more, you may like to check out the top universities in the UK for life sciences, the top universities for life sciences in Canada, the top universities in Australia for life sciences.

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Discover the Times Higher Education rankings for the best life science schools in the US 2026.

This list highlights the top-ranked universities for biology and agriculture in the US, based on the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings: Life Sciences 2026. These rankings provide valuable insights into the leading institutions for life sciences education and research.

A total of 134 US universities have been ranked for their excellence in teaching, research, industry collaboration, and international outlook.

The rankings are based on a rigorous methodology designed by Times Higher Education’s data experts, ensuring accuracy and reliability for students, academics, and industry leaders worldwide.

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Best universities for life sciences degrees in the US 2026

Top universities in the US for biology and veterinary science 2026

Key insights into the top universities for life sciences in the US

Choosing the right university for life sciences in the US

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