Best universities for life sciences degrees in the US 2025

By Joy.Hunter@tim…, 15 July, 2025

Top universities in the US for biology and veterinary science 2025

US life sciences rank 2025	Global life sciences rank 2025	University	Overall	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook	Research Environment	Teaching
1	1	Harvard University	98.3	99.2	99.4	92.9	99.2	97.4
2	3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	97.2	99.5	91.5	91.9	94.2	99.6
3	5	Stanford University	96.8	99.4	100	81.9	95	98.9
4	6	Yale University	94.9	95.3	100	81	98.4	94
5	7	Princeton University	94.2	96.7	100	81.1	91.6	96.3
6	8	University of California, Berkeley	93.6	97.8	99.2	85.3	92.8	90.6
7	9	Johns Hopkins University	92.5	92.5	99	83.9	95.3	91.1
8	10	California Institute of Technology	91.7	95.8	100	85.1	87.4	91.1
9	14	Columbia University	91	96.2	80.2	88.8	90.4	87
10	=16	University of Pennsylvania	89.7	93.1	76.7	69.5	93.6	88.9
11	18	Cornell University	89.6	92.8	69.8	79.9	92.3	88.6
12	19	The University of Chicago	88.7	96.9	70.5	85.4	85.8	84.4
13	22	University of California, Los Angeles	87.3	96.4	81.2	67.6	90.7	78.3
14	23	Duke University	86.8	90.1	100	78.3	83.3	86.3
15	24	University of Washington	86.7	97	68.1	74.4	91.4	74.9
16	25	University of California, San Diego	85.2	97.4	100	60.5	88.3	70.9
17	27	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	84.8	90.2	83.9	75.6	84.3	80.9
18	28	University of California, Davis	83.9	79.1	76.7	75.8	90.3	87.1
19	38	Washington University in St Louis	78.1	96.7	81.3	70.7	71.2	62.3
20	41	New York University	77.6	94.2	67.3	84.8	72.3	60.4
21	44	University of Wisconsin-Madison	76.6	82.9	84.2	60.4	74.5	73.9
22	50	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	72.9	92.2	74	59	63.3	60.5
23	51	Northwestern University	72.4	93.4	72.5	77.6	59.3	56.5
24	58	University of Massachusetts	70.1	81.5	77.2	73.6	58.4	64.8
25	64	Boston University	68.2	91.4	73.8	80.5	50.1	51.4
26	67	University of Florida	67.5	72.4	82.3	51.4	66.5	64.3
=27	=68	Emory University	67.1	89.7	82.8	73.9	49.7	50.2
=27	=68	Vanderbilt University	67.1	85.7	100	72.5	51.9	51.3
29	73	Purdue University West Lafayette	66.4	74.5	82.2	74.4	56.9	60.5
30	84	University of Minnesota	64.8	77.7	99.7	43.4	56.2	57.2
31	86	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	64.5	78.9	71.1	62.8	51.1	58.5
32	88	University of Southern California	64.1	93.1	82.1	72.5	44	40.7
33	=91	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh campus	63.9	87.3	97.1	50.2	54.5	41.3
34	94	Michigan State University	63.4	76.7	68.8	64.7	52.1	56.2
=35	101–125	Brown University	59.5–62.0	74.7	66.8	66.8	42.5	58.8
=35	101–125	Dartmouth College	59.5–62.0	82.4	76	62.6	31.3	59.1
=35	101–125	Texas A&M University	59.5–62.0	67.1	70.6	55.6	56.3	54.5
=35	101–125	University of California, Irvine	59.5–62.0	85.1	86.2	75.8	41.5	40
	101–125	University of California, Santa Barbara	59.5–62.0	95.8	92.6	74.5	35.9	26.6
=35	101–125	University of Texas at Austin	59.5–62.0	89.2	79.5	43.4	47.5	41.4
=40	126–150	Ohio State University (Main campus)	57.1–59.2	76.1	70.2	63.6	41.7	50.1
=40	126–150	Penn State (Main campus)	57.1–59.2	82.5	68.6	51	44.4	42.3
=40	126–150	University of California, Santa Cruz	57.1–59.2	94	69.2	65.5	35.7	25.9
=40	126–150	University of Virginia (Main campus)	57.1–59.2	80.6	100	73.6	33.6	39.1
=44	151–175	Rice University	54.3–56.9	86.7	67.5	69.6	27.6	36.5
=44	151–175	University of Colorado Boulder	54.3–56.9	88.5	72.3	48.1	39.4	31.6
=44	151–175	University of Maryland, College Park	54.3–56.9	90	65.5	45.9	30.3	33.5
=47	176–200	North Carolina State University	52.3–54.2	67.9	69.5	55.8	39.2	43.9
=47	176–200	Northeastern University, US	52.3–54.2	89.2	87.8	76.8	26.5	22.5
=47	176–200	University of California, Riverside	52.3–54.2	73.4	81.5	73.6	38.2	30.9
=47	176–200	University of Rochester	52.3–54.2	77.7	80.8	77.1	32.7	28.3
=51	201–250	Arizona State University (Tempe)	49.5–52.2	82.5	68.3	73.3	24	25
=51	201–250	Case Western Reserve University	49.5–52.2	70.7	67.9	73.9	28.2	37
=51	201–250	Colorado State University, Fort Collins	49.5–52.2	74	65.6	40.6	33.1	38.6
=51	201–250	Indiana University	49.5–52.2	73.4	83.5	60.6	29.9	29.2
=51	201–250	Iowa State University	49.5–52.2	66.9	71.4	41.1	33.8	44.4
=51	201–250	Tufts University	49.5–52.2	72.1	77.7	55.4	33.1	38.5
=51	201–250	University of Arizona	49.5–52.2	75.6	70.9	50.7	36.3	31.8
=51	201–250	University of Connecticut	49.5–52.2	84.5	68.9	64.7	26.6	21.7
=51	201–250	University of Georgia (USA)	49.5–52.2	61.7	72.7	51.1	42.4	44.6
=51	201–250	University of Hawai’i at Mānoa	49.5–52.2	77.6	64.1	75	34.4	26.4
=51	201–250	University of Miami	49.5–52.2	73	70.2	69.7	33.5	29
=62	251–300	George Washington University	46.6–49.4	67	62.8	79.3	24.9	33.2
=62	251–300	Rutgers University–New Brunswick	46.6–49.4	79.3	67.9	62.9	22.6	27
=62	251–300	Stony Brook University	46.6–49.4	70.9	74.1	72.6	28.6	29.4
=62	251–300	Temple University	46.6–49.4	82.5	95.9	44.1	22.9	20.1
=62	251–300	University of California, Merced	46.6–49.4	85.1	62.8	42.7	18.4	23.3
=62	251–300	University of Delaware	46.6–49.4	78.8	78.9	54.5	22.7	21.7
=62	251–300	University of Illinois Chicago	46.6–49.4	73.8	75.5	63.6	29.6	25.3
=62	251–300	University of Iowa	46.6–49.4	74.5	73.6	42.5	28	32.8
=62	251–300	University of South Florida	46.6–49.4	73.2	99.9	73.4	30.1	20.6
=62	251–300	University of Utah	46.6–49.4	77.8	69.8	39.4	27.4	24.5
=62	251–300	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	46.6–49.4	67.6	66.8	57.9	28.5	31.3
=62	251–300	Washington State University	46.6–49.4	65.6	84.4	58	30.8	34
=74	301–400	Florida International University	42.0–46.5	72.2	55.9	54.7	29.7	17.8
=74	301–400	Florida State University	42.0–46.5	72.1	66.8	54.7	26.9	24.9
=74	301–400	Georgetown University	42.0–46.5	74.2	67.4	52.4	13.9	28.3
=74	301–400	Kansas State University	42.0–46.5	60.5	71.3	55.4	22.1	29.5
=74	301–400	Mizzou - University of Missouri	42.0–46.5	67	75.8	55.4	23	33
=74	301–400	University at Buffalo	42.0–46.5	65.9	83	59.4	24	22.1
=74	301–400	University of Central Florida	42.0–46.5	80.8	63.6	35.1	21.4	17.5
=74	301–400	University of Kansas	42.0–46.5	64.5	99.6	49.6	31.4	24.9
=74	301–400	University of Kentucky	42.0–46.5	65.7	68.4	52.4	25.3	27.2
=74	301–400	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	42.0–46.5	67.1	63.5	70.3	19.7	24.9
=74	301–400	University of Notre Dame	42.0–46.5	60	87.3	58.8	28.6	31
=74	301–400	Virginia Commonwealth University	42.0–46.5	71.6	83.4	39	27.3	17.8
=74	301–400	Wake Forest University	42.0–46.5	75.4	88.9	41.6	17.9	26.8
=87	401–500	Auburn University	37.8–41.8	51.1	56.3	60	22.5	31.6
=87	401–500	George Mason University	37.8–41.8	71.1	52.6	57.6	12	19.4
=87	401–500	Saint Louis University	37.8–41.8	71.7	64.6	44.6	12.9	16.6
=87	401–500	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville	37.8–41.8	60.9	67	54.9	20.6	27.6
=87	401–500	Tulane University	37.8–41.8	57.9	67.8	54.1	21	27
=87	401–500	University of Alaska Fairbanks	37.8–41.8	52	41	66.7	22.9	25.3
=87	401–500	University of Arkansas	37.8–41.8	62.7	72.8	35.4	28.1	21.7
=87	401–500	University of Nebraska Medical Center	37.8–41.8	61.4	66.9	60.2	14.7	24.2
=87	401–500	University of Oregon	37.8–41.8	61.4	48.4	43.4	17.9	29.1
=87	401–500	University of Texas at Dallas	37.8–41.8	64.7	77.5	40	22.6	20.3
=97	501–600	Brandeis University	34.7–37.7	43.7	69.4	72	19.6	28.8
=97	501–600	Georgia State University	34.7–37.7	62.8	49.2	57.4	11.8	20.5
=97	501–600	Louisiana State University	34.7–37.7	61.8	57.6	49.8	14.5	21.1
=97	501–600	San Diego State University	34.7–37.7	64.1	62.7	40.1	9.8	18.4
=97	501–600	University of Rhode Island	34.7–37.7	57.9	45.5	53.9	16.1	16.4
=97	501–600	University of South Carolina-Columbia	34.7–37.7	62.5	58.5	57.9	12.7	17.7
=103	601–800	Florida Atlantic University	27.6–34.6	46.7	39.7	61.1	11	12.7
=103	601–800	Mississippi State University	27.6–34.6	52.6	45	49.5	14.5	22.3
=103	601–800	Montana State University	27.6–34.6	52.9	75.8	43.2	17.6	18.3
=103	601–800	New Mexico State University (Main campus)	27.6–34.6	48.3	44.7	43.8	13.1	15.7
=103	601–800	Ohio University (Main campus)	27.6–34.6	52.6	55.6	47.3	17.4	20.7
=103	601–800	Oklahoma State University	27.6–34.6	46.9	48	53.4	13.8	25.6
=103	601–800	South Dakota State University	27.6–34.6	53.2	39.8	41.9	13.9	16.7
=103	601–800	SUNY University at Albany	27.6–34.6	40.1	65.9	54.6	11.8	14.9
=103	601–800	Texas Tech University	27.6–34.6	53.3	44.4	58	14.7	20.9
=103	601–800	The University of Alabama	27.6–34.6	54.1	36.4	34.4	20	13.1
=103	601–800	The University of Texas at San Antonio	27.6–34.6	52.4	47	33.6	12.9	12.4
=103	601–800	University of Houston	27.6–34.6	51	62.2	72.6	16.8	12.6
=103	601–800	University of Maryland, Baltimore County	27.6–34.6	42.6	61.6	39.5	18.5	20
=103	601–800	University of Memphis	27.6–34.6	49.1	36.6	36.1	9.3	15
=103	601–800	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	27.6–34.6	54.1	33.9	34.3	17.4	16.6
=103	601–800	University of Texas at Arlington	27.6–34.6	42.7	48.3	40.9	14.2	18.8
=103	601–800	University of Texas at El Paso	27.6–34.6	53.5	34.8	40.9	20.6	15.6
=103	601–800	University of Wyoming	27.6–34.6	52.4	51.4	38.2	15.5	23.1
=103	601–800	Wayne State University	27.6–34.6	53.8	68.6	39.2	12.1	21.1
=103	601–800	William & Mary	27.6–34.6	43.6	22.8	32.9	10.4	24.7
=123	801–1000	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	20.8–27.5	35.2	20.7	59.5	14.7	12.7
=123	801–1000	Oakland University	20.8–27.5	38.5	45.4	30.8	13.1	14.3
=123	801–1000	Rowan University	20.8–27.5	32.7	30.2	36.6	9.4	11.9
=123	801–1000	Southern Illinois University Carbondale	20.8–27.5	40.5	50.9	54.1	9.7	16.6
=123	801–1000	Syracuse University	20.8–27.5	42.3	52.8	39.4	12.3	15.7
=123	801–1000	Texas State University	20.8–27.5	42.6	36.1	50.5	14.1	12.8
=123	801–1000	University of Nebraska Omaha	20.8–27.5	34.3	39.8	41.6	9.2	12.3
=123	801–1000	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley	20.8–27.5	50.2	19	45.8	7.4	10
=131	1001+	Central Michigan University	10.8–20.7	29.1	14.5	29.3	10.3	15
=131	1001+	University of South Dakota	10.8–20.7	29.2	37	27.5	10.4	13.5

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 2025
There are 132 US universities ranked in total
Stanford University, Yale University and Princeton University all 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

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.

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Life sciences

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Discover the Times Higher Education rankings for the best life science schools in the US 2025.

This list highlights the top-ranked universities for biology and agriculture in the US, based on the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings: Life Sciences 2025. These rankings provide valuable insights into the leading institutions for life sciences education and research.

A total of 132 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 2025

Top universities in the US for biology and veterinary science 2025

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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