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Best Colleges for Biology

The best colleges for a Biology degree, led by Stanford University, Cornell University and University of California-Berkeley. Each school is shown with its acceptance rate, tuition, and average SAT so you can weigh Biology programs side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college for Biology?

Based on our rankings, Stanford University is the top-ranked college for Biology. Other top choices include Cornell University, University of California-Berkeley, Princeton University.

What are the best Biology schools?

The best Biology schools, based on program-specific federal data including median earnings and graduate counts, are Stanford University, Cornell University, University of California-Berkeley. Our rankings use College Scorecard field-of-study data rather than editorial opinion.

How much does it cost to study Biology?

The average out-of-state tuition among top Biology programs is approximately $63,443 per year. However, costs vary significantly — many schools offer generous financial aid packages that can reduce the effective cost.

How long does it take to get a Biology degree?

A bachelor's degree in Biology typically takes four years of full-time study. Some programs offer accelerated tracks or combined bachelor's-to-master's options that can extend or shorten the timeline.

How are these Biology rankings determined?

Our major rankings are independently calculated from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study (CIP) data — primarily median earnings 4 years after graduation and program scale (graduate count), with a 10+ annual graduates minimum per program. They are not derived from US News or any other publication.

Career outcomes for Biology graduates

Among the top 10 ranked Biology programs, the average early-career salary is approximately $103,079 per year. Below are the highest-paying Biology programs based on federal College Scorecard earnings data reported by graduates four years after completion.

  1. 1. Stanford University — Stanford, CA · 3.6% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $65,910 tuition · 92% grad rate
  2. 2. Cornell University — Ithaca, NY · 8.8% acceptance · SAT 1,535 · $69,314 tuition · 95% grad rate
  3. 3. University of California-Berkeley — Berkeley, CA · 11% acceptance · $50,547 tuition · 93% grad rate
  4. 4. Princeton University — Princeton, NJ · 4.6% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $62,688 tuition · 98% grad rate
  5. 5. University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, PA · 5.4% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $68,686 tuition · 97% grad rate
  6. 6. University of California-San Diego — La Jolla, CA · 26.7% acceptance · $50,958 tuition · 86% grad rate
  7. 7. Northwestern University — Evanston, IL · 7.7% acceptance · SAT 1,533 · $68,322 tuition · 95% grad rate
  8. 8. Harvard University — Cambridge, MA · 3.7% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $61,676 tuition · 98% grad rate
  9. 9. Duke University — Durham, NC · 5.7% acceptance · SAT 1,548 · $68,758 tuition · 97% grad rate
  10. 10. Carnegie Mellon University — Pittsburgh, PA · 11.7% acceptance · SAT 1,546 · $66,246 tuition · 94% grad rate
  11. 11. Northeastern University — Boston, MA · 5.2% acceptance · SAT 1,497 · $66,162 tuition · 91% grad rate
  12. 12. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, MI · 15.6% acceptance · SAT 1,465 · $60,946 tuition · 93% grad rate
  13. 13. University of Chicago — Chicago, IL · 4.5% acceptance · SAT 1,554 · $70,662 tuition · 96% grad rate
  14. 14. Rice University — Houston, TX · 8% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $64,144 tuition · 95% grad rate
  15. 15. Dartmouth College — Hanover, NH · 5.4% acceptance · SAT 1,534 · $68,268 tuition · 96% grad rate
  16. 16. University of Virginia-Main Campus — Charlottesville, VA · 16.8% acceptance · SAT 1,480 · $59,512 tuition · 96% grad rate
  17. 17. Yale University — New Haven, CT · 3.9% acceptance · SAT 1,534 · $67,250 tuition · 96% grad rate
  18. 18. Emory University — Atlanta, GA · 10.7% acceptance · SAT 1,520 · $64,280 tuition · 91% grad rate
  19. 19. The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, TX · 26.6% acceptance · SAT 1,395 · $44,908 tuition · 89% grad rate
  20. 20. University of Maryland-College Park — College Park, MD · 44.8% acceptance · SAT 1,473 · $41,186 tuition · 89% grad rate
  21. 21. New York University — New York, NY · 9.2% acceptance · SAT 1,520 · $62,796 tuition · 88% grad rate
  22. 22. Brown University — Providence, RI · 5.4% acceptance · SAT 1,546 · $71,412 tuition · 96% grad rate
  23. 23. Vanderbilt University — Nashville, TN · 5.9% acceptance · SAT 1,549 · $67,498 tuition · 94% grad rate
  24. 24. University of Southern California — Los Angeles, CA · 9.8% acceptance · SAT 1,495 · $72,097 tuition · 92% grad rate
  25. 25. Columbia University in the City of New York — New York, NY · 4% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $71,845 tuition · 96% grad rate

Best Colleges for Biology on PickACampus