Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that delves into the study of the brain and nervous system, seeking to understand the complexities of human cognition, behavior, and the underlying mechanisms of neurological disorders. With a rapidly growing demand for neuroscience professionals, it's crucial to explore and assess the top colleges that offer exceptional programs in this field.
In this study conducted by BrokeScholar, we analyzed more than 280 four-year colleges across the country that offer, at the least, a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience or a closely related neuroscience field. Each college in the study was assessed in terms of academics, like graduation rates and admission competitiveness, as well as cost to attend, and the number and proportion of degrees in Neuroscience awarded per year.
Read on to find out the best colleges for neuroscience in America.
The Best Colleges for Neuroscience
For our neuroscience degree study, we analyzed all four-year public and private not-for-profit colleges in the US in terms of various factors. These included the type and number of degrees awarded per academic year in Neuroscience, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Neurobiology and Behavior, and/or Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other (terminology provided by the NCES), graduation rates, estimated annual cost of tuition and required fees. In addition to these factors, another crucial factor was the proportion of bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience fields compared to the undergraduate student population. We included this component in our scoring so that smaller colleges could rank as well and not get swamped by the sheer mass of neuroscience degrees conferred by bigger state schools. (See the methodology section for details).
In terms of the level of degrees awarded in neuroscience studies, the best colleges for neuroscience in the US offer a range from postgraduate certificates through doctoral degrees. The level with the most degrees in neuroscience is a bachelor's degree. Below is a list of top 15 best neuroscience colleges based on our scoring system:
- Emory University
- Johns Hopkins University
- UC Davis
- Binghamton University
- Tulane University
- Duke University
- Middlebury College
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Notre Dame
- Northwestern University
- University of New Hampshire at Manchester
- Wellesley College
- Lafayette College
- Rhodes College
- Earlham College
1. Emory University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 90%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $57,948
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, Emory University is prominent for its outstanding research opportunities and strong neuroscience program. The university offers an undergraduate major in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology (NBB), which integrates various disciplines such as biology, psychology, and chemistry. Emory's NBB program emphasizes hands-on research experience and provides students with access to state-of-the-art facilities.
With an undergraduate student population of around 7,130, Emory University awarded 161 bachelor's degrees in Neuroscience last academic year. That works out to a bachelor's degree-to-undergraduate ratio of 2.26% for Neuroscience majors, the highest proportion in the study. Emory is not an easy school to get into, having an undergraduate acceptance rate of only 13%. This makes Emory one of the hardest colleges to get into in Georgia.
2. Johns Hopkins University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 95%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $60,480
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, is known for its world-class research and medical programs. The Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in neuroscience. Students can engage in cutting-edge research across various subfields, including neurobiology, computational neuroscience, and cognitive neuroscience. Boasting a stellar graduation rate of 95%, as well as a very low student-to-teacher ratio of 6 students for every one instructor, which allows for more one-on-one time and learning. Like the No. 1 best college for neuroscience, Emory, Johns Hopkins University is very hard to get into, posting up an undergraduate acceptance rate of just 8%, making Johns Hopkins one of the most selective colleges in the country.
3. University of California, Davis
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 87%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $14,858 for in-state | $44,930 for out-of-state
The University of California, Davis boasts a strong neuroscience program within its College of Biological Sciences. Students can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, with an emphasis on understanding the brain at the molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels. UC Davis provides ample research opportunities and collaborates closely with the nearby UC Davis Medical Center.
UC Davis is a competitive school to gain admission and it’s not one of the easiest colleges in the UC system to get into. Though a very large school, with more than 31,600 undergraduates, UC Davis has a selective undergraduate acceptance rate of 49%. Its graduation rate of 87% is one of the best of all the UC colleges and, in the last academic year, UC Davis awarded an incredible 519 bachelor's degrees in Neurobiology and Anatomy.
4. Binghamton University
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 84%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $10,363 for in-state | $28,203 for out-of-state
Situated in upstate New York, Binghamton University offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate major in Integrative Neuroscience. The program combines courses from biology, psychology, and chemistry to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the nervous system. Binghamton emphasizes research and encourages students to participate in ongoing projects. Home to more than 14,300 undergraduate students, Binghamton is fairly sizable and yet maintains a great graduation rate of 84%. Last academic year, 237 bachelor’s degrees were conferred on Neuroscience majors, making for a ratio of degrees-to-undergraduates of 1.66%, a very high proportion.
5. Tulane University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 86%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $62,844
Tulane University's Department of Neuroscience provides a vibrant academic environment in New Orleans, Louisiana. The undergraduate program in neuroscience allows students to explore fundamental principles and engage in research projects. Tulane offers unique courses on topics such as addiction neuroscience and neuroethics, expanding students' knowledge beyond traditional neuroscience domains. In the last academic year alone, Tulane awarded 145 bachelor’s degrees in Neuroscience as well as 24 master’s degrees and 1 doctoral degree in the same field. Its graduation rate of 86% is one of, if not the, highest rate in the state of Louisiana. And its undergraduate acceptance rate of 10% is extremely competitive.
6. Duke University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 96%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $62,688
Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina, has a highly regarded neuroscience program within its Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. Students can major in Neuroscience as part of an interdisciplinary curriculum that spans biology, psychology, and physics. Duke's program emphasizes research immersion and provides students with numerous opportunities to collaborate with faculty. In the last academic year, 93 bachelor's degrees were conferred on Neuroscience majors at Duke, along with 1 master’s degree and 12 doctoral degrees in the same field of study. With an undergraduate population of under 6,900, the ratio of neuroscience degrees to undergraduates is high, at 1.35%.
On a more general level, Duke University is academically superb. The university’s graduation rate is an astounding 96%, while its undergraduate acceptance rate of 6% makes it the most selective college in the state, not to mention one of the best colleges in North Carolina. More facetime with professors than usual seems likely at Duke since the college has a very lower student-to-teacher ratio of 6 students to every one instructor.
7. Middlebury College
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 91%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $62,460
Although primarily known for its liberal arts education, Middlebury College in Vermont offers a comprehensive neuroscience program. The interdisciplinary major in neuroscience incorporates courses from biology, psychology, and philosophy. Middlebury places a strong emphasis on critical thinking and offers unique opportunities for fieldwork and internships. Home to over 2,800 undergraduate students and more than 2,900 students in total, Middlebury College awarded 46 bachelor's degrees in Neuroscience last academic year, equal to a higher-than-average ratio of degrees to undergraduate students, at 1.61%.
Middlebury is quite selective, posting an undergraduate acceptance rate of 13%. In tandem with its rigorous admission standards, Middlebury’s graduation rate also stands out, at an exceptional 91%. The student-to-faculty ratio is much lower than average, with 9 students for every 1 faculty member.
8. University of Pennsylvania
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 96%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $60,301
The University of Pennsylvania is renowned for its Ivy League status and offers a rigorous neuroscience program through its College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine. Undergraduate students can major in Biological Basis of Behavior (BBB), which integrates biology, psychology, and neuroscience. The program emphasizes research and provides access to cutting-edge facilities and faculty expertise. UPenn is a popular college for studying neuroscience. Last academic year, UPenn awarded 128 bachelor's degrees in neuroscience plus 2 master’s degrees and a remarkable 20 doctoral degrees in the same subject. Although UPenn is one of the bigger Ivy League schools — having an undergraduate body of just under 11,300 students — it maintains an excellent 96% graduation rate and low student-to-teacher ratio of 6 to 1.
9. University of Notre Dame
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 96%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $60,301
The University of Notre Dame in Indiana offers an undergraduate major in Neuroscience and Behavior. This interdisciplinary program allows students to explore the intricacies of the brain through courses in biology, psychology, and philosophy. Notre Dame provides ample research opportunities and encourages students to engage in hands-on learning experiences. Notre Dame offers a major program in Neuroscience and Behavior that results in a Bachelor of Arts or one that results in a Bachelor of Science. Last academic year, Notre Dame conferred 115 bachelor’s degrees in Neuroscience. Against an undergraduate population of less than 9,000, the ratio of degrees to undergraduate students is 1.28%, which is both higher than the study’s average of 0.51%, but also impressively high for such a sizable student body. Combined with Notre Dame’s outstanding graduation rate of 96%, these factors make this school the 9th best college for neuroscience in the US, not to mention the best college in Indiana.
10. Northwestern University
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 95%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $63,468
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, offers a strong neuroscience program through its Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. The undergraduate major in Neuroscience emphasizes interdisciplinary coursework, including biology, psychology, and physics. Northwestern's program is research-oriented, with extensive opportunities for students to engage in groundbreaking research projects. Northwestern has its own Department of Neuroscience at the Feinberg School of Medicine. And indeed, neuroscience is very significant at Northwestern, which saw 92 bachelor's degrees and 17 doctoral degrees in Neuroscience awarded last academic year. The university’s top-notch graduation rate of 95% and highly competitive acceptance rate of 7% help make Northwestern University one of the best neuroscience colleges in the US. It’s also one of the best biomedical engineering schools in the nation.
11. University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Type: 4-year, public institution
Graduation rate: 60%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $15,804 for in-state | $34,664 for out-of-state
The University of New Hampshire at Manchester offers a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavior. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of the brain by studying courses in biology, psychology, and chemistry. The program fosters hands-on learning through laboratory work and provides students with research opportunities. The University of New Hampshire at Manchester is a small school, with only about 650 undergraduate students. Last academic year, 13 bachelor's degrees were awarded for Neuroscience majors, which equates to a ratio of degrees to undergraduates of 1.99%, the second highest proportion in the whole study, behind only Emory’s 2.26%. What’s also great about this college is that it’s comparatively affordable. Both its in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition costs are less than the study’s overall averages.
12. Wellesley College
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 92%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $61,920
Wellesley College, a prestigious women's college — in fact, one of the famous Seven Sisters — located near Boston, Massachusetts, offers an interdisciplinary neuroscience major. The program combines courses from biology, psychology, and philosophy, allowing students to explore the intersection between science and the humanities. Wellesley emphasizes experiential learning and encourages students to pursue research projects. Originally just the Neuroscience Program, in 2019, it was upgraded to the Neuroscience Department. And numerous neuroscience majors from Wellesley have gone on to successful medical careers, pursue graduate neuroscience education, and work in industries and occupations adjacent to neuroscience, such as the biotech industry or patent law.
Wellesley College awards a high proportion of neuroscience bachelor’s degrees to its undergraduate population. Last academic year, 33 bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience were awarded, as against an undergraduate population of less than 2,500. What also helps Wellesley rank among the best neuroscience colleges is its stellar graduation rate of 92% and its highly selective admissions, possessing an undergraduate acceptance rate of only 16%.
13. Lafayette College
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 88%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $59,368
Lafayette College, situated in Easton, Pennsylvania, provides a neuroscience program that emphasizes research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students can major in Neuroscience, undertaking coursework in biology, psychology, and chemistry. Lafayette offers a variety of research opportunities and encourages students to present their findings at national conferences. The B.S. in Neuroscience program is jointly directed by the psychology and biology departments. Neuroscience is particularly popular at Lafayette. The school has about 2,725 undergraduate students and, last academic year, 46 bachelor's degrees in Neuroscience were conferred, equating to a significantly higher-than-average ratio of 1.69% versus the study’s overall average 0.51%. Taken together with Lafayette College’s excellent graduation rate of 88%, competitive admissions, and variety of study fields, this school isn’t just one of the best neuroscience colleges, but one of the best colleges in Pennsylvania as well.
14. Rhodes College
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 85%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $52,310
Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, offers an interdisciplinary neuroscience program that integrates biology, psychology, chemistry, and even computer science. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and engage in faculty-guided research projects. Rhodes College also encourages students to participate in internships and community-based learning experiences. It takes a total of 54 to 58 credits to attain a B.S. in Neuroscience at Rhodes College. With an undergraduate population of just over 2,000 students, Rhodes College awarded a notably high rate of bachelor’s degrees in Neuroscience, conferring 37 degrees last academic year, which works out to a ratio of neuroscience degrees to undergrads of 1.8%, very much on the high side. Sporting a graduation rate of 85%, one of the highest rates in the state, Rhodes College is not just one of the best colleges for neuroscience. It’s also one of the best colleges in Tennessee overall.
15. Earlham College
Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit
Graduation rate: 73%
Estimated tuition and required fees per year: $50,058
Earlham College, located in Richmond, Indiana, offers a neuroscience program that combines coursework in biology, psychology, and chemistry. The program focuses on experiential learning and provides students with ample research opportunities. Earlham emphasizes a holistic approach to neuroscience and encourages students to engage in interdisciplinary exploration. Your senior year at Earlham, you’ll develop and conduct your own neuroscience research project. To attain a B.A. in Neuroscience at Earlham College requires completing 44 credit hours, on top of general education requirements.
Earlham College is a small school, with an undergraduate student body of a little over 650. Impressively, however, in the last academic year, out of such a small undergraduate population, 13 bachelor's degrees in Neuroscience were awarded. That equates to a degree-to-undergraduate ratio of 1.98%, one of the highest proportions of neuroscience degrees in the whole study and well above the average for all 285 colleges, 0.51%.
The Bottom Line on the Best Colleges for Neuroscience
These 15 colleges stand out for their exceptional neuroscience programs, providing students with comprehensive knowledge and research opportunities in the field of neuroscience. Whether you're interested in molecular neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, or computational neuroscience, these institutions offer a wide range of courses and research projects to cater to diverse interests. By choosing one of these esteemed colleges, aspiring neuroscientists can pave the way for a rewarding and impactful career in understanding the complexities of the human brain and its functions.
One very point to take away, however, is that many of these top neuroscience colleges are expensive. Eight out of the 15 best neuroscience colleges have approximate costs of tuition and required fees in excess of $60,000 per year. This is why researching the thousands of college scholarships available out there should be part of every prospective college student’s gameplan. Whether it’s a biology scholarship, chemistry scholarship, psychology scholarship, or public health scholarship, these types of science scholarships can be put to great use in securing your path to studying and earning a degree in neuroscience.
Methodology
In order to identify the best colleges for neuroscience in the US, we analyzed 285 colleges and universities that fit the following criteria:
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Are four-year private, not-for-profit institutions or public institutions
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Offer a degree in Neuroscience, on at least the bachelor’s degree level, or related Neuroscience field.
These 285 colleges and universities were sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as was data on their respective undergraduate populations; undergraduate graduation rates; approximate costs of tuition and required fees; the type and number of degrees awarded per academic year in marketing; and the proportion of these degrees to the undergraduate population.
