50 Excellent Schools for Biology Majors
Biology is a broad major, and the strongest programs get you into a lab or field site early. This list highlights colleges with excellent biology programs and what makes each one stand out. As you read, look for details you can use in your supplemental essays, such as specific research areas, field stations, thesis requirements, and faculty whose work connects to your interests.
Research universities
Johns Hopkins University: A research powerhouse in Baltimore where undergraduates can work in labs tied to its renowned medical institutions. A strong fit for students who want early, serious research experience.
Duke University: Biology majors have access to Duke's labs, the Duke Forest, and the Duke Marine Lab. Good for students interested in everything from molecular biology to ecology and conservation.
Harvard College: Offers several biology-focused concentrations, such as Molecular and Cellular Biology and Integrative Biology. Students can pursue research across Harvard and the Boston-area hospital and biotech community.
Yale University: Biology is offered through programs such as Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. A good option for students who want research opportunities within a residential college community.
Princeton University: Offers majors in Molecular Biology and in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and every student completes independent research. A strong match for students who want a thesis-driven education.
Rice University: A relatively small research university in Houston, near the Texas Medical Center. Students benefit from low student-to-faculty ratios and access to a major hub for medicine and biotech.
Washington University in St. Louis: Known for a strong life sciences culture and close ties to its renowned medical school. Undergraduates have many chances to join faculty labs.
Cornell University: Biological sciences are offered through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, with unusual breadth from neurobiology to plant sciences. Students can also explore field research, including Cornell's marine lab at the Isles of Shoals.
Brown University: Brown's open curriculum lets biology students design a flexible path alongside rigorous coursework. Good for students who want to combine biology with other interests, such as public health or neuroscience.
University of Chicago: Offers a Biological Sciences major with specialized tracks, along with a connection to the Marine Biological Laboratory. A strong fit for students who like a rigorous, intellectually intense environment.
University of Rochester: A mid-sized research university with a medical center on campus. Undergraduates often engage in research early, and the curriculum allows flexible pairings with other fields.
Case Western Reserve University: Located in Cleveland's University Circle, near major hospitals and research institutions. Students benefit from a research-focused culture and strong pre-health preparation.
Emory University: Biology students have access to Emory's research enterprise and proximity to the CDC in Atlanta. A strong choice for students interested in public health, disease, or biomedical research.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: A leading public university with strong life sciences and access to the Research Triangle's research and biotech community. Good for students who want a large school with deep research opportunities.
University of California, Berkeley: Offers majors such as Molecular and Cell Biology and Integrative Biology, with faculty doing influential research. Students can find research opportunities across a large, highly regarded public university.
University of California, San Diego: Home to a large Division of Biological Sciences and close ties to Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Salk Institute. A strong option for students interested in genomics, neuroscience, or marine science.
University of California, Los Angeles: A large public university with a wide range of life sciences majors and many undergraduate research pathways. Good for students who want flexibility to explore different areas of biology.
University of California, Davis: Known for strengths in plant biology, animal science, evolution, and ecology. A good fit for students who want biology with agricultural, environmental, or veterinary connections.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: Offers multiple biology majors and research across molecular, evolutionary, and ecological fields. Students can also study at the university's biological station in northern Michigan.
University of Wisconsin, Madison: A top public research university with strengths in genetics, biochemistry, and the life sciences. Students can join the Biocore honors sequence or pursue research with faculty.
University of Washington: Biology students have access to Friday Harbor Laboratories, a marine field station in the San Juan Islands. A good fit for students interested in marine biology, ecology, or biomedical research.
University of Colorado Boulder: Offers programs in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Students can use the university's mountain research station for field-based study.
University of Georgia: Home to the Odum School of Ecology and strong programs in genetics, microbiology, and cell biology. Students find a large range of research options at an affordable public price.
State University of New York, Stony Brook University: A research-intensive public university near Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Good for students interested in genomics, cell biology, or evolutionary biology.
Mid-sized universities
Tufts University: A mid-sized research university near Boston with a strong biology department and an emphasis on undergraduate research. Students have access to the area's hospitals, labs, and biotech companies.
Brandeis University: A small research university with a strong reputation in neuroscience and the life sciences. Students often work closely with faculty in labs, making it a good fit for those who want a research-oriented environment.
Vassar College: A liberal arts college with a strong science culture and an ecological preserve and field station on campus. A good match for students who want research opportunities and close mentorship.
Liberal arts colleges
Pomona College: A small liberal arts college with a strong biology program and faculty-mentored research. Students can also cross-register at the other Claremont Colleges.
Haverford College: A small, collaborative college with a strong tradition of undergraduate research. Students can also take classes through the Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, and Penn consortium.
Swarthmore College: Known for rigorous academics and an Honors Program where students are assessed by outside examiners. A strong fit for students who want a challenging, research-minded education.
Carleton College: A top liberal arts college in Minnesota with a strong science culture and an arboretum used for ecological research. Students engage in close-knit classes and a capstone requirement.
Grinnell College: Biology students can pursue faculty-mentored research, including through the Mentored Advanced Project. A good fit for students who want hands-on research in a small college setting.
Reed College: Requires a senior thesis for every student, including biology majors. A great choice for students who want deep independent research and a strongly academic culture.
Kalamazoo College: Requires a Senior Individualized Project and strongly encourages study abroad. A good option for students who want to combine research with experiential learning.
Davidson College: A small liberal arts college near Charlotte with close faculty mentoring and a strong record of preparing students for graduate and medical programs. Good for students who want a close-knit, academically demanding environment.
Amherst College: A highly selective college with an open curriculum and strong faculty-student research collaboration. Students can also take courses through the Five College Consortium.
Bowdoin College: Located in Maine, with access to the Coastal Studies Center for marine and coastal research. A strong choice for students interested in ecology, marine biology, or environmental science.
Oberlin College: A long-standing leader in sending graduates on to science PhDs. Students find close faculty mentoring and a collaborative, research-oriented culture.
Whitman College: A small college in Walla Walla, WA, with close faculty relationships and a rigorous senior assessment. Good for students who want hands-on research and small classes.
College of Wooster: Requires every student to complete a year-long Independent Study, including in biology. An excellent option for students who want a major research project to define their undergraduate years.
Mount Holyoke College: A women's college with a strong science tradition and access to the Five College Consortium. Students benefit from faculty mentoring and a supportive community.
Smith College: A women's college with strong biology offerings and access to Five College courses. Good for students who want research experience and a close-knit academic community.
Wellesley College: A women's college near Boston where students can cross-register at MIT. A strong choice for students who want faculty mentoring and access to the Boston-area science community.
Bryn Mawr College: A women's college with a strong science culture and a collaborative consortium with Haverford, Swarthmore, and Penn. Students find close faculty relationships and research opportunities.
Earlham College: A small Quaker-founded college in Indiana with a strong record of preparing students for science graduate programs. Students value its collaborative culture and hands-on research.
St. Olaf College: A liberal arts college in Minnesota with a strong science program and an emphasis on undergraduate research. Good for students who want a supportive environment and a path to graduate or medical school.
Franklin & Marshall College: A liberal arts college in Lancaster, PA, with a strong science program and summer research opportunities. A good fit for students who want faculty-mentored research and a pre-health pathway.
Institutions with outstanding track records in the sciences
Howard University: A leading HBCU in Washington, DC, with a strong biology department and a long record of producing graduates who go on to medical school and science careers. Students benefit from the city's research institutions and a supportive academic community.
Spelman College: A women's HBCU in Atlanta with a strong reputation in the sciences. Students can also take courses through the Atlanta University Center consortium.
Xavier University of Louisiana: A HBCU in New Orleans, widely recognized for sending Black students to medical school and science graduate programs. A strong fit for students who want a pre-health focus and a supportive community.
