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• Step 3: Your ranking of Neuroscience programs

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The rankings below have been generated just for you using the priorities you set on this page. You can change your priorities or get rankings for a different field.

How to Read Your Ranking

• Programs are ranked by their score, a weighted sum of the items you chose. (Details)
• Descriptions of each item are listed at the bottom of the page. (You can also see a description by mousing over items at the top of the table.)
• Your weight for each item is shown beneath the item at the top of the table. Weights range in magnitude from 0 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
• A positive weight means that you prefer larger values for the item. A negative weight means that you prefer smaller values for the item.
• Green values are at least one standard deviation better than the mean. Red values are at least one standard deviation worse than the mean.
• Data sources can be found below.

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Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia-Main Campus	13.9	5.3	86%	3.5	99.7	3.5	$13,405	3.6	43	0.5	38%	670	655
2.	Neuroscience, Wake Forest University	13.8	5.5	100%	2.7	0.9	2.8	$10,140	2.6	13	1.2	47%	670	655
3.	Neuroscience, Marquette University	10.8	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$11,726*	0.8	36*	0.9*	70%	600	595
4.	Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine	10.7	5.2	96%	3.5	117.8	3.8	$15,083*	4.8	38	0.8	54%*	639*	620*
4.	Neuroscience, University of Delaware	10.7	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$12,425*	0.8	36*	0.9*	47%	610	595
6.	Neuroscience, Tulane University of Louisiana	10.6	5.2	100%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$15,879	2.4	36*	0.9*	45%	680	670
7.	Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison	9.8	5.1†	86%†	3.5	47.9	3.6	$12,640†	5.4†	49	0.6	71%†	650†	615†
7.	Neuroscience, Yale University	9.8	5.7	79%	4.4	148.2	4.8	$16,526	7.6	75	0.5	10%	740	740
9.	Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University	9.3	5.7	97%	4.3	191.6	4.5	$16,005	9.6	61	0.9*	35%	705	680
10.	Neuroscience, Cornell University-Ny State Statutory Colleges	9.1	5.9*	81%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,442*	1.6	36*	0.9*	30%	680	665
11.	Neuroscience, Brown University	8.5	5.7	92%	3.4	41.9	3.0	$16,202	2.8	14	0.9*	15%	725	710
11.	Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	8.5	5.6†	88%†	3.8	87.2	3.8	$14,399†	5.6†	60	0.4	57%†	680†	640†
13.	Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	7.7	5.7	90%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$14,357*	1.6	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
14.	Neuroscience, Louisina State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans	7.6	5.2	67%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$12,900*	2.8	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
15.	Neuroscience, Dartmouth College	7.0	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$17,433*	0.8	36*	0.9*	17%	730	720
16.	Neuroscience, University of Maryland-Baltimore	6.7	5.0	74%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$14,660*	2.8	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
17.	Neuroscience - Grad School, Medical College of Georgia	6.5	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$15,161*	0.6	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
18.	Neuroscience, Duke University	6.0	6.3	90%	3.9	59.0	3.8	$16,361	4.6	27	0.9	22%	725	705
19.	Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology	5.9	5.7	71%	4.2	146.8	4.3	$17,224	3.8	17	2.1	20%	775	735
20.	Neurosciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham	5.8	5.5†	88%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,789†	1.6†	36*	0.9*	88%†	570†	560†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
20.	Neuroscience, University of Chicago	5.8	5.9	97%	3.6	64.0	3.6	$17,977	2.8	33	0.8	40%	715	725
22.	Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University	5.7	5.2	87%	3.4	39.5	3.5	$17,056	2.4	39	0.9*	35%	695	675
23.	Neurosciences, Stanford University	5.5	6.3	70%	4.6	175.1	4.6	$17,084	7.0	44	1.0	12%	735	720
24.	Neuroscience, George Washington University	5.4	5.9†	82%†	2.9	33.1	2.0	$14,616†	1.8†	10	0.2	38%†	640†	640†
24.	Neuroscience Program, George Washington University	5.4	5.9†	82%†	2.9	33.1	2.0	$14,616†	1.8†	10	0.2	38%†	640†	640†
26.	Neuroscience, University of Miami	4.8	5.9	90%	2.3	135.8	2.1	$15,255	1.4	9	0.7	46%	640	620
27.	Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas	4.6	6.7†	86%†	3.1	129.1	3.4	$14,324*	2.0†	17	0.9	54%*	639*	620*
27.	Neuroscience, Washington State University	4.6	5.2	78%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,854	2.6	36*	0.9*	74%	560	545
29.	Neuroscience, SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse	3.8	6.3	73%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,184*	1.4	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
29.	Neuroscience, University of Colorado at Boulder	3.8	5.1	69%	3.3	106.9	3.4	$16,035	2.6	31	0.5	88%	600	580
31.	Molecular Neuroscience, Mayo Graduate School	2.9	6.2	82%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,883*	3.6	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
31.	Neuroscience, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn	2.9	5.7	83%	2.6	22.2	2.5	$14,407*	2.6	27	0.4	54%*	639*	620*
33.	Center for Neuroscience/Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	2.5	5.6†	83%†	3.3	55.6	3.3	$14,947†	6.0†	19	0.9*	49%†	625†	610†
33.	Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	2.5	5.6†	83%†	3.3	55.6	3.3	$14,947†	6.0†	19	0.9*	49%†	625†	610†
35.	Neuroscience, Temple University	2.3	5.7	97%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$16,678*	0.8	36*	0.9*	63%	550	540
36.	Neuroscience, Tufts University	2.2	6.5	88%	2.9	92.2	2.9	$16,579	1.6	11	1.1	28%	705	700
37.	Neuroscience, Yeshiva University	2.1	6.7	71%	3.6	108.8	3.6	$13,103	3.0	46	0.5	78%	615	605
38.	Neuroscience, Florida State University	2.0	4.6	85%	2.9	16.0	2.7	$14,929	3.6	22	1.3	62%	585	575
39.	Neuroscience, University of Arizona	1.6	5.9	78%	3.2	30.4	3.2	$12,863	3.8	28	0.6	88%	565	560
40.	Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University	1.3	6.1	65%	3.7	129.0	3.8	$14,736	2.2	19	1.9	68%	690	650
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Neuroscience, University of California-San Francisco	1.2	5.7	68%	4.5	306.4	4.7	$20,923*	7.0	34	1.0	54%*	639*	620*
42.	Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago	1.1	6.3†	88%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$14,262†	3.0†	36*	0.9*	74%†	585†	590†
43.	Neuroscience, Pennsylvania State University-College of Medicine	0.9	5.9*	81%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$15,869*	3.2	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
43.	Neuroscience, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center	0.9	5.8	50%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,471*	2.2	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
45.	Neuroscience, Stony Brook University	0.8	6.2	70%	3.4	38.6	3.5	$12,370	3.2	17	1.5	51%	610	570
46.	Neuroscience, Brandeis University	0.6	5.7	75%	3.9	189.7	3.8	$15,316	5.8	12	2.9	40%	675	675
46.	Neuroscience, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center	0.6	5.9*	81%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$15,024*	0.6	36*	0.9*	72%	530	533
46.	Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	0.6	6.4	92%	3.4	38.5	3.3	$14,714	4.4	54	0.5	68%	675	615
49.	Neuroscience, University of Rochester	0.5	5.7	87%	3.4	49.0	3.3	$17,028	4.2	60	0.5	46%	670	650
50.	Neuroscience, Iowa State University	0.3	4.7	71%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$17,919	2.0	36*	0.9*	90%	620	595
50.	Neuroscience, Ohio State University-Main Campus	0.3	5.7†	83%†	3.1	41.0	3.0	$15,072†	1.4†	64	0.3	73%†	580†	560†
50.	Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program, Ohio State University-Main Campus	0.3	5.7†	83%†	3.1	41.0	3.0	$15,072†	1.4†	64	0.3	73%†	580†	560†
53.	Neuroscience, The University of Texas at San Antonio	0.1	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$14,217*	2.6	36*	0.9*	99%	500	495
54.	Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Alabama at Birmingham	0.0	5.5†	88%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,789†	8.4†	36*	0.9*	88%†	570†	560†
55.	Neuroscience, Cornell University	-0.1	6.5	92%	3.7	42.7	3.6	$16,969	4.4	30	1.2	27%	710	675
56.	Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	-0.6	6.7	88%	4.1	73.5	4.2	$18,201	3.0	28	2.0	14%	770	730
57.	Neuroscience, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	-0.8	6.7†	97%†	3.4	56.5	3.4	$12,805†	8.2†	36	1.0	70%†	630†	600†
57.	Neuroscience, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	-0.8	6.7†	97%†	3.4	56.5	3.4	$12,805†	8.2†	36	1.0	70%†	630†	600†
59.	Cognition and Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Dallas	-1.1	5.7	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$19,587	0.6	36*	0.9*	51%	640	605
59.	Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	-1.1	4.9	83%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$17,547	4.2	36*	0.9*	77%	565	545
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University	-1.6	5.7†	88%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$19,317*	1.4†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
61.	Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University	-1.6	5.7†	88%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$19,317*	1.4†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
63.	Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania	-2.0	6.2	90%	4.2	107.2	4.3	$18,171	11.8	67	0.7	21%	725	705
64.	Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin	-2.7	5.7	93%	3.3	38.6	3.1	$18,426	1.6	50	0.9*	51%	630	605
65.	Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, University of Maryland-College Park	-2.8	6.9	67%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$14,382	2.2	36*	0.9*	49%	650	625
65.	Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey	-2.8	7.7†	60%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$11,214*	2.2†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
65.	Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey	-2.8	7.7†	60%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$11,214*	2.2†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
68.	Neuroscience, SUNY at Buffalo	-3.7	5.8*	100%	2.9	24.9	2.5	$12,437*	1.6	25	3.0	56%	595	565
68.	Neuroscience, Washington University in St Louis	-3.7	6.7	69%	4.4	138.9	4.4	$16,938	12.8	66	0.5	19%	730	710
70.	Neuroscience, New York University	-3.9	6.7	83%	3.3	28.7	3.0	$18,357	2.4	23	0.5	37%	665	665
70.	Neuroscience, Saint Louis University-Main Campus	-3.9	5.5	97%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$21,531*	0.6	36*	0.9*	76%	610	600
72.	Neuroscience (formerly Neural Science), Indiana University-Bloomington	-4.3	7.2	77%	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$13,216	2.0	36*	0.9*	85%	560	550
73.	Neuroscience, Georgetown University	-4.4	6.3	71%	3.2	104.3	3.1	$18,032	3.8	41	0.9*	21%	695	695
74.	Neuroscience, Medical University of Ohio at Toledo	-5.0	6.3	69%	2.0	22.2	1.9	$14,690*	1.8	33	0.1	54%*	639*	620*
75.	Neuroscience and Cell Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch	-5.6	5.2	76%	3.4	70.7	3.3	$21,324*	3.8	39	0.6	54%*	639*	620*
76.	Neuroscience, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-6.5	6.1	82%	2.0	24.3	2.0	$12,800	2.4	28	0.7	94%	515	515
77.	Neuroscience, Northwestern University	-7.7	6.0	71%	3.6	57.7	3.6	$17,240	9.8	81	0.6	30%	715	695
77.	Neurosciences, University of California-San Diego	-7.7	5.7†	81%†	4.5	242.4	4.8	$22,038†	10.4†	97	0.9	39%†	655†	605†
77.	Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California-San Diego	-7.7	5.7†	81%†	4.5	242.4	4.8	$22,038†	10.4†	97	0.9	39%†	655†	605†
80.	Neuroscience, Syracuse University	-7.9	5.8*	90%*	2.5	28.1	2.4	$18,799*	0.8	10	1.4	65%	620	595
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-3)	Job (2)	Ed Eff (2)	Cite / Fac (2)	Fac Qual (2)	Cost / Year (-5)	Deg / Yr (-3)	# Fac (-2)	Stu / Fac (-3)	UG Acc (-1)	SAT-M (1)	SAT-V (1)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Neuroscience, Drexel University	-8.1	5.8*	90%*	2.9	22.9	3.0	$20,082*	1.8	19	0.9	82%	610	580
82.	Neuroscience, Integrative, Rutgers University-Newark	-8.7	6.1	62%	3.1	18.7	2.9	$15,094	3.4	24	1.2	47%	560	540
83.	Biological Sciences -Neuroscience, University of Southern California	-8.9	6.2	63%	3.4	54.7	3.4	$16,572	4.8	18	2.2	27%	690	665
84.	Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College	-9.1	5.7†	63%†	3.7	42.7	3.6	$19,011*	5.4†	30	1.2	54%*	639*	620*
84.	Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College	-9.1	5.7†	63%†	3.7	42.7	3.6	$19,011*	5.4†	30	1.2	54%*	639*	620*
86.	Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-9.3	5.7	76%	2.9	21.8	2.8	$17,645	2.6	27	1.1	80%	575	565
87.	Neuroscience, University of California-Davis	-11.9	5.7†	89%†	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$23,150†	4.2†	36*	0.9*	55%†	615†	565†
88.	Neuroscience, University of California-Riverside	-13.1	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	77.7*	3.3*	$23,726*	0.8	36*	0.9*	74%	565	510
89.	Neuroscience, University of California-Los Angeles	-17.9	5.7	75%	3.7	86.9	3.9	$24,007	11.2	73	0.6	23%	665	630
90.	Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston	-19.9	6.7	73%	3.1	54.3	3.1	$22,804*	3.2	27	1.2	54%*	639*	620*
91.	Behavioral Neuroscience, Boston University	-40.8	6.3	66%	0.6	16.7	0.7	$17,237	25.8	3	1.3	55%	655	645

Unranked Neuroscience Graduate Schools

Item Descriptions

Your Score

Your customized program score is a weighted sum of points for each item. The weights were selected on this page. For an item with importance weight W, a program receives W × S points for being S standard deviations above average. Larger values are better.

Years to Degree (Yrs)

Median time lapse from entering graduate school at the doctorate-granting institution to receipt of doctorate in years. Note that time spent obtaining a master's degree at a different institution is not counted. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Placement Rate (Job)

Percentage of doctorate recipients from the program with definite plans at graduation (either a job or a postdoctoral position). Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (SED, 2000-2004)

Educational Effectiveness (Ed Eff)

Program effectiveness in educating research scholars and scientists, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not Effective" and 5 denoting "Extremely Effective." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Citations per Faculty Member (Cite / Fac)

The ratio of the number of citations of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Faculty Quality (Fac Qual)

Scholarly quality of program faculty, 1993. Scale of 0 to 5, with 0 denoting "Not sufficient for doctoral education" and 5 denoting "Distinguished." Your weight = 2. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Cost Per Year (Cost / Year)

Low yearly cost (tuition, fees, room and board, other expenses) for an out of state student living on campus. Assumes median tuition remission. Your weight = -5. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -3. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -1. Smaller values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Math SAT Score (SAT-M)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile mathematics SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Verbal SAT Score (SAT-V)

The average of the 25th and 75th percentile verbal SAT scores for undergraduates at the institution. Your weight = 1. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2005)

Missing Values

Missing values have been replaced with the average value for all programs in the field.

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System

IPEDS is an annual, comprehensive set of surveys of all colleges and universities in the United States. The surveys are conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics.  Learn more

National Research Council

The National Research Council conducts assessments of doctoral programs in the United States every 10 to 15 years). The data we use are from the most recent assessment, the 1995 study Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Continuity and Change. Learn more about the NRC study's methods here; order a copy here. The next NRC assessment is scheduled for release in Summer 2009.  Learn more

Survey of Earned Doctorates

The NSF/NIH/NEH/USED/USDA/NASA Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual survey of all new recipients of doctorates from US universities at graduation. The average of the response rates for the 2000–2004 surveys was 92%.  Learn more

Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

The Survey is an annual assessment of the number and characteristics of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in science, engineering, and health-related fields. It is conducted by the National Science Foundation.  Learn more