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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 (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
1.	Neurosciences, University of California-San Diego	60.4	5.7†	81%†	4.5	19.2	242.4	4.8	10.4†	97	0.9	39%†	655†	605†
1.	Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California-San Diego	60.4	5.7†	81%†	4.5	19.2	242.4	4.8	10.4†	97	0.9	39%†	655†	605†
3.	Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University	51.6	5.7	97%	4.3	14.5	191.6	4.5	9.6	61	0.9*	35%	705	680
3.	Neuroscience, Yale University	51.6	5.7	79%	4.4	13.5	148.2	4.8	7.6	75	0.5	10%	740	740
5.	Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania	44.4	6.2	90%	4.2	11.1	107.2	4.3	11.8	67	0.7	21%	725	705
6.	Neuroscience, Washington University in St Louis	39.4	6.7	69%	4.4	10.9	138.9	4.4	12.8	66	0.5	19%	730	710
7.	Neurosciences, Stanford University	36.6	6.3	70%	4.6	15.3	175.1	4.6	7.0	44	1.0	12%	735	720
8.	Neuroscience, University of California-San Francisco	34.1	5.7	68%	4.5	15.7	306.4	4.7	7.0	34	1.0	54%*	639*	620*
9.	Neuroscience, University of California-Los Angeles	31.3	5.7	75%	3.7	11.2	86.9	3.9	11.2	73	0.6	23%	665	630
10.	Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	25.0	5.6†	88%†	3.8	11.7	87.2	3.8	5.6†	60	0.4	57%†	680†	640†
11.	Neuroscience, Northwestern University	24.3	6.0	71%	3.6	7.9	57.7	3.6	9.8	81	0.6	30%	715	695
12.	Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine	19.9	5.2	96%	3.5	11.0	117.8	3.8	4.8	38	0.8	54%*	639*	620*
13.	Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology	18.3	5.7	71%	4.2	11.6	146.8	4.3	3.8	17	2.1	20%	775	735
14.	Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia-Main Campus	18.1	5.3	86%	3.5	12.6	99.7	3.5	3.6	43	0.5	38%	670	655
15.	Neuroscience, Duke University	15.3	6.3	90%	3.9	10.2	59.0	3.8	4.6	27	0.9	22%	725	705
16.	Neuroscience, University of Chicago	14.3	5.9	97%	3.6	9.5	64.0	3.6	2.8	33	0.8	40%	715	725
17.	Neuroscience, Tulane University of Louisiana	13.6	5.2	100%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.4	36*	0.9*	45%	680	670
18.	Neuroscience, Brandeis University	13.2	5.7	75%	3.9	17.2	189.7	3.8	5.8	12	2.9	40%	675	675
19.	Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology	12.9	6.7	88%	4.1	9.5	73.5	4.2	3.0	28	2.0	14%	770	730
20.	Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison	11.6	5.1†	86%†	3.5	7.0	47.9	3.6	5.4†	49	0.6	71%†	650†	615†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
21.	Neuroscience, University of Rochester	11.5	5.7	87%	3.4	8.2	49.0	3.3	4.2	60	0.5	46%	670	650
22.	Neuroscience, Dartmouth College	9.1	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.8	36*	0.9*	17%	730	720
23.	Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University	8.0	5.2	87%	3.4	6.5	39.5	3.5	2.4	39	0.9*	35%	695	675
24.	Neuroscience, Cornell University	6.4	6.5	92%	3.7	8.0	42.7	3.6	4.4	30	1.2	27%	710	675
25.	Neuroscience and Cell Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch	5.9	5.2	76%	3.4	11.0	70.7	3.3	3.8	39	0.6	54%*	639*	620*
26.	Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Alabama at Birmingham	4.7	5.5†	88%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	8.4†	36*	0.9*	88%†	570†	560†
27.	Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	4.2	6.4	92%	3.4	8.4	38.5	3.3	4.4	54	0.5	68%	675	615
28.	Neuroscience, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	3.3	6.7†	97%†	3.4	8.6	56.5	3.4	8.2†	36	1.0	70%†	630†	600†
28.	Neuroscience, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities	3.3	6.7†	97%†	3.4	8.6	56.5	3.4	8.2†	36	1.0	70%†	630†	600†
30.	Neuroscience, University of California-Davis	2.3	5.7†	89%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	4.2†	36*	0.9*	55%†	615†	565†
31.	Neuroscience, University of Maryland-Baltimore	2.0	5.0	74%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.8	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
32.	Neuroscience, Brown University	1.7	5.7	92%	3.4	5.8	41.9	3.0	2.8	14	0.9*	15%	725	710
33.	Neuroscience, Cornell University-Ny State Statutory Colleges	1.6	5.9*	81%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	1.6	36*	0.9*	30%	680	665
34.	Neuroscience, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science	1.5	5.7	90%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	1.6	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
35.	Neuroscience, Georgetown University	1.2	6.3	71%	3.2	10.0	104.3	3.1	3.8	41	0.9*	21%	695	695
35.	Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin	1.2	5.7	93%	3.3	8.8	38.6	3.1	1.6	50	0.9*	51%	630	605
37.	Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	1.0	4.9	83%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	4.2	36*	0.9*	77%	565	545
38.	Neuroscience, Saint Louis University-Main Campus	0.4	5.5	97%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.6	36*	0.9*	76%	610	600
39.	Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University	0.3	5.7†	88%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	1.4†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
39.	Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University	0.3	5.7†	88%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	1.4†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
41.	Center for Neuroscience/Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	0.2	5.6†	83%†	3.3	9.5	55.6	3.3	6.0†	19	0.9*	49%†	625†	610†
41.	Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus	0.2	5.6†	83%†	3.3	9.5	55.6	3.3	6.0†	19	0.9*	49%†	625†	610†
43.	Cognition and Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Dallas	-0.2	5.7	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.6	36*	0.9*	51%	640	605
44.	Neuroscience - Grad School, Medical College of Georgia	-0.8	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.6	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
45.	Neuroscience, Pennsylvania State University-College of Medicine	-1.0	5.9*	81%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	3.2	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
46.	Neuroscience, University of Delaware	-1.7	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.8	36*	0.9*	47%	610	595
47.	Molecular Neuroscience, Mayo Graduate School	-1.8	6.2	82%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	3.6	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
48.	Neuroscience, University of Colorado at Boulder	-1.9	5.1	69%	3.3	12.4	106.9	3.4	2.6	31	0.5	88%	600	580
49.	Neuroscience, Louisina State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans	-2.0	5.2	67%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.8	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
50.	Neuroscience, Yeshiva University	-2.5	6.7	71%	3.6	12.2	108.8	3.6	3.0	46	0.5	78%	615	605
51.	Neuroscience, Iowa State University	-2.6	4.7	71%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.0	36*	0.9*	90%	620	595
52.	Neuroscience, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-3.3	5.7†	83%†	3.1	10.3	41.0	3.0	1.4†	64	0.3	73%†	580†	560†
52.	Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program, Ohio State University-Main Campus	-3.3	5.7†	83%†	3.1	10.3	41.0	3.0	1.4†	64	0.3	73%†	580†	560†
54.	Neuroscience, Temple University	-3.5	5.7	97%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.8	36*	0.9*	63%	550	540
55.	Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College	-3.8	5.7†	63%†	3.7	8.0	42.7	3.6	5.4†	30	1.2	54%*	639*	620*
55.	Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College	-3.8	5.7†	63%†	3.7	8.0	42.7	3.6	5.4†	30	1.2	54%*	639*	620*
57.	Neuroscience, Marquette University	-4.0	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.8	36*	0.9*	70%	600	595
58.	Neurosciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham	-5.0	5.5†	88%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	1.6†	36*	0.9*	88%†	570†	560†
58.	Neuroscience, Washington State University	-5.0	5.2	78%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.6	36*	0.9*	74%	560	545
60.	Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago	-5.6	6.3†	88%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	3.0†	36*	0.9*	74%†	585†	590†
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
61.	Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University	-8.0	6.1	65%	3.7	8.2	129.0	3.8	2.2	19	1.9	68%	690	650
61.	Neuroscience, Tufts University	-8.0	6.5	88%	2.9	11.1	92.2	2.9	1.6	11	1.1	28%	705	700
63.	Neuroscience, University of California-Riverside	-8.3	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.8	36*	0.9*	74%	565	510
64.	Neuroscience, SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse	-9.2	6.3	73%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	1.4	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
65.	Biological Sciences -Neuroscience, University of Southern California	-10.1	6.2	63%	3.4	9.7	54.7	3.4	4.8	18	2.2	27%	690	665
66.	Neuroscience, The University of Texas at San Antonio	-10.6	5.8*	90%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.6	36*	0.9*	99%	500	495
67.	Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas	-10.9	6.7†	86%†	3.1	7.6	129.1	3.4	2.0†	17	0.9	54%*	639*	620*
68.	Neuroscience, New York University	-11.5	6.7	83%	3.3	6.6	28.7	3.0	2.4	23	0.5	37%	665	665
69.	Neuroscience, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center	-12.7	5.9*	81%*	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	0.6	36*	0.9*	72%	530	533
70.	Neuroscience, Florida State University	-12.9	4.6	85%	2.9	4.7	16.0	2.7	3.6	22	1.3	62%	585	575
71.	Neuroscience, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center	-13.1	5.8	50%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.2	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
72.	Neurosciences and Cognitive Sciences, University of Maryland-College Park	-13.4	6.9	67%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.2	36*	0.9*	49%	650	625
73.	Neuroscience, Wake Forest University	-13.8	5.5	100%	2.7	1.6	0.9	2.8	2.6	13	1.2	47%	670	655
74.	Neuroscience, University of Arizona	-16.4	5.9	78%	3.2	6.0	30.4	3.2	3.8	28	0.6	88%	565	560
75.	Neuroscience, University of Miami	-17.3	5.9	90%	2.3	9.9	135.8	2.1	1.4	9	0.7	46%	640	620
76.	Neuroscience, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn	-17.8	5.7	83%	2.6	4.1	22.2	2.5	2.6	27	0.4	54%*	639*	620*
77.	Neuroscience, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston	-19.3	6.7	73%	3.1	6.4	54.3	3.1	3.2	27	1.2	54%*	639*	620*
78.	Neuroscience, Stony Brook University	-19.5	6.2	70%	3.4	5.2	38.6	3.5	3.2	17	1.5	51%	610	570
79.	Neuroscience, Drexel University	-20.4	5.8*	90%*	2.9	3.8	22.9	3.0	1.8	19	0.9	82%	610	580
79.	Neuroscience (formerly Neural Science), Indiana University-Bloomington	-20.4	7.2	77%	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.0	36*	0.9*	85%	560	550
Rank	Department	Your Score	Yrs (-4)	Job (4)	Ed Eff (5)	Pub / Fac (3)	Cite / Fac (3)	Fac Qual (5)	Deg / Yr (5)	# Fac (5)	Stu / Fac (-2)	UG Acc (-2)	SAT-M (2)	SAT-V (2)
Adjust your weights →			-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+	-+
81.	Neuroscience, SUNY at Buffalo	-21.7	5.8*	100%	2.9	6.9	24.9	2.5	1.6	25	3.0	56%	595	565
82.	Neuroscience, George Washington University	-21.8	5.9†	82%†	2.9	5.0	33.1	2.0	1.8†	10	0.2	38%†	640†	640†
82.	Neuroscience Program, George Washington University	-21.8	5.9†	82%†	2.9	5.0	33.1	2.0	1.8†	10	0.2	38%†	640†	640†
84.	Neurosciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey	-22.3	7.7†	60%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.2†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
84.	Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey	-22.3	7.7†	60%†	3.4*	9.1*	77.7*	3.3*	2.2†	36*	0.9*	54%*	639*	620*
86.	Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Massachusetts-Amherst	-24.1	5.7	76%	2.9	5.1	21.8	2.8	2.6	27	1.1	80%	575	565
87.	Behavioral Neuroscience, Boston University	-27.6	6.3	66%	0.6	6.0	16.7	0.7	25.8	3	1.3	55%	655	645
88.	Neuroscience, Syracuse University	-27.7	5.8*	90%*	2.5	6.3	28.1	2.4	0.8	10	1.4	65%	620	595
89.	Neuroscience, Integrative, Rutgers University-Newark	-29.2	6.1	62%	3.1	4.2	18.7	2.9	3.4	24	1.2	47%	560	540
90.	Neuroscience, Medical University of Ohio at Toledo	-32.2	6.3	69%	2.0	6.4	22.2	1.9	1.8	33	0.1	54%*	639*	620*
91.	Neuroscience, Kent State University-Kent Campus	-39.3	6.1	82%	2.0	5.8	24.3	2.0	2.4	28	0.7	94%	515	515

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 = -4. 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 = 4. 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 = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Publications per Faculty Member (Pub / Fac)

The ratio of the number of program publications in the period 1988-1992 to the number of program faculty. Your weight = 3. 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 = 3. 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 = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Doctorates Granted per Year (Deg / Yr)

The average number of doctorates granted by the program per year between 2001 and 2005. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (IPEDS, 2001-2005)

Number of Faculty (# Fac)

Total number of faculty participating in the program. Your weight = 5. Larger values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Grad Student / Faculty Ratio (Stu / Fac)

The number of graduate students per faculty member. Your weight = -2. Smaller values are better. (NRC, 1995)

Undergraduate Acceptance Rate (UG Acc)

The percentage of applicants the institution accepts into its undergraduate programs. Your weight = -2. 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 = 2. 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 = 2. 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