Molecular Biology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their molecular biology programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 97 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for molecular biology students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Molecular Biology School
The school you choose for molecular biology can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Molecular Biology rankings. For our Best Overall Molecular Biology School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Molecular Biology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in molecular biology. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 molecular biology students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their molecular biology degree from Cornell University earn around $75,976 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans.
See the full molecular biology program report for Cornell University
Students looking for a strong molecular biology program will find one at Pomona College, which ranked #2. Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Pomona College awarded about 25 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their molecular biology degree from Pomona College earn around $75,954 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the molecular biology program at Pomona College
Students looking for a strong molecular biology program will find one at George Washington University, which ranked #3. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 15 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $59,887. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
See the full molecular biology program report for George Washington University
A rank of #4 makes University Of California Los Angeles one of the top schools for molecular biology. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 29 molecular biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Molecular Biology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $59,523 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,920.
Get the full molecular biology details for University Of California Los Angeles
A rank of #5 makes Lehigh University one of the top schools for molecular biology. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. About 88% of students finish within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 16 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $20,710 in student loans.
Get the full molecular biology details for Lehigh University
Vanderbilt University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best molecular biology schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 33 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Molecular Biology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $58,034 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $14,250 in student loans.
See the full molecular biology program report for Vanderbilt University
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #7 among the best molecular biology schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 64 molecular biology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Molecular Biology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $51,184 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,948 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in molecular biology from University Of Wisconsin Madison
Johns Hopkins University landed the #8 spot for molecular biology this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 41 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $63,355 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Read more about the molecular biology program at Johns Hopkins University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center earned the #9 position for molecular biology this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a moderately-sized public university. About 21 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $66,142 in their early career. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center graduates carry a median of $24,889 in student loans.
More information about a degree in molecular biology from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Princeton University earned the #10 position for molecular biology this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 94 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $41,848. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in molecular biology from Princeton University
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best molecular biology schools. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $46,122. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the molecular biology program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Kenyon College placed #12 among the best molecular biology schools. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. Kenyon College graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 molecular biology students who graduated with this degree at Kenyon College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their molecular biology degree from Kenyon College earn around $37,976 in the first couple years of their career. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $18,114 in student loans.
More information about a degree in molecular biology from Kenyon College
University Of Vermont earned the #13 position for molecular biology this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. University Of Vermont graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 molecular biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Vermont in the most recent data year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $36,680 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
See the full molecular biology program report for University Of Vermont
Boston University earned the #14 position for molecular biology this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 70 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Molecular Biology graduates of Boston University earn a median of $42,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full molecular biology details for Boston University
Colgate University came in at #15 for molecular biology this year. Located in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Colgate University awarded about 28 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Molecular Biology graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $44,089 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,350 to complete this degree.
Get the full molecular biology details for Colgate University
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences came in at #16 for molecular biology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates 61% of students within six years. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences awarded about 31 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their molecular biology degree from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earn around $51,942 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full molecular biology details for Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
Arizona State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best molecular biology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 19 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Arizona State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $43,333 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete this degree.
See the full molecular biology program report for Arizona State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #18 position for molecular biology this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 195 molecular biology degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $40,562 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
Get the full molecular biology details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Cedarville University earned the #19 position for molecular biology this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 molecular biology students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $57,104 in their early career. Cedarville University graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans.
Read more about the molecular biology program at Cedarville University
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire landed the #20 spot for molecular biology this year. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 18 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in molecular biology from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Connecticut College landed the #21 spot for molecular biology this year. Set in the city of New London, Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 molecular biology degrees were awarded at Connecticut College in the most recent year. Molecular Biology graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $43,936 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full molecular biology details for Connecticut College
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #22 spot for molecular biology this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Brigham Young University Provo graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 molecular biology students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the molecular biology program make about $31,225 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full molecular biology program report for Brigham Young University Provo
Lipscomb University placed #23 among the best molecular biology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Lipscomb University awarded about 44 molecular biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, molecular biology degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $33,399. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
Get the full molecular biology details for Lipscomb University
The University Of Texas At Dallas landed the #24 spot for molecular biology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 molecular biology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Molecular Biology graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $30,207 early in their careers. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
See the full molecular biology program report for The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of Denver landed the #25 spot for molecular biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 16 molecular biology degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Molecular Biology graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $32,613 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,293.
More information about a degree in molecular biology from University Of Denver
Rest of the Top 31 Molecular Biology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for molecular biology this year:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 97 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).