Best Cognitive Science Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

United Kingdom | England

University College London

#3 in Europe #3 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

2

United States | California

Stanford University

#2 in North America #2 in United States

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

#1 in North America #1 in United States

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

4

United Kingdom | England

University of Oxford

#1 in Europe #1 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

5

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

#12 in North America #1 in Canada

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

6

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

#5 in North America #5 in United States

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

7

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

#3 in North America #3 in United States

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

8

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

#21 in North America #20 in United States

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

9

United States | Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#6 in North America #6 in United States

5% Acceptance

4,535 Enrollment

1550 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

10

United States | Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University

#41 in North America #38 in United States

12% Acceptance

7,377 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1900 Founded

11

United States | New York State

New York University

#17 in North America #16 in United States

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

12

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

#20 in North America #19 in United States

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

13

United States | Connecticut

Yale University

#10 in North America #10 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1701 Founded

14

United Kingdom | England

University of Cambridge

#2 in Europe #2 in United Kingdom

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

15

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

#8 in North America #8 in United States

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

16

United States | Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

#9 in North America #9 in United States

6% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

17

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

#11 in North America #11 in United States

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

18

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

#13 in North America #12 in United States

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

19

United States | New York State

Columbia University

#7 in North America #7 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

20

Canada | British Columbia

University of British Columbia

#25 in North America #2 in Canada

52% Acceptance

71,201 Enrollment

1908 Founded

21

United States | New York State

Cornell University

#4 in North America #4 in United States

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

22

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

#22 in North America #21 in United States

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

23

Canada | Quebec State

McGill University

#31 in North America #3 in Canada

46% Acceptance

37,888 Enrollment

1821 Founded

24

Netherlands | Amsterdam

University of Amsterdam

#13 in Europe #1 in Netherlands

51% Acceptance

41,000 Enrollment

1632 Founded

25

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

#27 in North America #25 in United States

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

26

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

#36 in North America #33 in United States

58% Acceptance

25,900 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1787 Founded

27

United States | Missouri

Washington University in St Louis

#42 in North America #39 in United States

12% Acceptance

2,256 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

28

United States | California

University of Southern California

#23 in North America #22 in United States

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

29

Belgium | Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven

#10 in Europe #1 in Belgium

33% Acceptance

62,693 Enrollment

1425 Founded

30

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

#28 in North America #26 in United States

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

31

China | Beijing

Tsinghua University

#3 in Asia #1 in China

22% Acceptance

48,739 Enrollment

1911 Founded

32

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

#14 in North America #13 in United States

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

33

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

#16 in North America #15 in United States

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

34

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

#33 in North America #30 in United States

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

35

Netherlands | Nijmegen

Radboud University

#34 in Europe #4 in Netherlands

43% Acceptance

34,000 Enrollment

1923 Founded

36

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

#19 in North America #18 in United States

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

37

United States | North Carolina

Duke University

#29 in North America #27 in United States

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

38

United States | California

University of California – Davis

#30 in North America #28 in United States

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

39

United States | Florida

University of Florida

#24 in North America #23 in United States

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

40

United States | New Jersey

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

#32 in North America #29 in United States

58% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1766 Founded

41

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

#15 in North America #14 in United States

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

42

Australia | Sydney

University of Sydney

#2 in Oceania #2 in Australia

71% Acceptance

63,602 Enrollment

1850 Founded

43

United Kingdom | Scotland

University of Edinburgh

#4 in Europe #4 in United Kingdom

51% Acceptance

24,409 Enrollment

1583 Founded

44

United States | Massachusetts

Boston University

#40 in North America #37 in United States

11% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

45

United States | North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#26 in North America #24 in United States

15% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1460 Avg SAT

1789 Founded

46

Canada | Ontario

Western University

#79 in North America #10 in Canada

31% Acceptance

21,836 Enrollment

1878 Founded

47

United States | Iowa State

University of Iowa

#53 in North America #49 in United States

84% Acceptance

22,738 Enrollment

1230 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

48

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

#37 in North America #34 in United States

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

49

Singapore | Singapore City

Nanyang Technological University

#21 in Asia #2 in Singapore

38% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1955 Founded

50

United States | Michigan

Michigan State University

#34 in North America #31 in United States

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

51

China | Shanghai

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

#11 in Asia #5 in China

20% Acceptance

47,000 Enrollment

1896 Founded

52

United States | California

University of California – San Francisco

#35 in North America #32 in United States

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

53

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

#4 in Oceania #4 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

54

United States | Georgia, US

Georgia Institute of Technology

#51 in North America #47 in United States

14% Acceptance

1,070 Enrollment

1455 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

55

United States | California

University of California – Irvine

#46 in North America #43 in United States

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

56

United States | Tennessee

Vanderbilt University

#52 in North America #48 in United States

6% Acceptance

7,221 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1873 Founded

57

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

#18 in North America #17 in United States

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

58

Canada | Quebec State

University of Montreal

#75 in North America #7 in Canada

41% Acceptance

66,972 Enrollment

1878 Founded

59

United Kingdom | England

University of Manchester

#8 in Europe #6 in United Kingdom

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

60

China | Hong Kong

Chinese University of Hong Kong

#13 in Asia #6 in China

20% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1963 Founded

61

Japan | Tokyo

University of Tokyo

#1 in Asia #1 in Japan

36% Acceptance

28,918 Enrollment

1877 Founded

62

Canada | Ontario

University of Waterloo

#65 in North America #5 in Canada

54% Acceptance

16,092 Enrollment

1957 Founded

63

Australia | St Lucia

University of Queensland

#3 in Oceania #3 in Australia

70% Acceptance

48,771 Enrollment

1909 Founded

64

United States | New York State

University of Rochester

#60 in North America #56 in United States

40% Acceptance

6,580 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

65

United States | California

California Institute of Technology

#50 in North America #46 in United States

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

66

China | Harbin

Harbin Institute of Technology

#34 in Asia #15 in China

16% Acceptance

33,496 Enrollment

1920 Founded

67

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

#38 in North America #35 in United States

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

68

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

University of Freiburg

#54 in Europe #10 in Germany

33% Acceptance

23,938 Enrollment

1457 Founded

69

Singapore | Singapore City

National University of Singapore

#5 in Asia #1 in Singapore

20% Acceptance

30,098 Enrollment

1905 Founded

70

United Kingdom | England

University of Bristol

#20 in Europe #9 in United Kingdom

63% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1909 Founded

71

China | Hangzhou

Zhejiang University

#10 in Asia #4 in China

20% Acceptance

60,739 Enrollment

1897 Founded

72

Australia | Melbourne

University of Melbourne

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

77% Acceptance

77,162 Enrollment

1853 Founded

73

United States | Arizona

Arizona State University – Tempe

#45 in North America #42 in United States

90% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

74

United Kingdom | England

Imperial College London

#5 in Europe #5 in United Kingdom

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

75

Switzerland | Lausanne

Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

#33 in Europe #3 in Switzerland

23% Acceptance

12,576 Enrollment

76

China | Beijing

Peking University

#4 in Asia #2 in China

21% Acceptance

44,730 Enrollment

1898 Founded

77

China | Xi'an

Xidian University

#126 in Asia #47 in China

26% Acceptance

35,277 Enrollment

1931 Founded

78

China | Wuhan

Wuhan University

#24 in Asia #9 in China

19% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

1893 Founded

79

Canada | Alberta

University of Alberta

#49 in North America #4 in Canada

53% Acceptance

31,185 Enrollment

1908 Founded

80

China | Hefei

University of Science and Technology of China

#22 in Asia #8 in China

10% Acceptance

17,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

81

United States | Georgia, US

Emory University

#56 in North America #52 in United States

11% Acceptance

967 Enrollment

1510 Avg SAT

1836 Founded

82

United States | Florida

Florida State University

#80 in North America #70 in United States

24% Acceptance

6,768 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

83

United States | California

University of California – Santa Barbara

#59 in North America #55 in United States

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

84

Israel | Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv University

#8 in Asia #1 in Israel

44% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

85

Netherlands | Utrecht

Utrecht University

#14 in Europe #2 in Netherlands

22% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1636 Founded

86

China | Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

#7 in Asia #3 in China

17% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1911 Founded

87

Switzerland | Zurich

University of Zurich

#15 in Europe #2 in Switzerland

19% Acceptance

25,732 Enrollment

88

Australia | Clayton

Monash University

#5 in Oceania #5 in Australia

73% Acceptance

78,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

89

United States | Virginia

University of Virginia

#43 in North America #40 in United States

17% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

90

Switzerland | Zurich

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

#7 in Europe #1 in Switzerland

8% Acceptance

23,420 Enrollment

91

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

University of Tubingen

#35 in Europe #5 in Germany

33% Acceptance

28,238 Enrollment

1477 Founded

92

China | Wuhan

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

#27 in Asia #11 in China

26% Acceptance

71,970 Enrollment

1953 Founded

93

China | Hong Kong

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

#28 in Asia #12 in China

28% Acceptance

34,241 Enrollment

1937 Founded

94

Israel | Jerusalem

Hebrew University of Jerusalem

#16 in Asia #2 in Israel

23% Acceptance

23,500 Enrollment

1918 Founded

95

Canada | Ontario

McMaster University

#77 in North America #9 in Canada

49% Acceptance

27,965 Enrollment

1887 Founded

96

China | Chengdu

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

#84 in Asia #33 in China

30% Acceptance

39,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

97

United States | Rhode Island

Brown University

#54 in North America #50 in United States

5% Acceptance

7,910 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1764 Founded

98

United Kingdom | England

University of York

#66 in Europe #20 in United Kingdom

20% Acceptance

27,278 Enrollment

1963 Founded

99

United Kingdom | England

University of Sussex

#103 in Europe #25 in United Kingdom

35% Acceptance

17,319 Enrollment

1961 Founded

100

Netherlands | Groningen

University of Groningen

#30 in Europe #3 in Netherlands

50% Acceptance

34,000 Enrollment

1614 Founded

100 Best Universities in the World for Cognitive Science

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