Scripps Research’s Skaggs Graduate School ranked #1 in Biological Sciences by U.S. News & World Report
April 8, 2026
Credit: Scripps Research
LA JOLLA, CA—Scripps Research’s Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences was ranked 1st in Biological Sciences (tied with MIT) and 7th in Chemistry (tied with Northwestern University) by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026 rankings of the Best Science Schools.
Established in 1989, the doctoral program at Scripps Research has conferred PhDs on students pursuing interdisciplinary biomedical research just since 1993. Despite its relatively young age, the program has been ranked among the top 10 science graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report since 1999. The 2026 rankings represent a significant rise in the school’s position in the Biological Sciences category, up to a tie for 1st place in 2026 from 9th in 2022 (the most recent published Biological Sciences rankings). The institute’s strength in chemistry education was reaffirmed by the publication with the same 7th-place ranking this year as was earned by the Skaggs Graduate School in 2023 (the most recent published Chemistry rankings).
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see the work of our students and distinguished faculty recognized in these rankings,” says Keary Engle, the John and Susan Diekman Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and a professor of Chemistry at Scripps Research. “We train our students to be independent scientists who think critically, question the status quo and fearlessly tackle some of the most important and intractable problems facing human health and society today.”
This recognition comes as Scripps Research gears up to celebrate its 34th graduating class of doctoral degree recipients at the Skaggs Graduate School’s annual Commencement on May 15, 2026. The 49 newly minted PhDs will join more than 1,000 graduate program alumni who are now serving as leaders and innovators in academia, the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, start-up companies and many other fields.
“I think what makes Scripps Research’s graduate program unique is that we’re not beholden to tradition—we’re creating tradition,” said Engle, who graduated from Scripps Research’s doctoral program in 2013. “As a young graduate program, we’re nimble, we’re growing and we’re asking every day how we can best train the next generation of biomedical scientists in innovative ways that rise to the standards of today and the challenges of tomorrow. When these efforts are recognized by our peers, it’s a great feeling.”
In 2018, Scripps Research renamed its doctoral program the Skaggs Graduate School after a lead gift and subsequent endowment campaign led by longtime institute benefactors, the Skaggs family, with the goal of endowing three-year fellowships for all the program’s students. Since its launch, more than 100 fellowships have been endowed, providing tremendous independence for students, who can pursue their graduate studies free of funding concerns, as well as their faculty advisors who have more room to advance their laboratory’s research independent of capricious funding cycles.
Learn more about our award-winning graduate program in Scripps Research’s magazine feature, “Powering scientific breakthroughs through meaningful education.”
Keary Engle Named Dean of Scripps Research’s Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences
Scripps Research has appointed Professor Keary Engle to the role of Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, effective July 1, 2024, and will lead the institute's Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences and other education and training programs.
