Is Science Immunology a good journal?

Science Immunology is a strong target if the first read should make clear why immunologists outside the immediate subfield should care about the result. It is a weaker fit if the paper may be publishable, but Science Immunology needs a stronger cross-field readership case.

What is the Science Immunology JIF?

The JIF is 16.3 (2024 JCR). See the full year-by-year trend and category ranking in our Science Immunology JIF analysis.

What is the acceptance rate of Science Immunology?

Manusights currently treats Highly selective as an estimate for Science Immunology, not an official journal-published rate. One common reason papers fail is treating a specialist immunology result as a broad field event.

How long does Science Immunology take to review?

Science Immunology typically takes Fast editorial triage for poor-fit submissions, but timing varies by editor, field, and reviewer availability. Expect an editorial screen first, then confirm broad immunology fit.

Is Science Immunology peer reviewed?

Yes, Science Immunology is fully peer reviewed. All submissions undergo rigorous peer review by experts in the field who assess the scientific rigor, novelty, and significance of the work.

All Journal Guides

Journal Guide

Publishing in Science Immunology: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide

Q: What does Science Immunology look for in submissions?

Broad immunology consequence: The first read should make clear why immunologists outside the immediate subfield should care about the result.

Q: What should I know before submitting to Science Immunology?

Test the first page with an adjacent immunologist. If they cannot state the field-level immunology advance without your explanation, the package is probably early for this target.

AAAS Science-family immunology for broad, mechanistically convincing advances

Should you submit here?

Submit if the first read should make clear why immunologists outside the immediate subfield should care about the result. Be careful if the paper may be publishable, but Science Immunology needs a stronger cross-field readership case.

IF 16.3 · Highly selective accepted · Fast editorial triage for poor-fit submissionsLast reviewed May 4, 20260 official · 0 estimated · 2 unverified signals

Best fit if

The first read should make clear why immunologists outside the immediate subfield should care about the result

Not ideal if

The paper may be publishable, but Science Immunology needs a stronger cross-field readership case

Also compare

Natureand Nature Immunology

16.3

Impact Factor (2024)

Highly selective

Acceptance Rate

Fast editorial triage for poor-fit submissions

Time to First Decision

Submission guide

Science Immunology Submission Guide

What submitting to Science Immunology actually requires: the AAAS publishing structure, the immunology specialist editorial scope, the Science-family routing, and the editorial culture distinguishing the journal from sister immunology venues (Nature Immunology, Immunity, JCI).

Desk rejection

How to Avoid Desk Rejection at Science Immunology (2026)

Avoid desk rejection at Science Immunology with stronger broad-interest consequence, tighter mechanism, and a cleaner first-read significance case.

Review timeline

Science Immunology Review Time: What Authors Can Actually Expect

Science Immunology can reject quickly, but the papers that survive the first screen usually enter a real multi-month review process.

What Science Immunology Publishes

Science Immunology is an AAAS Science-family journal for critical advances across immunology, including important tools and techniques. The practical fit question is whether the manuscript changes how a broad immunology readership thinks, not only whether it is rigorous within one specialist lane.

Broad immunology advances across organisms, model systems, and human studies
Mechanistic immune biology with consequence beyond one narrow cell type, pathway, or disease model
High-value tools and techniques that materially change immunology research
Cancer, infection, mucosal, innate, adaptive, and systems immunology when the field-level point is clear

Editor Insight

“Science Immunology fit is usually decided by breadth and mechanism together. A paper can be excellent immunology and still be too local for this journal if the field-level consequence is not visible on the first read.”

What Science Immunology Editors Look For

Broad immunology consequence

The first read should make clear why immunologists outside the immediate subfield should care about the result.

Mechanistic confidence

Strong phenotyping is not enough if the main mechanistic claim still depends on inference rather than direct functional evidence.

Science-family first-read clarity

The title, abstract, first figure, and cover letter need to make the advance visible quickly and proportionately.

Why Papers Get Rejected

These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Science Immunology's editorial review:

Treating a specialist immunology result as a broad field event

The paper may be publishable, but Science Immunology needs a stronger cross-field readership case.

Leading with phenotype before mechanism

Editors need to see what immune process was explained, not only what shifted in a model or cohort.

Letting the cover letter overstate the manuscript

Broad significance needs to be visible in the figures and abstract, not supplied only by framing language.

Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?

The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Science Immunology's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.

Run Free Readiness Scan →

Insider Tips from Science Immunology Authors

Test the first page with an adjacent immunologist

If they cannot state the field-level immunology advance without your explanation, the package is probably early for this target.

Make the mechanism visible before the supplement

A key causal experiment that appears too late can make the manuscript read as descriptive during triage.

The Science Immunology Submission Process

Confirm broad immunology fit

Before upload

Decide whether the manuscript is a Science-family immunology advance or a strong specialist paper.

Prepare the submission package

Before portal submission

Align the abstract, first figure, cover letter, disclosures, data availability, and supporting files.

Editorial triage

Early editorial screen

Editors assess whether the advance is broad, mechanistically convincing, and worth external review.

Science Immunology by the Numbers

Publisher	AAAS
Journal model	Monthly, online-only Science-family journal
Impact factor	16.3
Primary fit screen	Broad immunology consequence plus mechanism

Before you submit

Science Immunology accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.

Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full AI Diagnostic for $29. If you need deeper scientific feedback, choose Expert Review. The full report is calibrated to Science Immunology.

Run Free Readiness Scan See a sample report

Article Types

Research Article

Original immunology research with broad consequence and strong evidence.

Review or Perspective

Usually editorially selected or shaped around broad field relevance.

Tools and techniques

Methodological advances when the tool materially changes immunology research.

Landmark Science Immunology Papers

Papers that defined fields and changed science:

Science Immunology publishes advances across cancer, infection, mucosal, innate, adaptive, and systems immunology.
Recent issues highlight immune mechanisms across humans, model organisms, tools, and disease contexts.

Preparing a Science Immunology Submission?

Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in Science Immunology and know exactly what editors look for.

Run Free Readiness Scan

Need expert depth? See Expert Review Options

NDA-protected

Confidential

Primary Fields

ImmunologyCancer ImmunologyInfectious DiseaseMucosal ImmunologySystems ImmunologyImmune Regulation

Ready to submit to Science Immunology?

A desk rejection costs months. Get expert feedback before you submit, from scientists who know exactly what Science Immunology editors look for.

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