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2023 Most Focused Colleges for General Biology in California

185 Ranked Colleges
14,408 Degrees Awarded
$35,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

General Biology is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 107,165 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,334 and had an average of $23,818 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 14,408 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,117 and $20,221 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California” ranking looked at 185 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general biology. That schools that top this list have a program in general biology in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california biology students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for General Biology in California

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California. Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences is a small school located in Duarte, California that handed out 13 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Biology at Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Merced. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. University of California - Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 360 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at University of California - Merced

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. CDU is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at CDU

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Yuba College crest
Yuba College
Marysville, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yuba College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Marysville, California, and it awarded 126 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Yuba College General Biology Report

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Whittier College
Whittier, California

Whittier College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. Located in Whittier, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 41 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Whittier

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Clovis Community College
Fresno, California

With a ranking of #7, Clovis Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. Clovis Community College is located in Fresno, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 187 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on General Biology at Clovis Community College

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Mission College
Santa Clara, California

Mission College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. Mission College is a public institution located in Santa Clara, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 94 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Biology at Mission College

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University of California - Riverside ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 624 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Riverside General Biology Report

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Laney College crest
Laney College
Oakland, California

Laney College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. Laney College is a public institution located in Oakland, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 82 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Biology at Laney College

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San Diego City College
San Diego, California

San Diego City College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. San Diego City College is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Biology at San Diego City College

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Fresno City College
Fresno, California

Fresno City College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 272 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Biology at Fresno City College

13
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University of Saint Katherine
San Marcos, California

University of Saint Katherine did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking, coming in at #13. University of Saint Katherine is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Saint Katherine General Biology Report

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Southern California University of Health Sciences landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. Whittier, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biology degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at Southern California University of Health Sciences

15
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Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 37 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at Occidental College

16
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Dominican University of California
San Rafael, California

With a ranking of #16, Dominican University of California did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. Dominican University of California is located in San Rafael, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Dominican University of California General Biology Report

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Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. Humboldt State University is a public institution located in Arcata, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 134 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Biology at Humboldt State University

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Westmont crest
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

Westmont College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. Westmont College is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Westmont General Biology Report

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Napa Valley College crest
Napa Valley College
Napa, California

Napa Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. Napa, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 82 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Biology at Napa Valley College

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San Bernardino Valley College crest
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino Valley College ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.

Full San Bernardino Valley College General Biology Report

21

California State University - Channel Islands landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Camarillo, California, and it awarded 147 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUCI General Biology Report

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Reedley College
Reedley, California

Reedley College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. Reedley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Reedley, California. It awarded 155 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on General Biology at Reedley College

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University of the Pacific
Stockton, California

University of the Pacific ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Stockton, California, and it awarded 125 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Biology at University of the Pacific

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San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, California

San Diego Mesa College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 121 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about General Biology at San Diego Mesa College

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University of California - Irvine came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California ranking. University of California - Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 749 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at UC Irvine

Rest of the Best 28 in Schools Highly Focused on Biology Major in California

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

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Taft College
Taft, California
27
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La Sierra University
Riverside, California
28
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Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, California

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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