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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Biochemistry in California

33 Ranked Colleges
1,349 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor's in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Biochemistry is the 77th most popular major in the country with 10,071 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 1,374 biochemistry graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,349 biochemistry graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking looked at 33 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in biochemistry. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great biochemistry programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the biochemistry program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The biological chemistry school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Biochemistry in California

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also took the #4 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $21,595 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 65 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also took the #13 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,622 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students per year to attend CSULB.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Biochemistry at California State University - Long Beach

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 33 schools in the Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - San Marcos landed the #3 spot on the list. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 34 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

CSUSM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,399 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.

The low student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

Full California State University - San Marcos Biochemistry Report

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 223 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,279 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students per year to attend University of California - Los Angeles.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Biochemistry Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Diego. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - San Diego is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 317 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for UCSD is $14,232 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Read more about Biochemistry at University of California - San Diego

California State University - Fresno ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $5,464 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Biochemistry at Fresno State

#19 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #7. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students list, Cal State East Bay has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - East Bay is $11,116 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students.

Read more about Biochemistry at California State University - East Bay

#17 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 61 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cal State Fullerton is $7,991 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at Cal State Fullerton

#9

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students per year to attend University of California - Santa Barbara.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Biochemistry at University of California - Santa Barbara

#10

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#21 in overall quality

San Francisco State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological chemistry students in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #21 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $15,113 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

Read full report on Biochemistry at San Francisco State University

California State University - Northridge ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $8,414 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Full CSUN Biochemistry Report

#25 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also took the #25 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $9,979 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students per year to attend California State University - Sacramento.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at California State University - Sacramento

#13

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Sonoma State University is a medium-sized school located in Rohnert Park, California that handed out 19 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,478 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students per year to attend SSU.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.

Full Sonoma State University Biochemistry Report

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State University - Chico is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $15,017 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students per year to attend Chico State.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at California State University - Chico

With a ranking of #15, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State University - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Los Angeles is $2,768 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%.

Read more about Biochemistry at California State University - Los Angeles

California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. CSUDH is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $4,215 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students per year to attend California State University - Dominguez Hills.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at CSUDH

#17

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#18 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Located in Riverside, California, this large public school handed out 121 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biological chemistry students in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $12,871 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students per year to attend UCR.

The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read more about Biochemistry at UCR

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Bakersfield is $5,318 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students.

Full California State University - Bakersfield Biochemistry Report

#19

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#24 in overall quality

Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

PLNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for PLNU is $33,044 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Point Loma Nazarene University Biochemistry Report

#20

Biola University

La Mirada, California
#23 in overall quality

Biola University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. This medium-sized school is located in La Mirada, California, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students list, Biola has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $31,859 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students per year to attend Biola University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at Biola

#21

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#11 in overall quality

Mount Saint Mary’s University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Mount Saint Mary’s University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 8 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

MSMU also took the #11 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $29,214 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students per year to attend MSMU.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Biochemistry at Mount Saint Mary’s University

#22

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, California
#15 in overall quality

California Lutheran University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California Lutheran University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Thousand Oaks, California. It awarded 16 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students list, CLU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CLU is $26,489 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Chemistry students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CLU Biochemistry Report

#23

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#16 in overall quality

University of the Pacific ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Stockton, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 20 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological chemistry students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pacific, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of the Pacific is $28,929 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Read more about Biochemistry at Pacific

#10 in overall quality

Saint Mary’s College of California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Moraga, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological chemistry students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Biochemistry Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Mary’s College of California is $34,392 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biochemistry at SMC

#25

Whittier College

Whittier, California

With a ranking of #25, Whittier College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Chemistry Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Whittier is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Whittier, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s biological chemistry degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Whittier is $24,570 for california bachelor’s degree biological chemistry students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Full Whittier College Biochemistry Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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