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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Biology Studies in California

59 Ranked Colleges
8,604 Degrees Awarded
$12,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor's in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking.

With 91,804 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, biology studies is the 6th most popular major in the United States.

Across California, there were 12,835 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,604 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking looked at 59 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in biology studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent biology studies programs, but they also 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 biology studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Biology Studies Schools

The biological sciences 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 Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California.

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

#7 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 Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 197 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $21,595 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Stanislaus landed the #2 spot on the list. Stan State is located in Turlock, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 110 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Stan State is $6,019 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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 Biology Studies at Stan State

#3

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#19 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Francisco State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 329 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also made our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $15,113 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at SFSU

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 247 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,622 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students per year to attend CSULB.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full CSULB Biology Studies Report

#5

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
#15 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Jose State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. This large school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

San Jose State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State is $14,928 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full San Jose State Biology Studies Report

California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. CSUMB is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 99 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,212 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at California State University - Monterey Bay

#25 in overall quality

California State University - East Bay ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 142 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Cal State East Bay also took the #25 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal State East Bay is $11,116 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

Full California State University - East Bay Biology Studies Report

#21 in overall quality

California State University - Channel Islands came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California State University - Channel Islands is a public institution located in Camarillo, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 129 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students list, CSUCI has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $13,558 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend California State University - Channel Islands.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at California State University - Channel Islands

California State University - Fresno landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California State University - Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 167 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Fresno State is $5,464 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Fresno State

California State University - San Marcos landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 175 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - San Marcos is $13,399 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

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%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at CSUSM

#11

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 368 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students list, UCSB has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Biology Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

#23 in overall quality

California State University - Sacramento came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 269 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State also made our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $9,979 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students per year to attend Sac State.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Biology Studies at Sac State

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 282 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,414 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend CSUN.

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%.

Read more about Biology Studies at CSUN

#14

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 555 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #5 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,279 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students per year to attend UCLA.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

#22 in overall quality

California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 218 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

Cal Poly Pomona also made our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $12,734 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend California State Polytechnic University - Pomona.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low 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%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Cal Poly Pomona

#16

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. San Diego State University is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 284 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

SDSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $14,788 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend San Diego State University.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at San Diego State University

California State University - Chico ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

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

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Chico State

#18

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#3 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 233 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Berkeley is $15,329 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biological Sciences students.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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%.

Full UC Berkeley Biology Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 302 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students list, UCSD has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSD is $14,232 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of California - San Diego Biology Studies Report

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 341 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Davis also took the #8 spot in our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $14,669 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at UC Davis

#21

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, California

With a ranking of #21, Sonoma State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 88 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SSU is $17,478 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

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 Biology Studies Report

California State University - Fullerton landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 212 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,991 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend Cal State Fullerton.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its 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%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Cal State Fullerton

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 143 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $2,768 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students per year to attend California State University - Los Angeles.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Cal State LA

#12 in overall quality

University of California - Merced ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 287 bachelors’s biological sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Merced also made our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Merced is $13,896 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Biology Studies at University of California - Merced

#13 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Biological Sciences Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 770 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biological sciences students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Biology Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Irvine is $14,783 for california bachelor’s degree biological sciences students.

The low student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Biology Studies at UC Irvine

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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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