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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Biology Studies in California

180 Ranked Colleges
14,031 Degrees Awarded
$35,600 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 95,999 biology studies students received their degree, making the major the 6th most popular in the country.

Across California, there were 14,031 biology studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California” ranking analyzed 180 colleges that offered a degree in biology studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their biology studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 Biological Sciences Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Biology Studies in California

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. This small school is located in Duarte, California, and it awarded 13 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences Biology Studies Report

2

Out of the 180 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Merced landed the #2 spot on the list. UC Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 360 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Biology Studies at University of California - Merced

3
Yuba College crest
Yuba College
Marysville, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Yuba College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California. Yuba College is a public institution located in Marysville, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 126 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Yuba College Biology Studies Report

4
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Whittier College
Whittier, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Whittier College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California. Whittier is a small school located in Whittier, California that handed out 41 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 full report on Biology Studies at Whittier

5
Clovis Community College crest
Clovis Community College
Fresno, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Clovis Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. Clovis Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 187 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Clovis Community College

6
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Mission College
Santa Clara, California

Mission College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Santa Clara, California, and it awarded 94 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mission College Biology Studies Report

7

With a ranking of #7, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 618 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UCR Biology Studies Report

8
Laney College crest
Laney College
Oakland, California

With a ranking of #8, Laney College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. Laney College is located in Oakland, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 82 ’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Biology Studies at Laney College

9
San Diego City College crest
San Diego City College
San Diego, California

San Diego City College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 107 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Biology Studies at San Diego City College

10
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Fresno City College
Fresno, California

Fresno City College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 272 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Fresno City College

11
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University of Saint Katherine
San Marcos, California

University of Saint Katherine came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. University of Saint Katherine is located in San Marcos, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at University of Saint Katherine

12

Southern California University of Health Sciences landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. Southern California University of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Whittier, California. It awarded 19 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 more about Biology Studies at SCU

13
Oxy crest
Occidental College
Los Angeles, California

Occidental College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #13. Oxy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 37 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%.

Full Occidental College Biology Studies Report

14
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Dominican University of California
San Rafael, California

Dominican University of California came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. DUofC is located in San Rafael, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Biology Studies at Dominican University of California

15
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences 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 full report on Biology Studies at Humboldt State University

16
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Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

Westmont College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biological sciences degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Westmont College

17
Napa Valley College crest
Napa Valley College
Napa, California

With a ranking of #17, Napa Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. Napa Valley College is a small school located in Napa, California that handed out 82 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Napa Valley College Biology Studies Report

18
San Bernardino Valley College crest
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino Valley College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. San Bernardino Valley College is a public institution located in San Bernardino, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Biology Studies at San Bernardino Valley College

19

California State University - Channel Islands came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 147 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Biology Studies at CSUCI

20
Reedley College crest
Reedley College
Reedley, California

Reedley College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking. Reedley College is located in Reedley, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 155 ’s biological sciences degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Biology Studies at Reedley College

21
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University of the Pacific
Stockton, California

University of the Pacific ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. Located in Stockton, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 125 diplomas to qualified ’s biological sciences students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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.

Full Pacific Biology Studies Report

22
San Diego Mesa College crest
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, California

San Diego Mesa College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. San Diego Mesa College is a fairly large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 121 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Biology Studies at San Diego Mesa College

23

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #23. UC Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 749 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Biology Studies at University of California - Irvine

24
Taft College crest
Taft College
Taft, California

With a ranking of #24, Taft College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California list. Taft College is a small school located in Taft, California that handed out 31 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Biology Studies at Taft College

25
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Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, California

Notre Dame de Namur University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Notre Dame de Namur University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Belmont, California. It awarded 25 ’s biological sciences degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad 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%. 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.

Read more about Biology Studies at NDNU

Rest of the Best 28 in Schools Highly Focused on Biological Sciences 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:

26
Long Beach City College crest
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, California
27
Las Positas College crest
Las Positas College
Livermore, California
28
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, California

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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