General Biology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 1082 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general biology students pursuing a degree.
Rice University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general biology. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 129 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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A rank of #2 makes Tufts University one of the top schools for general biology. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 257 general biology degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $39,016 early in their careers. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 144 general biology degrees in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at Colby College, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 34 general biology degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Colby College earn a median of $43,597 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,016.
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A rank of #5 makes San Francisco State University one of the top schools for general biology. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 367 general biology students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from San Francisco State University earn around $36,259 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Bowdoin College placed #6 among the best general biology schools. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Bowdoin College graduates 95% of students within six years. About 49 general biology degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Bowdoin College earn around $58,938 in the first couple years of their career. Bowdoin College graduates carry a median of $20,658 in student loans.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for general biology this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 17 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $113,129 in their early career. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,516 in student loans.
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Boston College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 229 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Boston College earn a median of $38,592 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #9 for general biology this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 139 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $36,642 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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Hamilton College came in at #10 for general biology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Hamilton College awarded about 41 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Hamilton College earn around $43,639 in the first couple years of their career. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
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Lafayette College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $41,885. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #12 spot for general biology this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 394 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $35,798 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Purdue University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for general biology this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 308 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $40,145. Students borrow a median of $20,380 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #14 for general biology this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 351 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $33,486 early in their careers. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $14,586 in student loans.
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Northwestern University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 138 general biology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $86,946 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $14,800 in student loans.
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San Diego State University earned the #16 position for general biology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 256 general biology students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from San Diego State University earn around $33,597 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $17,998 in student loans.
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Davidson College landed the #17 spot for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Davidson College graduates 91% of students within six years. Davidson College awarded about 77 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Davidson College earn around $39,602 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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Georgetown University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 76 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $37,196 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
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Butler University came in at #19 for general biology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 52 general biology degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Butler University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 185 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,275 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,500.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #21 for general biology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. About 167 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $31,055 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,047.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #22 position for general biology this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 607 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $33,471. Students borrow a median of $15,100 to complete this degree.
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Dartmouth College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,030.
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Wesleyan University placed #24 among the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 33 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis earned the #25 position for general biology this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. About 504 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $35,241 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general biology ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1082 schools evaluated.
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).
