2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology 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 Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2019-2020, 102,043 general biology students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $28,233 and had an average of $23,964 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 13,086 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,318 and $21,623 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,719 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California” ranking looked at 59 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general biology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general biology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general biology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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More Ways to Rank General Biology Schools
The biology 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 Biology 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in California
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 Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 197 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biology students list, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $21,595 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo General Biology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Stanislaus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. Turlock, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 110 students in 2019-2020.
It costs about $6,019 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend California State University - Stanislaus.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Francisco State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 329 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
SFSU also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $15,113 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 247 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $9,622 for california bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
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 Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend San Jose State University is $14,928 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Seaside, California, and it awarded 99 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $12,212 for california bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend California State University - Monterey Bay.
The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.
California State University - East Bay did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Hayward, California, this fairly large public school handed out 142 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
Cal State East Bay also made our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #25. It costs about $11,116 for california bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
Read more about General Biology at California State University - East Bay
California State University - Channel Islands came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. CSUCI is a medium-sized public school situated in Camarillo, California. It awarded 129 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUCI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Channel Islands is $13,558 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
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%.
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school handed out 167 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Fresno State is $5,464 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Full California State University - Fresno General Biology Report
California State University - San Marcos came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. California State University - San Marcos is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 175 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for CSUSM is $13,399 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology 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%.
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 368 students in 2019-2020.
UCSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $15,884 for california bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend UCSB.
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 school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at University of California - Santa Barbara
California State University - Sacramento came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Sac State 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 took the #23 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Sac State is $9,979 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at California State University - Sacramento
California State University - Northridge landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. CSUN is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 282 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $8,414 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 555 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $14,279 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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%.
With a ranking of #15, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. Located in Pomona, California, this large public school awarded 218 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biology students list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $12,734 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology 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 student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
San Diego State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 284 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biology students list, SDSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $14,788 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
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.
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #17. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 69 students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Chico State is $15,017 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - Chico
University of California - Berkeley ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 233 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biology students list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,329 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend UC Berkeley.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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%.
University of California - San Diego ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - San Diego is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 302 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UCSD also made our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $14,232 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students per year to attend University of California - San Diego.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 General Biology at University of California - San Diego
University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #20. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 341 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Davis also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $14,669 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 General Biology at University of California - Davis
Sonoma State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Rohnert Park, California, and it awarded 88 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Sonoma State University is $17,478 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology 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%.
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking, coming in at #22. California State University - Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 212 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fullerton is $7,991 for california bachelor’s degree biology students.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about General Biology at California State University - Fullerton
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California ranking. Cal State LA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 143 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $2,768 for california bachelor’s degree biology 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%.
With a ranking of #24, University of California - Merced did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. UC Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 287 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Merced did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $13,896 for california bachelor’s degree biology students per year to attend UC Merced.
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 low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 General Biology at University of California - Merced
With a ranking of #25, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California list. University of California - Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 770 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Irvine is $14,783 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Irvine General Biology 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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