2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.
With 102,043 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general biology is the 5th most popular major in the United States. 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 564 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree 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.
Featured schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank General Biology Schools
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 “Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.
Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California.
Top 24 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 134 students in 2019-2020.
UCSD also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on General Biology at University of California - San Diego
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Francisco State University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree biology students list, SFSU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SFSU are $17,944, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.
UCLA also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.
Read full report on General Biology at University of California - Los Angeles
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo are $21,009, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 18 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #6. Point Loma Nazarene University is a small school located in San Diego, California that handed out 11 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
PLNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at PLNU are $11,880.
California State University - Long Beach landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 20 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree biology students list, CSULB has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #8. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.
Fresno State also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - East Bay landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - East Bay are $17,828.
Read more about General Biology at California State University - East Bay
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s biology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree biology students list, Chico State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Chico State are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - Chico
California State University - Northridge landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. CSUN is a large public school situated in Northridge, California. It awarded 17 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree biology students list, CSUN has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955.
Full California State University - Northridge General Biology Report
San Jose State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #12. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 34 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
San Jose State also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #8. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Jose State University are $18,790.
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’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 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal State LA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723.
Full California State University - Los Angeles General Biology Report
Sonoma State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This medium-sized school is located in Rohnert Park, California, and it awarded 14 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SSU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Sonoma State University are $18,890, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #15, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 10 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
CSUSM also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #20. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Marcos are $18,661, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - San Marcos
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #16. Cal Poly Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Cal Poly Pomona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal Poly Pomona are $18,377, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Fullerton came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 17 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree biology students list, Cal State Fullerton has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892, but some majors have different tuition rates.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 11 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our california master’s degree biology students list, Sac State has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #19, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s biology students in 2019-2020.
CSUSB did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - San Bernardino are $17,936, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about General Biology at California State University - San Bernardino
With a ranking of #20, Dominican University of California did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Dominican University of California is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Rafael, California. It awarded 6 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
DUofC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at DUofC are $16,520.
Read more about General Biology at Dominican University of California
California State University - Bakersfield ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. CSUB is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s biology degrees to qualified students.
CSUB also took the #23 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUB are $18,437, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #22. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
Humboldt State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Humboldt State University are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of the Pacific ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stockton, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Pacific also made our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific are $49,374, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Stanford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking, coming in at #24. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 22 masters’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.
Stanford also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Biology Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Biology in the Far Western US Region
- Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Biology
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology in California
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences in California
Zoology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Zoology in California
Physiology & Pathology Sciences
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Physiology & Pathology Sciences in California
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Biomathematics & Bioinformatics in California
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology in California
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Neurobiology & Neurosciences in California
Botany/Plant Biology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Botany/Plant Biology in California
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Microbiological Sciences & Immunology in California
Genetics
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Genetics in California
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Pharmacology & Toxicology in California
Biotechnology
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Biotechnology in California
Molecular Medicine
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Molecular Medicine in California
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best General Biology Master's Degree Schools in California
General Biology students in the state of California
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology in California
General Biology students in California
Most Popular Master's Degree Online General Biology Schools
General Biology students in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $0-$30k) in California
General Biology students with family income less than $30k in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $48-$75k) in California
General Biology students with family income $48-$75k in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income Over $110k) in California
General Biology students with family income exceeding $110k in California
Highest Paid Master's Degree General Biology Graduates in California
General Biology students in California
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology in California
General Biology students in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology in California (With Aid)
General Biology students getting aid in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $30-$48k) in California
General Biology students with family income $30-$48k in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $75-$110k) in California
General Biology students with family income $75-$110k in California
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Biology in California
General Biology students in California
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.
Featured Biology Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |