by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the early-career earnings of their general biology graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose general biology graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Mission College, our #1 for general biology graduate salaries in the United States. Mission College is a public school located in the city of Santa Clara. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,066.
Strong graduate earnings at Union College Nebraska earned it the #2 place for general biology. Set in the city of Lincoln, Union College Nebraska is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,593.
Folsom Lake College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Folsom Lake College make a median of around $72,656 per year.
A rank of #4 makes San Diego Mesa College one of the highest-paying schools for general biology. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,811.
Strong graduate earnings at San Diego City College earned it the #5 place for general biology. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from San Diego City College typically earn about $51,184 annually.
Blinn College earned the #6 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Blinn College is a public school located in the town of Brenham. Early-career general biology graduates from Blinn College make a median of around $46,168 per year.
Austin Community College District earned the #7 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Austin Community College District is a public school located in the city of Austin. Early-career general biology graduates from Austin Community College District make a median of around $56,234 per year.
College Of Western Idaho landed the #8 spot for general biology salaries this year. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a public institution. General Biology graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of about $42,456 a year early in their careers.
Essex County College earned the #9 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Essex County College typically earn about $42,017 annually.
Cuny Laguardia Community College placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Cuny Laguardia Community College make a median of around $40,194 per year.
El Camino Community College District earned the #11 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from El Camino Community College District typically earn about $39,725 annually.
Temple College came in at #12 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Temple, Temple College is a public institution. General Biology graduates of Temple College earn a median of about $39,049 a year early in their careers.
Reedley College came in at #13 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Reedley College is a public school located in the town of Reedley. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,703.
Louisburg College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the rural area of Louisburg, Louisburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Louisburg College typically earn about $37,363 annually.
Copiah Lincoln Community College came in at #15 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Wesson, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Copiah Lincoln Community College make a median of around $36,373 per year.
Mott Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Mott Community College is a public school located in the city of Flint. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Mott Community College typically earn about $44,663 annually.
Georgia Military College Milledgeville came in at #17 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia Military College Milledgeville is a public institution. General Biology graduates of Georgia Military College Milledgeville earn a median of about $34,889 a year early in their careers.
San Bernardino Valley College earned the #18 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. San Bernardino Valley College is a public school located in the city of San Bernardino. General Biology graduates of San Bernardino Valley College earn a median of about $33,479 a year early in their careers.
East Mississippi Community College came in at #19 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,121.
Fresno City College earned the #20 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Fresno City College is a public school located in the city of Fresno. General Biology graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of about $47,717 a year early in their careers.
Cumberland County College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of Vineland, Cumberland County College is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Cumberland County College make a median of around $44,084 per year.
Gloucester County College came in at #22 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Gloucester County College make a median of around $44,084 per year.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #23 spot for general biology salaries this year. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Perkinston. Early-career general biology graduates from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College make a median of around $32,243 per year.
South Texas College placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a public institution. General Biology graduates of South Texas College earn a median of about $34,637 a year early in their careers.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. San Diego Miramar College is a public school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,218.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning general biology graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid General Biology rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries general biology graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 29 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.