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 100 schools on the early-career earnings of their general biology graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send general biology graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Leading the list is Mission College, our #1 for general biology graduate salaries in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Mission College typically earn about $82,066 annually.
A rank of #2 makes San Jose State University one of the highest-paying schools for general biology. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from San Jose State University typically earn about $79,095 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Stanford University earned it the #3 place for general biology. Stanford University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Early-career general biology graduates from Stanford University make a median of around $76,182 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general biology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,439.
A rank of #5 makes Azusa Pacific University one of the highest-paying schools for general biology. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University typically earn about $64,981 annually.
La Sierra University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Located in the city of Riverside, La Sierra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general biology graduates from La Sierra University make a median of around $63,167 per year.
Concordia University Irvine ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine typically earn about $62,730 annually.
California State University Fullerton earned the #8 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $78,137.
Folsom Lake College placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Folsom Lake College is a public school located in the city of Folsom. General Biology graduates of Folsom Lake College earn a median of about $72,656 a year early in their careers.
Dominican University Of California placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from Dominican University Of California typically earn about $91,956 annually.
University Of San Diego landed the #11 spot for general biology salaries this year. University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,950.
California State University Bakersfield placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. General Biology graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $59,736 a year early in their careers.
San Diego Mesa College landed the #13 spot for general biology salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College typically earn about $51,811 annually.
California State University East Bay placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,854.
San Diego City College came in at #15 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located 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.
California State University San Marcos came in at #16 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from California State University San Marcos typically earn about $76,916 annually.
University Of La Verne ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. Early-career general biology graduates from University Of La Verne make a median of around $98,134 per year.
University Of California Berkeley placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from University Of California Berkeley make a median of around $76,503 per year.
University Of San Francisco came in at #19 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from University Of San Francisco typically earn about $71,657 annually.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus earned the #20 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,087.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #21 spot for general biology salaries this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus typically earn about $69,087 annually.
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #22 spot for general biology salaries this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from University Of California Santa Cruz make a median of around $70,452 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,422.
California Lutheran University earned the #24 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general biology graduates from California Lutheran University make a median of around $77,378 per year.
California State University Channel Islands ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Set in the rural area of Camarillo, California State University Channel Islands is a public institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from California State University Channel Islands typically earn about $69,162 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid general biology ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general biology graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 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.
