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. The highest-paying schools turn a general biology degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 65 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying general biology schools.
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 California. 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.
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. General Biology graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $79,095 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Stanford University one of the highest-paying schools for general biology. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general biology graduates from Stanford University make a median of around $76,182 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Saint Marys College Of California earned it the #4 place for general biology. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. Early-career general biology graduates from Saint Marys College Of California make a median of around $65,439 per year.
Azusa Pacific University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. General Biology graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of about $64,981 a year early in their careers.
La Sierra University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of Riverside, La Sierra University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,167.
Concordia University Irvine placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,730.
California State University Fullerton placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. 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 ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general biology schools. Dominican University Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Rafael. General Biology graduates of Dominican University Of California earn a median of about $91,956 a year early in their careers.
University Of San Diego landed the #11 spot for general biology salaries this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from University Of San Diego typically earn about $68,950 annually.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #12 for general biology graduate earnings this year. California State University Bakersfield is a public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,736.
San Diego Mesa College placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a public institution. Early-career general biology graduates from San Diego Mesa College make a median of around $51,811 per year.
California State University East Bay placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,854.
San Diego City College earned the #15 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. San Diego City College is a public school located in the city of San Diego. General Biology graduates of San Diego City College earn a median of about $51,184 a year early in their careers.
California State University San Marcos landed the #16 spot for general biology salaries this year. California State University San Marcos is a public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. General Biology graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $76,916 a year early in their careers.
University Of La Verne landed the #17 spot for general biology salaries this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general biology graduates from University Of La Verne make a median of around $98,134 per year.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #18 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. General Biology graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of about $76,503 a year early in their careers.
University Of San Francisco earned the #19 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit institution. General Biology graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of about $71,657 a year early in their careers.
University Of California Santa Cruz placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for general biology. University Of California Santa Cruz is a public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. General Biology graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $70,452 a year early in their careers.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #21 for general biology graduate earnings this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Early-career general biology graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo make a median of around $73,422 per year.
California Lutheran University earned the #22 position for general biology graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general biology degree recipients from California Lutheran University typically earn about $77,378 annually.
California State University Channel Islands came in at #23 for general biology graduate earnings this year. 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.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #24 for general biology graduate earnings this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Early-career general biology graduates from University Of California Santa Barbara make a median of around $76,068 per year.
Santa Clara University came in at #25 for general biology graduate earnings this year. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Students who complete the general biology program here go on to a median salary of roughly $70,331.
These schools also send general biology graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 65 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.
