2023 Most Popular Colleges for General Biology in California
185
Ranked Colleges
14,408
Degrees Awarded
$32,500
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Biology Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
With 107,165 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, general biology is the 5th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,334 and had an average of $23,818 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 14,408 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,117 and $20,221 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Biology Major in California” ranking, we looked at 185 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. To top this list, a school must have a successful general biology program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank General Biology Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Biology Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Most Well Attended Biology Major in California
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Biology Major in California”.
Top 25 Most Popular Colleges for General Biology in California
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Irvine. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California. UC Irvine is a large school located in Irvine, California that handed out 749 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at University of California - Irvine
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Riverside. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. This large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 624 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Biology at University of California - Riverside
Out of the 185 schools in the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 532 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Biology at UCLA
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school awarded 469 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about 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 #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 402 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at SFSU
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 377 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.
Read more about General Biology at University of California - Santa Barbara
With a ranking of #7, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. UC Davis is located in Davis, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 364 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Davis General Biology Report
University of California - Merced came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. University of California - Merced is a medium-sized public school situated in Merced, California. It awarded 360 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UC Merced General Biology Report
California State University - Northridge landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 324 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at CSUN
San Diego State University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 309 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Read more about General Biology at San Diego State University
California State University - Sacramento ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 278 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - Sacramento
With a ranking of #12, Bakersfield College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. This large school is located in Bakersfield, California, and it awarded 274 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Biology at Bakersfield College
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. This large school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 272 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, 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%.
Read more about General Biology at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
Fresno City College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. Fresno City College is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 272 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
Full Fresno City College General Biology Report
With a ranking of #15, Long Beach City College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 270 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Long Beach City College General Biology Report
California State University - Long Beach came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 257 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Full CSULB General Biology Report
University of California - Berkeley landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 248 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.
Full UC Berkeley General Biology Report
With a ranking of #18, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large public school situated in San Luis Obispo, California. It awarded 223 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Biology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
With a ranking of #19, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 204 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, 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 85%.
Read more about General Biology at UC Santa Cruz
San Jose State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. San Jose State is a large public school situated in San Jose, California. It awarded 203 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, 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 86%.
Read full report on General Biology at San Jose State University
California State University - San Marcos landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school handed out 194 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad 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 more about General Biology at CSUSM
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. California State University - Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 189 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, 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 undergraduate students.
Read more about General Biology at Cal State Fullerton
Clovis Community College ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. Clovis Community College is located in Fresno, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 187 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
Full Clovis Community College General Biology Report
Reedley College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Biology Major in California ranking. Located in Reedley, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 155 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Biology at Reedley College
California State University - Fresno ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Biology Major in California list. California State University - Fresno is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 152 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Fresno State General Biology Report
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