General Biology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 1300 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general biology schools.
Where you study general biology matters for your future. That is why we built our Best General Biology Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Biology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Johns Hopkins University this year for general biology. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 675 general biology degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $125,159. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
See the full general biology program report for Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at Rice University, which ranked #2. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Rice University awarded about 129 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for general biology. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $57,461 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778.
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Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 185 general biology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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A rank of #5 makes Colby College one of the top schools for general biology. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Colby College graduates 89% of students within six years. About 34 general biology degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Colby College generally make around $43,597. Students borrow a median of $22,016 to complete this degree.
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Roseman University Of Health Sciences landed the #6 spot for general biology this year. Located in the city of Henderson, Roseman University Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. Roseman University Of Health Sciences awarded about 45 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Roseman University Of Health Sciences earn around $108,809 in the first couple years of their career. Roseman University Of Health Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,448 in student loans.
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Bowdoin College earned the #7 position for general biology this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 49 general biology degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
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San Francisco State University came in at #8 for general biology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 401 general biology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $36,259 in their early career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general biology from San Francisco State University
Boston College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 238 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $38,592. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio landed the #10 spot for general biology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of San Antonio. There were roughly 35 general biology students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio earn a median of $89,151 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,247 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general biology from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio
Tufts University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 306 general biology degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $40,842 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #12 spot for general biology this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 522 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,798. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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University Of California Berkeley placed #13 among the best general biology schools. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 157 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $36,642 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University earned the #14 position for general biology this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 129 general biology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Hamilton College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 41 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $43,639. Typical student debt for the program is $17,000.
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Lafayette College landed the #16 spot for general biology this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Lafayette College earn around $41,885 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #17 for general biology this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 351 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $33,486 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,586.
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Medical University Of South Carolina placed #18 among the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Medical University Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. Medical University Of South Carolina awarded about 36 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Medical University Of South Carolina earn around $89,719 in the first couple years of their career. Medical University Of South Carolina graduates carry a median of $29,043 in student loans.
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New York University landed the #19 spot for general biology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 552 general biology students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $50,413 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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Purdue University Main Campus earned the #20 position for general biology this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 344 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $40,145. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,380 in student loans.
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Northwestern University placed #21 among the best general biology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 152 general biology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $86,946. Students borrow a median of $14,800 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University placed #22 among the best general biology schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 289 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $33,597. Typical student debt for the program is $17,998.
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Davidson College earned the #23 position for general biology this year. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 77 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $39,602 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in general biology from Davidson College
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences placed #24 among the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 63 general biology degrees were awarded at Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences generally make around $73,671. Students borrow a median of $29,056 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University landed the #25 spot for general biology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 107 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $37,196 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
See the full general biology program report for Georgetown University
Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general biology ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1300 schools evaluated.
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).
