2026 Best General Biology Schools in California
General Biology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general biology programs.
College Factual analyzed 185 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general biology schools.
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Best Schools for General Biology in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general biology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Biology
San Francisco State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general biology. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 393 general biology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $36,259 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Loma Linda University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Loma Linda. About 11 general biology degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Loma Linda University earn around $93,833 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,094 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for general biology. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 160 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $36,642 in their early career. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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San Jose State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 222 general biology students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 377 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $33,486. Typical student debt for the program is $14,586.
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Stanford University landed the #6 spot for general biology this year. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Stanford University awarded about 123 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis earned the #7 position for general biology this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 487 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,241 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,000.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #8 for general biology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 285 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,019 in student loans.
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University Of California San Francisco came in at #9 for general biology this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of California San Francisco is a mid-sized public university. University Of California San Francisco awarded about 26 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California San Francisco earn around $118,532 in the first couple years of their career.
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University Of California San Diego placed #10 among the best general biology schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 492 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $52,979 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general biology from University Of California San Diego
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 217 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $37,651 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,703.
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San Diego State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 277 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from San Diego State University earn around $33,597 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,998.
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Santa Clara University earned the #13 position for general biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 47 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Santa Clara University earn around $36,270 in the first couple years of their career. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $19,941 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #14 position for general biology this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 254 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $67,422. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
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Pomona College earned the #15 position for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Pomona College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 12 general biology degrees were awarded at Pomona College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Pomona College generally make around $75,954.
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University Of California Merced earned the #16 position for general biology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Merced. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 286 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Merced in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California Merced earn around $36,140 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,325 to complete this degree.
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California Institute Of Technology ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 general biology students who graduated with this degree at California Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from California Institute Of Technology earn around $173,344 in the first couple years of their career.
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Claremont Mckenna College placed #18 among the best general biology schools. Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 14 general biology degrees were awarded at Claremont Mckenna College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Claremont Mckenna College earn around $66,028 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #19 among the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 170 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $35,638. Typical student debt for the program is $22,949.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #20 for general biology this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 347 general biology degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,053 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general biology from California State University Long Beach
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #21 position for general biology this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 462 general biology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $28,242 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,028.
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Mission College landed the #22 spot for general biology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Clara. About 102 general biology degrees were awarded at Mission College in the most recent year. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Marcos placed #23 among the best general biology schools. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. California State University San Marcos awarded about 167 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $38,527 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,174 to complete this degree.
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Scripps College placed #24 among the best general biology schools. Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Claremont. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 general biology degrees were awarded at Scripps College in the most recent year.
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Sonoma State University came in at #25 for general biology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 92 general biology degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Sonoma State University earn around $34,074 in the first couple years of their career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general biology education:
More General Biology Rankings
View All General Biology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 185 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
