2026 Best Zoology Schools in California
Zoology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best zoology schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Zoology in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall zoology education in California.
Top Schools in Zoology
Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best school in the country for a degree in zoology. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 124 zoology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, zoology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
See the full zoology program report for University Of California Davis
University Of California Santa Barbara is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in zoology, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 26 zoology degrees in the most recent data year. Zoology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $37,633 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,501.
Read more about the zoology program at University Of California Santa Barbara
Students looking for a strong zoology program will find one at University Of California Riverside, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Riverside, University Of California Riverside is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 19 zoology degrees were awarded at University Of California Riverside in the most recent year. Graduates of the zoology program make about $40,040 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,187 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in zoology from University Of California Riverside
A rank of #4 makes Humboldt State University one of the top schools for zoology. Set in the town of Arcata, Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 30 zoology degrees were awarded at Humboldt State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their zoology degree from Humboldt State University earn around $28,565 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,690.
Read more about the zoology program at Humboldt State University
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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 · 9 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.
