Best colleges for Biochemistry in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - San Marcos, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and California State University - Los Angeles are the top bachelor's Biochemistry programs in California by graduate earnings. California State University - San Marcos leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,682, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-San Diego and University of California-Davis award the most Biochemistry degrees in California: 311, 249 and 208 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 53 California colleges offer Biochemistry and award 1,869 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biochemistry program, officially titled Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, focuses on the chemical processes that occur within living organisms. This interdisciplinary field combines principles from both chemistry and…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,682 | 37 | 55% | — | $16,666 |
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,538 | 39 | 86% | — | $17,500 |
| 3 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,428 | 34 | 53% | — | $16,730 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,100 | 88 | 83% | — | $9,500 |
| 5 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,689 | 23 | 56% | — | $16,500 |
| 6 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,453 | 21 | 57% | — | — |
| 7 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,066 | 249 | 86% | — | $17,500 |
| 8 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,266 | 208 | 86% | — | $11,208 |
| 9 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,200 | 68 | 87% | — | — |
| 10 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,320 | 56 | 75% | — | $18,959 |
Colleges awarding the most Biochemistry degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 311 | $35,210 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 249 | $45,066 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 208 | $42,266 |
| 4 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 133 | $30,077 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 88 | $49,100 |
| 6 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 71 | $34,468 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 68 | $42,200 |
| 8 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 64 | $38,869 |
| 9 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 56 | $40,320 |
| 10 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 54 | $36,841 |
ShowHide the other 43 California colleges offering Biochemistry
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biochemists and Biophysicists (SOC 19-1021).
Top skills
What Biochemists and Biophysicists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biochemistry programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Biochemistry degrees?+
University of California-Los Angeles (311 graduates a year), University of California-San Diego (249 graduates a year) and University of California-Davis (208 graduates a year) award the most Biochemistry degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 53 California colleges offer Biochemistry.
What is the best college for Biochemistry in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State University - San Marcos leads among bachelor's Biochemistry programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,682, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and California State University - Los Angeles follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Los Angeles is the largest, with 311 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biochemistry program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State University - San Marcos tops the list at $57,682. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biochemists and Biophysicists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Biochemists and Biophysicists in California is $148,550 (median $139,580), across about 3,240 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biochemistry program?+
The Biochemistry program, officially titled Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, focuses on the chemical processes that occur within living organisms. This interdisciplinary field combines principles from both chemistry and…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Biochemists and Biophysicists?+
The national job outlook is about +5.8% growth with around 2,900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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