Best colleges for Biology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of San Diego, California State University - East Bay and Dominican University of California are the top bachelor's Biology programs in California by graduate earnings. University of San Diego leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,223, College Scorecard. University of California-Irvine, University of California-Riverside and University of California-San Diego award the most Biology degrees in California: 841, 685 and 571 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 178 California colleges offer Biology and award 14,528 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
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 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $54,223 | 66 | 84% | $26,035 | $25,000 |
| 2 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,370 | 136 | 48% | — | $21,500 |
| 3 | Dominican University of California San Rafael Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,548 | 46 | 78% | $48,448 | $27,000 |
| 4 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,527 | 162 | 55% | — | $24,174 |
| 5 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,423 | 75 | 70% | $37,121 | $23,250 |
| 6 | California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,344 | 86 | 51% | — | $19,500 |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,651 | 180 | 75% | — | $20,703 |
| 8 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,192 | 277 | 56% | — | $15,019 |
| 9 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,120 | 70 | 63% | — | $18,750 |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,642 | 157 | 93% | — | $14,000 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reedley College Reedley Public · Associate degree | $30,520 | 98 | 42% | — | $6,500 |
| 2 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego Public · Associate degree | $15,731 | 146 | 48% | — | $6,500 |
| 3 | Fresno City College Fresno Public · Associate degree | $22,741 | 310 | 24% | — | $6,625 |
Colleges awarding the most Biology 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-Irvine Irvine Public | 841 | $25,388 |
| 2 | University of California-Riverside Riverside Public | 685 | $26,863 |
| 3 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla Public | 571 | $34,504 |
| 4 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 504 | $35,241 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 418 | $28,242 |
| 6 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 401 | $36,259 |
| 7 | Los Angeles Harbor College Wilmington Public | 361 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 351 | $33,486 |
| 9 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 316 | $35,053 |
| 10 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 289 | $33,597 |
ShowHide the other 168 California colleges offering Biology
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).
Top skills
What Biological Technicians earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Biology degrees?+
University of California-Irvine (841 graduates a year), University of California-Riverside (685 graduates a year) and University of California-San Diego (571 graduates a year) award the most Biology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 178 California colleges offer Biology.
What is the best college for Biology in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of San Diego leads among bachelor's Biology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $54,223, College Scorecard. California State University - East Bay and Dominican University of California follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Irvine is the largest, with 841 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of San Diego tops the list at $54,223. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Biological Technicians earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Biological Technicians in California is $78,170 (median $71,440), across about 9,210 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biology program?+
The Biology program, also known as Biology, General, is designed for students interested in the scientific study of life and living organisms. This broad natural science encompasses various fields, focusing on the structure, function,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, science, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Biological Technicians?+
The national job outlook is about +3.5% growth with around 9,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's 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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