California · Biology

Best institutions to study Biology in California

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,…

Institutions
178
offering CIP 26.01
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
14,528
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$38,344
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
50
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,609
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$78,170
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of San Diego
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$54,2236684%$26,035$25,000
2California State University - East Bay
Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,37013648%$21,500
3Dominican University of California
San Rafael Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,5484678%$48,448$27,000
4California State University - San Marcos
San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,52716255%$24,174
5University of San Francisco
San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,4237570%$37,121$23,250
6California State University - Channel Islands
Camarillo Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,3448651%$19,500
7University of California - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,65118075%$20,703
8California State University - Sacramento
Sacramento Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,19227756%$15,019
9California State University - Chico
Chico Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,1207063%$18,750
10University of California - Berkeley
Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,64215793%$14,000

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Biological Technicians (SOC 19-4021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+3.5%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~9,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$52,000
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingScienceActive ListeningActive LearningWriting

What Biological Technicians earn in California

Jobs in California
9,210
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$78,170
median $71,440
Best-paying metro
$99,540
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Related careers

Biological Scientists, All Other
$123,840 avg · 11,880 jobs
Biological Technicians
$78,170 avg · 9,210 jobs
Food Science Technicians
$56,850 avg · 3,990 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Biology programs in California.

Which Biology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of San Diego tops the list at $54,223. Compare it against completions, 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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