Best colleges for Biotechnology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, University of California-Davis and California State University - San Marcos are the top bachelor's Biotechnology programs in California by graduate earnings. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,697, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis, California State University - San Marcos and California State University - Channel Islands award the most Biotechnology degrees in California: 84, 52 and 45 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 California colleges offer Biotechnology and award 398 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Biotechnology program is a multidisciplinary field that merges natural sciences and engineering to apply biological organisms and their components for various products and services. This program is ideal for students interested in…
Top 3 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 Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,697 | 36 | 68% | — | $18,500 |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,156 | 84 | 86% | — | $11,985 |
| 3 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,615 | 52 | 55% | — | $18,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Biotechnology 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-Davis Davis Public | 84 | $59,156 |
| 2 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos Public | 52 | $49,615 |
| 3 | California State University - Channel Islands Camarillo Public | 45 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit | 37 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 36 | $60,697 |
| 6 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 31 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley Public | 16 | Not reported |
| 10 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 California colleges offering Biotechnology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach | Public | 10 |
| California State University - Fresno | Fresno | Public | 5 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| California State University - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | 4 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Natural Sciences Managers (SOC 11-9121).
Top skills
What Natural Sciences Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Biotechnology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Biotechnology degrees?+
University of California-Davis (84 graduates a year), California State University - San Marcos (52 graduates a year) and California State University - Channel Islands (45 graduates a year) award the most Biotechnology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 California colleges offer Biotechnology.
What is the best college for Biotechnology in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads among bachelor's Biotechnology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $60,697, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis and California State University - San Marcos follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Davis is the largest, with 84 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Biotechnology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $60,697. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Natural Sciences Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Natural Sciences Managers in California is $223,850 (median $210,230), across about 14,950 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Biotechnology program?+
The Biotechnology program is a multidisciplinary field that merges natural sciences and engineering to apply biological organisms and their components for various products and services. This program is ideal for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop science, active listening, monitoring, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Natural Sciences Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 8,500 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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