California · Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences

Best colleges for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences in California

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of California-Santa Cruz, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Santa Barbara are the top bachelor's Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences programs in California by graduate earnings. University of California-Santa Cruz leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,088, College Scorecard. University of California-San Diego, University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Los Angeles award the most Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences degrees in California: 827, 748 and 290 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 California colleges offer Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences and award 2,456 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences program focuses on the study of cells, their structures, functions, and the biological systems they comprise. This program is ideal for students interested in delving into the microscopic…

Institutions
15
offering CIP 26.04
States offered
44
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,456
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$37,952
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,873
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
82%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$78,170
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,08815275%—$19,000
2University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,27074893%—$14,000
3University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,3336783%—$19,000
4University of California-Davis
Davis Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,9522886%—$12,000
5University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,94529093%—$15,848
6University of California-Riverside
Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,1487376%—$17,861

Colleges awarding the most Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of California-San Diego
La Jolla Public
827Not reported
2University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley Public
748$43,270
3University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public
290$36,945
4University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public
152$45,088
5National University
San Diego Private not-for-profit
130Not reported
6University of California-Riverside
Riverside Public
73$31,148
7University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Public
67$38,333
8University of Southern California
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit
55Not reported
9University of California-Merced
Merced Public
52Not reported
10University of California-Davis
Davis Public
28$37,952
Show the other 5 California colleges offering Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of California-IrvineIrvinePublic16
University of California-San Francisco (Graduate only)San FranciscoPublic7
Stanford UniversityStanfordPrivate not-for-profit6
Loma Linda UniversityLoma LindaPrivate not-for-profit4
California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaPrivate not-for-profit1

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
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
$146,810 avg · 3,610 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences degrees?+

University of California-San Diego (827 graduates a year), University of California-Berkeley (748 graduates a year) and University of California-Los Angeles (290 graduates a year) award the most Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 California colleges offer Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences.

What is the best college for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences in California?+

By graduate earnings, University of California-Santa Cruz leads among bachelor's Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,088, College Scorecard. University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Santa Barbara follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-San Diego is the largest, with 827 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of California-Santa Cruz tops the list at $45,088. 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 Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences program?+

The Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences program focuses on the study of cells, their structures, functions, and the biological systems they comprise. This program is ideal for students interested in delving into the microscopic…

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).

Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences in other statesMassachusettsTexasRhode IslandColoradoConnecticutWashingtonMinnesotaNew York

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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