Best colleges for Human Biology in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Stanford University, University of California-Los Angeles and University of Southern California are the top bachelor's Human Biology programs in California by graduate earnings. Stanford University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,179, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, University of California-Los Angeles and Stanford University award the most Human Biology degrees in California: 292, 209 and 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 California colleges offer Human Biology and award 870 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Human Biology program is an interdisciplinary area of study that explores the complexities of human beings through various fields such as genetics, physiology, anthropology, and ecology. It is designed for students interested in…
Top 4 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 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,179 | 141 | 92% | $12,032 | $12,500 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,628 | 209 | 93% | — | $12,500 |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,405 | 292 | 92% | $26,873 | $14,500 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree | $12,187 | 126 | 87% | — | $20,900 |
Colleges awarding the most Human Biology degrees in California
Top 7 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 Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 292 | $23,405 |
| 2 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 209 | $33,628 |
| 3 | Stanford University Stanford Private not-for-profit | 141 | $50,179 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 126 | $12,187 |
| 5 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 81 | Not reported |
| 6 | Pitzer College Claremont Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | Scripps College Claremont Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Anthropologists and Archeologists (SOC 19-3091).
Top skills
What Anthropologists and Archeologists earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Human Biology programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Human Biology degrees?+
University of Southern California (292 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (209 graduates a year) and Stanford University (141 graduates a year) award the most Human Biology degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 California colleges offer Human Biology.
What is the best college for Human Biology in California?+
By graduate earnings, Stanford University leads among bachelor's Human Biology programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,179, College Scorecard. University of California-Los Angeles and University of Southern California follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 292 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Human Biology program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Stanford University tops the list at $50,179. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Anthropologists and Archeologists earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Anthropologists and Archeologists in California is $77,230 (median $72,240), across about 2,060 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Human Biology program?+
The Human Biology program is an interdisciplinary area of study that explores the complexities of human beings through various fields such as genetics, physiology, anthropology, and ecology. It is designed for students interested in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop writing, speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Anthropologists and Archeologists?+
The national job outlook is about +3.7% growth with around 800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master'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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