California · Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Best colleges for Neurobiology and Neurosciences in California

Ranked by graduate earnings

Pomona College, University of Southern California and University of San Diego are the top bachelor's Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs in California by graduate earnings. Pomona College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,967, College Scorecard. University of California-Davis, University of California-Los Angeles and University of California-San Diego award the most Neurobiology and Neurosciences degrees in California: 428, 220 and 203 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 California colleges offer Neurobiology and Neurosciences and award 1,540 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Neurobiology and Neurosciences program focuses on the study of the nervous system, encompassing various aspects of brain function and behavior. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the biological foundations…

Institutions
20
offering CIP 26.15
States offered
46
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,540
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$30,501
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
9
College Scorecard
Median net price
$26,035
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
86%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Biological Technicians
$78,170
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 9 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
1Pomona College
Claremont Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,9672693%$16,571—
2University of Southern California
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,06312392%$26,873$15,750
3University of San Diego
San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$33,6417884%$26,035$25,000
4University of California-San Diego
La Jolla Public · Bachelor's degree
$32,08120386%—$19,000
5University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,50122093%—$17,149
6University of California-Davis
Davis Public · Bachelor's degree
$29,76542886%—$13,000
7University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,0344175%—$19,500
8University of California-Irvine
Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree
$21,81812187%—$20,500
9University of California-Riverside
Riverside Public · Bachelor's degree
$19,28614576%—$19,803

Colleges awarding the most Neurobiology and Neurosciences 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-Davis
Davis Public
428$29,765
2University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles Public
220$30,501
3University of California-San Diego
La Jolla Public
203$32,081
4University of California-Riverside
Riverside Public
145$19,286
5University of Southern California
Los Angeles Private not-for-profit
123$38,063
6University of California-Irvine
Irvine Public
121$21,818
7University of San Diego
San Diego Private not-for-profit
78$33,641
8University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public
41$25,034
9Pomona College
Claremont Private not-for-profit
26$39,967
10Santa Clara University
Santa Clara Private not-for-profit
24Not reported
Show the other 10 California colleges offering Neurobiology and Neurosciences
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of California-San Francisco (Graduate only)San FranciscoPublic32
California Institute of TechnologyPasadenaPrivate not-for-profit20
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeleyPublic16
Pitzer CollegeClaremontPrivate not-for-profit16
Scripps CollegeClaremontPrivate not-for-profit15
Stanford UniversityStanfordPrivate not-for-profit12
Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremontPrivate not-for-profit9
La Sierra UniversityRiversidePrivate not-for-profit7
University of California-Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraPublic2
Loma Linda UniversityLoma LindaPrivate not-for-profit2

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 Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs in California.

Which California colleges award the most Neurobiology and Neurosciences degrees?+

University of California-Davis (428 graduates a year), University of California-Los Angeles (220 graduates a year) and University of California-San Diego (203 graduates a year) award the most Neurobiology and Neurosciences degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 California colleges offer Neurobiology and Neurosciences.

What is the best college for Neurobiology and Neurosciences in California?+

By graduate earnings, Pomona College leads among bachelor's Neurobiology and Neurosciences programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,967, College Scorecard. University of Southern California and University of San Diego follow. By degrees awarded, University of California-Davis is the largest, with 428 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Neurobiology and Neurosciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Pomona College tops the list at $39,967. 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 Neurobiology and Neurosciences program?+

The Neurobiology and Neurosciences program focuses on the study of the nervous system, encompassing various aspects of brain function and behavior. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the biological foundations…

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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