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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $48-$75k) in California

58 Ranked Colleges
8,719 Degrees Awarded
$28,567 Avg Salary
Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

With 102,043 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, general biology is the 5th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $28,233 and had an average of $23,964 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 13,086 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,318 and $21,623 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,719 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 58 colleges that offered a degree in general biology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general biology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general biology program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Biology (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 63 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $1,959 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Stanford University.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Stanford General Biology Report

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 233 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $13,081 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Biology at University of California - Berkeley

Out of the 58 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Los Angeles landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 143 degrees to qualified bachelors’s biology students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $5,644 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State LA General Biology Report

#4

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 555 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $13,081 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at University of California - Los Angeles

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Stanislaus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stan State is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 110 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Stanislaus is $7,772 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at California State University - Stanislaus

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 368 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $15,343 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Biology at UCSB

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #7. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 167 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $7,549 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Fresno State General Biology Report

University of California - Davis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 341 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Davis, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Davis is $13,578 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about General Biology at University of California - Davis

California State University - Fullerton ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Fullerton is a public institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 212 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $9,427 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about General Biology at California State University - Fullerton

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California

University of California - Riverside landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Riverside, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 543 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Riverside is $12,290 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at UCR

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. CSUDH is a fairly large school located in Carson, California that handed out 86 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,907 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSUDH.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at California State University - Dominguez Hills

University of California - Irvine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 770 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine also took the #13 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UC Irvine is $13,648 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full UC Irvine General Biology Report

University of California - San Diego landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - San Diego is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 302 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

UCSD also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,071 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UCSD.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Biology at University of California - San Diego

California State University - Long Beach came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 247 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $10,807 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on General Biology at California State University - Long Beach

University of California - Merced came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UC Merced is a medium-sized school located in Merced, California that handed out 287 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Merced, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,922 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of California - Merced.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at University of California - Merced

California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 269 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k list, Sac State has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,413 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Sac State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Sacramento General Biology Report

California State University - Northridge came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 282 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Northridge is $10,783 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at California State University - Northridge

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 197 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $19,407 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo General Biology Report

#19

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

With a ranking of #19, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s biology degrees to 284 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k list, SDSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $14,730 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SDSU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at SDSU

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 76 bachelors’s biology degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $7,564 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend CSUB.

Read more about General Biology at California State University - Bakersfield

#21

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 207 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Cruz is $15,253 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at University of California - Santa Cruz

#22

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Francisco State University is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 329 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

SFSU also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,661 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Francisco State University.

Read more about General Biology at SFSU

#23

California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino, California

California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #23. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 152 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $8,924 for California Bachelor’s Degree Biology students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full California State University - San Bernardino General Biology Report

California State University - San Marcos ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - San Marcos is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 175 bachelors’s biology degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,582 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend California State University - San Marcos.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Biology at CSUSM

#25

San Jose State University

San Jose, California

San Jose State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 154 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best General Biology Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $16,397 for california bachelor’s degree biology students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend San Jose State.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Biology at San Jose State University

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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