2023 Best Value Colleges for General Biology in California (With Aid)
55
Ranked Colleges
14,408
Degrees Awarded
$10,600
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 107,165 general biology students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2019-2020, general biology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,334 and had an average of $23,818 in loans still to pay off.
Across California, there were 14,408 general biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,117 and $20,221 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 55 colleges that offer a degree in general biology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general biology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general biology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 in California For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Biology in California (With Aid)
Out of the 55 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Stanford University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 114 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Stanford, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $12,894 for california biology students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Stanford General Biology Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 136 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State LA is $3,302 for California Biology students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - Los Angeles
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 532 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Biology Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Los Angeles is $15,023 for california biology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about General Biology at UCLA
Out of the 55 schools in the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #4 spot on the list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 469 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california biology students with aid list, UCSD has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $15,240 for california biology students with aid per year to attend UCSD.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - San Diego General Biology Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fresno. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 152 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Fresno is $6,230 for california biology students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 87%.
Read more about General Biology at Fresno State
University of California - Berkeley came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 248 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also took the #2 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UC Berkeley is $16,032 for california biology students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at UC Berkeley
Reedley College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Reedley College is a medium-sized school located in Reedley, California that handed out 155 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Reedley College is $4,892 for california biology students with aid.
Full Reedley College General Biology Report
California State University - Sacramento landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State University - Sacramento is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 278 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
Sac State also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Sacramento is $11,178 for california biology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, 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 - Stanislaus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Turlock, California, this fairly large public school awarded 117 diplomas to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Stan State is $6,566 for california biology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California State University - Stanislaus General Biology Report
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 309 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Biology Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for SDSU is $13,845 for California Biology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full San Diego State University General Biology Report
California State University - Fullerton landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 189 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,003 for california biology students with aid per year to attend California State University - Fullerton.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, 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 89%.
Read more about General Biology at California State University - Fullerton
California State University - Long Beach landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school awarded 257 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $10,054 for California Biology students with aid per year to attend California State University - Long Beach.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Long Beach General Biology Report
University of California - Riverside landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 624 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $11,822 for California Biology students with aid per year to attend UCR.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Biology at UCR
University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school handed out 377 degrees to qualified ’s biology students in 2020-2021.
UCSB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Biology Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Santa Barbara is $16,252 for California Biology students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Barbara
With a ranking of #15, San Diego Mesa College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 121 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,573 for california biology students with aid per year to attend San Diego Mesa College.
Read more about General Biology at San Diego Mesa College
California State University - San Bernardino did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 126 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend CSUSB is $8,107 for california biology students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on General Biology at CSUSB
California State University - Northridge ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 324 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend California State University - Northridge is $8,523 for california biology students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 California State University - Northridge
With a ranking of #18, California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 118 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Dominguez Hills is $4,026 for California Biology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Dominguez Hills General Biology Report
California State University - Bakersfield came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bakersfield, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $7,454 for California Biology students with aid per year to attend CSUB.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - Bakersfield
University of California - Davis came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Davis, California, and it awarded 364 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Davis also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Davis is $15,768 for california biology students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on General Biology at University of California - Davis
California State University - East Bay landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 123 ’s biology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State East Bay, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $13,298 for California Biology students with aid per year to attend Cal State East Bay.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Biology at California State University - East Bay
With a ranking of #22, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. SFSU is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 402 ’s biology degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our california biology students with aid list, SFSU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SFSU is $14,459 for california biology students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad 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 San Francisco State University
San Diego City College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. San Diego, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biology degrees to 107 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for San Diego City College is $5,723 for california biology students with aid.
Full San Diego City College General Biology Report
San Jose State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid list. San Jose State University is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 203 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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 Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for San Jose State University is $16,542 for california biology students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, 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 86%.
Read full report on General Biology at San Jose State University
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biology Schools in California For Those Getting Aid ranking. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a public institution located in Pomona, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 272 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our california biology students with aid list, Cal Poly Pomona has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best General Biology Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cal Poly Pomona is $14,304 for California Biology students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Read more about General Biology at Cal Poly Pomona
