Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California for Biology

If you are looking to study Biology in California, our index highlights the top 100 domain-leading institutions. To determine these leaders, we isolated 1.97M specialized research publications which collectively generated 111.17M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Biology

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Biology

#6 in United States #7 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Biology

#10 in United States #11 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Biology

#11 in United States #12 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Biology

#12 in United States #13 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Biology

#21 in United States #22 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Biology

#30 in United States #33 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Biology

#48 in United States #52 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Biology

#50 in United States #54 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

10

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Biology

#72 in United States #81 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Biology

#84 in United States #95 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Biology

#113 in United States #129 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Biology

#135 in United States #154 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

14

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Biology

#156 in United States #178 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Biology

#161 in United States #183 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

16

Duarte

Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

For Biology

#210 in United States #236 in North America

14% Acceptance

359 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

17

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Biology

#246 in United States #275 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

18

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Biology

#259 in United States #292 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

19

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Biology

#261 in United States #294 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

20

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Biology

#264 in United States #297 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

21

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Biology

#265 in United States #298 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

22

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Biology

#269 in United States #303 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

23

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Biology

#274 in United States #308 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

24

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Biology

#279 in United States #313 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

25

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Biology

#281 in United States #315 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

26

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Biology

#284 in United States #320 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

27

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Biology

#299 in United States #336 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

28

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Biology

#317 in United States #355 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

29

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Biology

#319 in United States #357 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

30

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Biology

#326 in United States #365 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

31

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Biology

#329 in United States #368 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

32

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Biology

#331 in United States #370 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

33

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Biology

#337 in United States #377 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

34

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Biology

#339 in United States #380 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

35

Claremont, CA

For Biology

#341 in United States #382 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

36

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Biology

#346 in United States #388 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

37

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Biology

#347 in United States #389 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

38

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Biology

#364 in United States #410 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

39

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Biology

#381 in United States #428 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

40

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Biology

#406 in United States #456 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

41

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Biology

#415 in United States #465 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

42

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Biology

#418 in United States #468 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

43

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Biology

#454 in United States #504 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

44

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Biology

#460 in United States #510 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

45

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Biology

#462 in United States #512 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

46

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Biology

#467 in United States #517 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

47

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Biology

#476 in United States #527 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

48

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Biology

#480 in United States #531 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

49

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Biology

#500 in United States #552 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

50

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Biology

#514 in United States #566 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

51

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Biology

#522 in United States #574 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

52

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Biology

#531 in United States #583 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

53

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Biology

#546 in United States #598 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

54

Rosemead

University of the West

For Biology

#549 in United States #601 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

55

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Biology

#561 in United States #613 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

56

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Biology

#579 in United States #631 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

57

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Biology

#584 in United States #636 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

58

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Biology

#587 in United States #639 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

59

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Biology

#613 in United States #666 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

60

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Biology

#620 in United States #675 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

61

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Biology

#655 in United States #713 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

62

Whittier

Whittier College

For Biology

#672 in United States #732 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

63

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Biology

#720 in United States #781 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

64

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Biology

#731 in United States #792 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

65

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Biology

#751 in United States #813 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

66

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Biology

#762 in United States #824 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

67

San Diego

Ashford University

For Biology

#774 in United States #836 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

68

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Biology

#791 in United States #853 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

69

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Biology

#794 in United States #856 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

70

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Biology

#803 in United States #865 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

71

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Biology

#806 in United States #868 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

72

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Biology

#811 in United States #873 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

73

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Biology

#813 in United States #875 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

74

Oakland

For Biology

#821 in United States #883 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

75

Claremont, CA

For Biology

#862 in United States #925 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

76

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Biology

#864 in United States #927 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

77

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Biology

#866 in United States #929 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

78

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Biology

#877 in United States #942 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

79

San Diego

United States University

For Biology

#879 in United States #944 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

80

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Biology

#898 in United States #965 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

81

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Biology

#942 in United States #1010 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

82

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Biology

#946 in United States #1014 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

83

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Biology

#956 in United States #1025 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

84

Redding

Simpson University

For Biology

#957 in United States #1026 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

85

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Biology

#971 in United States #1040 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

86

La Mirada

Biola University

For Biology

#982 in United States #1051 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

87

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Biology

#988 in United States #1057 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

88

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Biology

#997 in United States #1066 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

89

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Biology

#1002 in United States #1071 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

90

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Biology

#1004 in United States #1073 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

91

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Biology

#1022 in United States #1091 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

92

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Biology

#1030 in United States #1099 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

93

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Biology

#1034 in United States #1103 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

94

Cypress

Cypress College

For Biology

#1044 in United States #1114 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

95

Anaheim

Bethesda University

For Biology

#1062 in United States #1132 in North America

100% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

96

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Biology

#1066 in United States #1136 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

97

Whittier

Southern California University of Health Sciences

For Biology

#1082 in United States #1152 in North America

100% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

$51,174 Net Price

98

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Biology

#1176 in United States #1248 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

99

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Biology

#1183 in United States #1255 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

100

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Biology

#1213 in United States #1286 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded