Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

43 Best Universities in California for Biotechnology

Focusing specifically on Biotechnology, our data science engine identified the 43 most influential universities in California. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.38M specialized research publications which collectively generated 167.28M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Biotechnology California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Biotechnology

#3 in United States #4 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#9 in United States #10 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Biotechnology

#10 in United States #11 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#11 in United States #12 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Biotechnology

#23 in United States #26 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Biotechnology

#24 in United States #27 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Biotechnology

#44 in United States #48 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Biotechnology

#67 in United States #76 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Biotechnology

#116 in United States #132 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Biotechnology

#124 in United States #141 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Biotechnology

#126 in United States #143 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

12

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Biotechnology

#176 in United States #196 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

13

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Biotechnology

#207 in United States #230 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Biotechnology

#411 in United States #453 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Biotechnology

#445 in United States #489 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

16

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#314 in United States #351 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

17

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Biotechnology

#457 in United States #501 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

18

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Biotechnology

#156 in United States #175 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

19

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Biotechnology

#302 in United States #337 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

20

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Biotechnology

#410 in United States #452 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

21

Rosemead

University of the West

For Biotechnology

#447 in United States #491 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

22

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Biotechnology

#258 in United States #288 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

23

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Biotechnology

#347 in United States #385 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

24

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Biotechnology

#465 in United States #510 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

25

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Biotechnology

#276 in United States #308 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

26

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Biotechnology

#250 in United States #279 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

27

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Biotechnology

#209 in United States #233 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

28

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Biotechnology

#268 in United States #299 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

29

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Biotechnology

#318 in United States #355 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

30

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Biotechnology

#119 in United States #135 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

31

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Biotechnology

#266 in United States #297 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

32

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Biotechnology

#397 in United States #439 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

33

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Biotechnology

#224 in United States #249 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

34

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Biotechnology

#402 in United States #444 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

35

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Biotechnology

#420 in United States #462 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

36

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Biotechnology

#213 in United States #237 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

37

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#399 in United States #441 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

38

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Biotechnology

#364 in United States #403 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

39

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Biotechnology

#174 in United States #194 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

40

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Biotechnology

#328 in United States #366 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

41

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Biotechnology

#264 in United States #295 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

42

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Biotechnology

#431 in United States #474 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

43

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Biotechnology

#327 in United States #365 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded