Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

45 Best Universities in California for Microbiology

Focusing specifically on Microbiology, our data science engine identified the 45 most influential universities in California. Based on 3.39M scholarly articles and 167.42M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Microbiology. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Microbiology California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Microbiology

#7 in United States #7 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Microbiology

#10 in United States #11 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#11 in United States #13 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Microbiology

#13 in United States #15 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Microbiology

#17 in United States #19 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Microbiology

#25 in United States #27 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

7

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Microbiology

#58 in United States #66 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Microbiology

#65 in United States #75 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Microbiology

#96 in United States #108 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Microbiology

#125 in United States #140 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Microbiology

#140 in United States #156 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Microbiology

#147 in United States #164 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Microbiology

#166 in United States #185 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Microbiology

#439 in United States #483 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#315 in United States #349 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

16

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Microbiology

#416 in United States #458 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

17

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Microbiology

#446 in United States #490 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

18

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Microbiology

#386 in United States #427 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

19

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Microbiology

#326 in United States #361 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

20

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Microbiology

#481 in United States #525 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

21

Rosemead

University of the West

For Microbiology

#440 in United States #484 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

22

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Microbiology

#492 in United States #539 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

23

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Microbiology

#330 in United States #365 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

24

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Microbiology

#523 in United States #571 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

25

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Microbiology

#276 in United States #309 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

26

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Microbiology

#170 in United States #189 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

27

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Microbiology

#211 in United States #235 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

28

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Microbiology

#251 in United States #278 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

29

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Microbiology

#225 in United States #249 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

30

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Microbiology

#515 in United States #563 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

31

Claremont, CA

For Microbiology

#454 in United States #498 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

32

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Microbiology

#310 in United States #344 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

33

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Microbiology

#204 in United States #227 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

34

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Microbiology

#255 in United States #282 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

35

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Microbiology

#239 in United States #265 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

36

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Microbiology

#213 in United States #237 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

37

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Microbiology

#227 in United States #251 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

38

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Microbiology

#428 in United States #470 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

39

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Microbiology

#300 in United States #334 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

40

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Microbiology

#299 in United States #333 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

41

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Microbiology

#258 in United States #285 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

42

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Microbiology

#282 in United States #315 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

43

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Microbiology

#401 in United States #443 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

44

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Microbiology

#298 in United States #332 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

45

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Microbiology

#496 in United States #543 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded