Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

50 Best Universities in California for Molecular

If you are looking to study Molecular in California, our index highlights the top 50 domain-leading institutions. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.43M specialized research publications which collectively generated 168.25M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Molecular California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Molecular

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Molecular

#16 in United States #17 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Molecular

#8 in United States #8 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Molecular

#1 in United States #1 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Molecular

#30 in United States #32 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Molecular

#55 in United States #59 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

7

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Molecular

#5 in United States #5 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

8

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Molecular

#28 in United States #30 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

9

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Molecular

#89 in United States #100 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

10

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Molecular

#4 in United States #4 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

11

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Molecular

#18 in United States #18 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Molecular

#79 in United States #90 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Molecular

#179 in United States #201 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Molecular

#228 in United States #258 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Molecular

#355 in United States #401 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Molecular

#355 in United States #394 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Molecular

#147 in United States #165 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

18

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Molecular

#72 in United States #78 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

19

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Molecular

#276 in United States #306 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

20

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Molecular

#214 in United States #242 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

21

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Molecular

#282 in United States #312 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

22

Claremont, CA

For Molecular

#368 in United States #407 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

23

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Molecular

#275 in United States #305 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

24

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Molecular

#301 in United States #334 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

25

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Molecular

#214 in United States #238 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 Molecular

#347 in United States #393 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

27

Duarte

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

For Molecular

#65 in United States #69 in North America

14% Acceptance

359 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

28

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Molecular

#296 in United States #329 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

29

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Molecular

#283 in United States #313 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

30

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Molecular

#266 in United States #294 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

31

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Molecular

#398 in United States #439 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

32

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Molecular

#245 in United States #271 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

33

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Molecular

#416 in United States #463 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

34

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Molecular

#438 in United States #486 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

35

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Molecular

#233 in United States #263 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

36

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Molecular

#436 in United States #484 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

37

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Molecular

#150 in United States #175 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

38

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Molecular

#362 in United States #401 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

39

Redding

Simpson University

For Molecular

#417 in United States #458 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

40

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Molecular

#256 in United States #290 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

41

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Molecular

#384 in United States #424 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

42

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Molecular

#411 in United States #458 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

43

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Molecular

#350 in United States #389 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

44

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Molecular

#380 in United States #426 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

45

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Molecular

#379 in United States #419 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

46

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Molecular

#228 in United States #252 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

47

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Molecular

#423 in United States #464 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

48

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Molecular

#310 in United States #345 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

49

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Molecular

#429 in United States #476 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

50

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Molecular

#357 in United States #396 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded