43 Best colleges for Biotechnology in California, US

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Biotechnology. A graph of 3.67M citations received by 61.8K academic papers made by 43 universities in California was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

Stanford

For Biotechnology

#3 in the United States

#4 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

2. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#9 in the United States

#10 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

3. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

4. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#11 in the United States

#12 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#23 in the United States

#26 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

For Biotechnology

#24 in the United States

#27 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

7. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

For Biotechnology

#44 in the United States

#48 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

For Biotechnology

#67 in the United States

#76 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

9. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

For Biotechnology

#116 in the United States

#132 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

10. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#119 in the United States

#135 in North America

Enrollment: 52
Male:Female: 32:68

11. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

For Biotechnology

#124 in the United States

#141 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

12. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

For Biotechnology

#126 in the United States

#143 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

13. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

For Biotechnology

#156 in the United States

#175 in North America

Enrollment: 4,210
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1905

14. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#174 in the United States

#194 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $35,558
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $4,276

15. San Diego State University

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#176 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

16. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

For Biotechnology

#207 in the United States

#230 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

17. West Los Angeles College

Culver

For Biotechnology

#209 in the United States

#233 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $5,857
Enrollment: 9,255

18. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

For Biotechnology

#213 in the United States

#237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,065
Male:Female: 16:84
Founded: 1975

19. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

For Biotechnology

#224 in the United States

#249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,665
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1977

20. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

For Biotechnology

#250 in the United States

#279 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $14,338
Enrollment: 23,069

21. University of the Pacific

Stockton

For Biotechnology

#258 in the United States

#288 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1332
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $31,670

22. Touro University California

Vallejo

For Biotechnology

#264 in the United States

#295 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 0%
Enrollment: 1,144
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1997

23. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

For Biotechnology

#266 in the United States

#297 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $12,326
Enrollment: 24,427

24. University of California - Merced

Merced

For Biotechnology

#268 in the United States

#299 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $27,292
Enrollment: 9,110

25. Humboldt State University

Arcata

For Biotechnology

#276 in the United States

#308 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,748
Enrollment: 6,237

26. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

For Biotechnology

#302 in the United States

#337 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $11,833
Enrollment: 27,636

27. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#314 in the United States

#351 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $45,443

28. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#318 in the United States

#355 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $12,825
Enrollment: 38,313

29. University of San Diego

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#327 in the United States

#365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Net Price: $37,918
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $40,965

30. Chapman University

Orange

For Biotechnology

#328 in the United States

#366 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $47,902

31. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

For Biotechnology

#347 in the United States

#385 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $11,795
Enrollment: 42,003

32. Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont

For Biotechnology

#364 in the United States

#403 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 622
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1997

33. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#397 in the United States

#439 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $12,996
Enrollment: 22,563

34. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#399 in the United States

#441 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $13,824
Enrollment: 23,163

35. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

For Biotechnology

#402 in the United States

#444 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $12,767
Enrollment: 31,943

36. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

For Biotechnology

#410 in the United States

#452 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $11,234
Enrollment: 43,662

37. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

For Biotechnology

#411 in the United States

#453 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $53,883

38. San Jose State University

San Jose

For Biotechnology

#420 in the United States

#462 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 69%
Average Aid: $12,353
Enrollment: 37,661

39. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park

For Biotechnology

#431 in the United States

#474 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $9,094
Enrollment: 5,891

40. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

For Biotechnology

#445 in the United States

#489 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $12,167
Enrollment: 18,492

41. University of the West

Rosemead

For Biotechnology

#447 in the United States

#491 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,713
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,445

42. California State University - Chico

Chico

For Biotechnology

#457 in the United States

#501 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $11,509
Enrollment: 15,257

43. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

For Biotechnology

#465 in the United States

#510 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $37,919
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $16,990

Closest to California states to learn Biotechnology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Oregon	5	59
Utah	3	52
Arizona	4	56
Idaho	3	161
Washington	4	4
Colorado	7	37
Nebraska	5	81
South Dakota	5	151
Kansas	5	98
Texas	34	14
Oklahoma	8	106
North Dakota	2	133
Iowa	4	49
Missouri	10	7
Arkansas	7	82
Louisiana	10	63
Wisconsin	5	17
Illinois	16	22
Mississippi	5	111
Indiana	8	34
Michigan	11	8
Tennessee	13	19
Alabama	11	28
Kentucky	3	58
Ohio	18	32
Georgia	13	26
West Virginia	3	118
South Carolina	4	75
North Carolina	15	20
Virginia	14	33
Pennsylvania	25	6
Florida	16	21
District of Columbia	5	65
Maryland	11	5
New York	43	15
New Jersey	10	47
Connecticut	7	2
Massachusetts	23	1
Rhode Island	3	74
Puerto Rico	4	308

Closest to California states to learn Biotechnology

Biology subfields in California