43 Best colleges for Biotechnology in California, US

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Biotechnology. A graph of 3.52M citations received by 60.6K 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: $17,998

2. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#9 in the United States

#10 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

3. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

4. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#11 in the United States

#12 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#23 in the United States

#25 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

For Biotechnology

#24 in the United States

#27 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

7. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

For Biotechnology

#45 in the United States

#49 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

For Biotechnology

#69 in the United States

#78 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

9. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

For Biotechnology

#115 in the United States

#131 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

10. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#119 in the United States

#135 in North America

Enrollment: 48
Male:Female: 37:63

11. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

For Biotechnology

#125 in the United States

#142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

12. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

For Biotechnology

#126 in the United States

#143 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

13. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

For Biotechnology

#153 in the United States

#172 in North America

Enrollment: 4,202
Male:Female: 33:67
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: $27,789
Receiving Aid: 43%
Average Aid: $6,184

15. San Diego State University

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#176 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

16. West Los Angeles College

Culver

For Biotechnology

#207 in the United States

#230 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $6,817
Enrollment: 9,299

17. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

For Biotechnology

#208 in the United States

#231 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

18. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

For Biotechnology

#214 in the United States

#238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,223
Male:Female: 15:85
Founded: 1975

19. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

For Biotechnology

#228 in the United States

#254 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,625
Male:Female: 36:64
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: 30%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $12,707
Enrollment: 22,485

21. University of the Pacific

Stockton

For Biotechnology

#259 in the United States

#289 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,975

22. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

For Biotechnology

#265 in the United States

#296 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $11,412
Enrollment: 23,986

23. Touro University California

Vallejo

For Biotechnology

#270 in the United States

#301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 1,090
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1997

24. University of California - Merced

Merced

For Biotechnology

#272 in the United States

#303 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $24,868
Enrollment: 9,147

25. Humboldt State University

Arcata

For Biotechnology

#275 in the United States

#306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $10,046
Enrollment: 6,156

26. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

For Biotechnology

#301 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $10,441
Enrollment: 26,848

27. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#313 in the United States

#350 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $12,000
Enrollment: 37,760

28. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#321 in the United States

#358 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $44,104

29. University of San Diego

San Diego

For Biotechnology

#327 in the United States

#365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Net Price: $37,675
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $37,444

30. Chapman University

Orange

For Biotechnology

#335 in the United States

#373 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $48,037

31. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

For Biotechnology

#347 in the United States

#385 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,512
Enrollment: 40,278

32. Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont

For Biotechnology

#357 in the United States

#396 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 602
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1997

33. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

For Biotechnology

#394 in the United States

#434 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $11,498
Enrollment: 23,908

34. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

For Biotechnology

#399 in the United States

#440 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $11,503
Enrollment: 31,172

35. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Biotechnology

#400 in the United States

#441 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $12,478
Enrollment: 25,080

36. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

For Biotechnology

#407 in the United States

#449 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $49,651

37. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

For Biotechnology

#410 in the United States

#452 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,445
Enrollment: 41,962

38. San Jose State University

San Jose

For Biotechnology

#418 in the United States

#460 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $11,311
Enrollment: 36,062

39. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park

For Biotechnology

#430 in the United States

#473 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $8,546
Enrollment: 5,990

40. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

For Biotechnology

#445 in the United States

#489 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,421
Enrollment: 18,925

41. University of the West

Rosemead

For Biotechnology

#446 in the United States

#490 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $11,137
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $13,807

42. California State University - Chico

Chico

For Biotechnology

#452 in the United States

#496 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $10,331
Enrollment: 14,523

43. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

For Biotechnology

#460 in the United States

#505 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $33,463
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $15,528

Closest to California states to learn Biotechnology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Oregon	5	60
Utah	3	52
Arizona	4	56
Idaho	3	161
Washington	4	4
Colorado	7	38
Nebraska	5	81
South Dakota	5	151
Kansas	5	98
Texas	33	14
Oklahoma	7	107
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	10	8
Tennessee	13	19
Alabama	10	28
Kentucky	3	58
Ohio	18	32
Georgia	13	26
West Virginia	3	118
South Carolina	4	74
North Carolina	15	20
Virginia	14	33
Pennsylvania	25	6
Florida	16	21
District of Columbia	5	66
Maryland	11	5
New York	42	15
New Jersey	10	47
Connecticut	7	2
Massachusetts	23	1
Rhode Island	3	75
Puerto Rico	4	307

Closest to California states to learn Biotechnology

Biology subfields in California