45 Best colleges for Microbiology 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 Microbiology. A graph of 3.63M citations received by 65.4K academic papers made by 45 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 Microbiology

#7 in the United States

#7 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 Microbiology

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

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

3. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#11 in the United States

#13 in North America

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

4. University of California - Davis

Davis

For Microbiology

#13 in the United States

#15 in North America

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

5. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

For Microbiology

#17 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

6. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

For Microbiology

#25 in the United States

#27 in North America

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

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#58 in the United States

#66 in North America

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

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

For Microbiology

#65 in the United States

#75 in North America

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

9. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

For Microbiology

#96 in the United States

#108 in North America

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

10. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

For Microbiology

#125 in the United States

#140 in North America

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

11. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

For Microbiology

#140 in the United States

#156 in North America

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

12. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

For Microbiology

#147 in the United States

#164 in North America

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

13. San Diego State University

San Diego

For Microbiology

#166 in the United States

#185 in North America

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

14. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

For Microbiology

#170 in the United States

#189 in North America

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

15. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

For Microbiology

#204 in the United States

#227 in North America

Enrollment: 52
Male:Female: 32:68

16. West Los Angeles College

Culver

For Microbiology

#211 in the United States

#235 in North America

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

17. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

For Microbiology

#213 in the United States

#237 in North America

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

18. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

For Microbiology

#225 in the United States

#249 in North America

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

19. University of California - Merced

Merced

For Microbiology

#227 in the United States

#251 in North America

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

20. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

For Microbiology

#239 in the United States

#265 in North America

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

21. University of the Pacific

Stockton

For Microbiology

#251 in the United States

#278 in North America

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

22. Humboldt State University

Arcata

For Microbiology

#255 in the United States

#282 in North America

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

23. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

For Microbiology

#258 in the United States

#285 in North America

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

24. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

For Microbiology

#276 in the United States

#309 in North America

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

25. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#282 in the United States

#315 in North America

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

26. San Jose State University

San Jose

For Microbiology

#298 in the United States

#332 in North America

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

27. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

For Microbiology

#299 in the United States

#333 in North America

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

28. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

For Microbiology

#300 in the United States

#334 in North America

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

29. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

For Microbiology

#310 in the United States

#344 in North America

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

30. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#315 in the United States

#349 in North America

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

31. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

For Microbiology

#326 in the United States

#361 in North America

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

32. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

For Microbiology

#330 in the United States

#365 in North America

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

33. Chapman University

Orange

For Microbiology

#386 in the United States

#427 in North America

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

34. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

For Microbiology

#401 in the United States

#443 in North America

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

35. Touro University California

Vallejo

For Microbiology

#416 in the United States

#458 in North America

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

36. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#428 in the United States

#470 in North America

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

37. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

For Microbiology

#439 in the United States

#483 in North America

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

38. University of the West

Rosemead

For Microbiology

#440 in the United States

#484 in North America

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

39. Occidental College

Los Angeles

For Microbiology

#446 in the United States

#490 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $48,400

40. Pomona College

Claremont

For Microbiology

#454 in the United States

#498 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,938

41. University of San Diego

San Diego

For Microbiology

#481 in the United States

#525 in North America

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

42. California State University - Chico

Chico

For Microbiology

#492 in the United States

#539 in North America

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

43. California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside

For Microbiology

#496 in the United States

#543 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 76%
Average Aid: $12,185
Enrollment: 7,713

44. California Baptist University

Riverside

For Microbiology

#515 in the United States

#563 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $27,862
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,743

45. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

For Microbiology

#523 in the United States

#571 in North America

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

Closest to California states to learn Microbiology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Oregon	7	73
Utah	4	56
Arizona	5	38
Idaho	4	121
Washington	7	2
Colorado	8	37
New Mexico	4	99
Nebraska	5	77
South Dakota	4	159
Kansas	4	64
Texas	37	20
Oklahoma	7	86
North Dakota	3	150
Iowa	4	15
Missouri	10	8
Arkansas	6	109
Louisiana	10	76
Wisconsin	9	6
Illinois	19	27
Mississippi	5	117
Indiana	11	57
Michigan	14	5
Tennessee	17	50
Alabama	12	28
Kentucky	5	62
Ohio	21	19
Georgia	15	23
West Virginia	5	127
South Carolina	4	94
North Carolina	13	22
Virginia	14	53
Pennsylvania	31	12
Florida	23	16
District of Columbia	5	84
Maryland	10	4
New York	51	3
New Jersey	11	31
Vermont	3	123
Connecticut	7	18
Massachusetts	23	1
New Hampshire	3	81
Rhode Island	4	75
Maine	3	188
Puerto Rico	5	275

Closest to California states to learn Microbiology

Biology subfields in California