2026 Best Value Biology Studies Schools in California
[Biology Studies](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/biology-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong biology studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 177 schools to find the best return on investment for biology studies students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Biology Studies Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in biology studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Biology Studies Schools
For return on investment in biology studies, no school beat San Diego Mesa College this year. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $7,611 in student loans. Biology Studies graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Set against $7,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in biology studies will find it at San Diego Miramar College, which ranked #2. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $6,500. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $15,731. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in biology studies will find it at San Diego City College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $9,500. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $26,218. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Reedley College earned it the #4 place for biology studies. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the biology studies program here. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Skyline College earned it the #5 place for biology studies. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
College Of San Mateo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $12,831 median debt.
Moorpark College placed #7 among the best values for biology studies. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College earned the #8 position for value in biology studies this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Cerritos College earned the #9 position for value in biology studies this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $11,306. Biology Studies graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College placed #10 among the best values for biology studies. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,625 to complete the biology studies program here. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $22,741. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Irvine Valley College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
College Of The Canyons came in at #12 for value in biology studies this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the biology studies program here. Biology Studies graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Valley College came in at #13 for value in biology studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Biology Studies graduates of West Valley College earn a median of $25,378 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Folsom Lake College came in at #14 for value in biology studies this year. Located in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,568.
College Of The Sequoias landed the #15 spot for biology studies value this year. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $10,288. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Grossmont College landed the #16 spot for biology studies value this year. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Median earnings reach $40,309 ten years out.
Saddleback College came in at #17 for value in biology studies this year. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $5,707. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $15,890. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College earned the #18 position for value in biology studies this year. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the biology studies program here. Biology Studies graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Golden West College landed the #19 spot for biology studies value this year. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $1,380, while out-of-state students pay about $11,628. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Biology Studies graduates of Golden West College earn a median of $82,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Santiago Canyon College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the biology studies program here. Soon after graduation, biology studies degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #21 for value in biology studies this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $16,043 in student loans. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $31,479. Set against $16,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Pasadena City College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value biology studies schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for biology studies graduates is $9,191. Biology Studies graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mt San Antonio College came in at #23 for value in biology studies this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Biology Studies graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Los Angeles landed the #24 spot for biology studies value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Biology Studies graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career biology studies graduates make about $43,075. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
Taft College placed #25 among the best values for biology studies. Located in the town of Taft, Taft College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,108, with out-of-state students paying around $10,852. Median earnings reach $38,861 ten years out.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Biology Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s biology studies value ranking:
More Biology Studies Rankings
View All Biology Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 177 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
