[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 1781 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general biology schools.
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Finding the Best Value General Biology School for You
Where you study general biology affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value General Biology Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value General Biology Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
San Diego Mesa College earned the #1 spot for value among general biology schools in the United States. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $7,611 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $29,852. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general biology will find it at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #2. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $12,598. General Biology graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $30,257 early in their careers. Set against $12,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general biology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. General Biology graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $67,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Bernard M Baruch College one of the best values for general biology. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Students borrow a median of $11,691 to complete the general biology program here. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $37,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Reedley College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general biology schools. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. 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 general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Mission College placed #6 among the best values for general biology. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,438, while out-of-state students pay about $12,500. General Biology graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,936. Set against $17,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny City College landed the #7 spot for general biology value this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $12,348 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $28,324. Set against $12,348 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value general biology schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $15,731. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Folsom Lake College earned the #9 position for value in general biology this year. Located in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,288 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,568 ten years out.
College Of San Mateo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general biology schools. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the general biology program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego City College placed #11 among the best values for general biology. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the general biology program here. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $26,218. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
California State University Los Angeles earned the #12 position for value in general biology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $43,075 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Moorpark College landed the #13 spot for general biology value this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Stanislaus placed #14 among the best values for general biology. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,242, compared with $20,842 for out-of-state students. General Biology graduates carry a median of $15,101 in student loans. General Biology graduates of California State University Stanislaus earn a median of $34,358 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,101 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Florida placed #15 among the best values for general biology. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $16,536. Early-career general biology graduates make about $24,713. That is a strong return on a $16,536 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
De Anza College landed the #16 spot for general biology value this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,571, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the general biology program here. Median earnings reach $56,596 ten years out. Set against $7,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #17 for value in general biology this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $16,500. Early-career general biology graduates make about $26,612. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Skyline College came in at #18 for value in general biology this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Cuny Lehman College earned the #19 position for value in general biology this year. Cuny Lehman College is a large public school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $7,410, compared with $15,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the general biology program here. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College generally make around $33,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Cuny Queens College landed the #20 spot for general biology value this year. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. General Biology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $31,777. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #21 position for value in general biology this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. General Biology graduates carry a median of $16,043 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $31,479. Set against $16,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Santiago Canyon College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value general biology schools. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. General Biology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career general biology graduates make about $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas A And M University Central Texas earned the #23 position for value in general biology this year. Located in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,363, compared with $17,155 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,160 to complete the general biology program here. Early-career general biology graduates make about $50,370. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #24 position for value in general biology this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. In-state tuition and fees average $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $15,283 to complete the general biology program here. General Biology graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $31,381 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,283 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Saddleback College placed #25 among the best values for general biology. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for general biology graduates is $5,707. General Biology graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Biology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general biology this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 1781 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 901 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).
[General Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/general-biology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
