General Biology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1781 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general biology students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great General Biology School
Where you study general biology matters for your future. That is why we built our Best General Biology Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Biology Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Johns Hopkins University, our #1 school for general biology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. Johns Hopkins University awarded about 632 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $125,159 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general biology program at Johns Hopkins University
A rank of #2 makes Rice University one of the top schools for general biology. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 106 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
Get the full general biology details for Rice University
Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 326 general biology degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full general biology program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 20 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
Read more about the general biology program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong general biology program will find one at Roseman University Of Health Sciences, which ranked #5. Roseman University Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Henderson. About 30 general biology degrees were awarded at Roseman University Of Health Sciences in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Roseman University Of Health Sciences earn around $108,809 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,448.
See the full general biology program report for Roseman University Of Health Sciences
Colby College earned the #6 position for general biology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Waterville. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 26 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Colby College in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Colby College earn a median of $43,597 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,016.
More information about a degree in general biology from Colby College
The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio landed the #7 spot for general biology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of San Antonio. About 47 general biology degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio earn around $89,151 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,247 to complete this degree.
Get the full general biology details for The University Of Texas Health Science Center At San Antonio
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #8 for general biology this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 307 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $40,145 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,380 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general biology from Purdue University Main Campus
San Francisco State University came in at #9 for general biology this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 393 general biology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from San Francisco State University earn around $36,259 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full general biology details for San Francisco State University
Bowdoin College landed the #10 spot for general biology this year. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 42 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Bowdoin College generally make around $58,938. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general biology program at Bowdoin College
Tufts University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 247 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $40,842 in their early career. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $16,250 in student loans.
Read more about the general biology program at Tufts University
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 467 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $35,798 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
See the full general biology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Northwestern University placed #13 among the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 160 general biology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Northwestern University earn around $86,946 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $14,800 in student loans.
See the full general biology program report for Northwestern University
Loma Linda University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 11 general biology degrees were awarded at Loma Linda University in the most recent year. General Biology graduates of Loma Linda University earn a median of $93,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,094 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general biology from Loma Linda University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center placed #15 among the best general biology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Lubbock. There were roughly 13 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center generally make around $76,328. Typical student debt for the program is $24,889.
See the full general biology program report for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
University Of California Berkeley landed the #16 spot for general biology this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. There were roughly 160 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $36,642. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
See the full general biology program report for University Of California Berkeley
San Jose State University placed #17 among the best general biology schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 222 general biology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Boston College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 190 general biology degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $38,592. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
See the full general biology program report for Boston College
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #19 for general biology this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 377 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $33,486 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,586 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general biology program at University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Chicago earned the #20 position for general biology this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 199 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $35,275 in their early career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $13,500 in student loans.
See the full general biology program report for University Of Chicago
Davidson College came in at #21 for general biology this year. Set in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 81 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Davidson College earn around $39,602 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
More information about a degree in general biology from Davidson College
Lafayette College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Lafayette College graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $41,885. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $17,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general biology program at Lafayette College
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earned the #23 position for general biology this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earn around $73,671 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences graduates carry a median of $29,056 in student loans.
Get the full general biology details for Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
New York University earned the #24 position for general biology this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 614 general biology students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from New York University generally make around $50,413. New York University graduates carry a median of $21,250 in student loans.
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Skidmore College earned the #25 position for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Skidmore College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Skidmore College earn around $39,235 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,600.
Get the full general biology details for Skidmore College
Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general biology this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1781 schools evaluated.
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).
