General Biology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
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.
No school ranked higher than Rice University this year for general biology. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 106 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $75,299 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,904.
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Tufts University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general biology, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 213 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 $39,016 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,250 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. 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. About 319 general biology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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San Francisco State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general biology, ranking #4. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 344 general biology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $36,259 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general biology, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 276 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $40,145 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,380 to complete this degree.
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Colby College landed the #6 spot for general biology this year. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Graduates of the general biology program make about $43,597 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,016 to complete this degree.
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Bowdoin College placed #7 among the best general biology schools. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 42 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Bowdoin College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $58,938 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
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Northwestern University came in at #8 for general biology this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 142 general biology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $86,946. Typical student debt for the program is $14,800.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #9 position for general biology this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 354 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,798. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley came in at #10 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. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 143 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $36,642 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
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Boston College earned the #11 position for general biology this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 185 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of Boston College earn a median of $38,592 early in their careers. Boston College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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San Jose State University landed the #12 spot for general biology this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 178 general biology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #13 position for general biology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. 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. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $14,586 in student loans.
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University Of Chicago placed #14 among the best general biology schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. 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. Students who receive their general biology degree from University Of Chicago earn around $35,275 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,500 to complete this degree.
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Davidson College earned the #15 position for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. Davidson College awarded about 81 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Davidson College generally make around $39,602. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Lafayette College came in at #16 for general biology this year. Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Easton. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 general biology degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Lafayette College earn around $41,885 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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Duke University earned the #17 position for general biology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 209 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $30,939 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete this degree.
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Skidmore College came in at #18 for general biology this year. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Skidmore College awarded about 21 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Skidmore College generally make around $39,235. Typical student debt for the program is $14,600.
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Hamilton College came in at #19 for general biology this year. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general biology program make about $43,639 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete this degree.
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Butler University landed the #20 spot for general biology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 45 general biology degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $68,222. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #21 for general biology this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology graduates 96% of students within six years. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology awarded about 23 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn around $113,129 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Davis earned the #22 position for general biology this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 487 general biology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $35,241. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Wesleyan University landed the #23 spot for general biology this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. Wesleyan University awarded about 28 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general biology degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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Wellesley College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best general biology schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wellesley. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 general biology students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general biology degree from Wellesley College earn around $36,621 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,159.
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California State University Sacramento earned the #25 position for general biology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 261 general biology degrees in the most recent data year. General Biology graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $37,192 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,019.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Biology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general biology ranking:
This ranking is produced 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).
