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San Diego, CA · Biology

Biology at San Diego State University

San Diego State University graduates about 304 biology majors a year, 4% of its graduating class. That puts it 357th of 692 schools we score for biology, a solid program at 53 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 50 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 32% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $70,000 four years out, 1.21× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $25 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

53/100Solid#357 of 692 for biology →
Graduates a year3044% of the class
Courses in the catalog50more than 32% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$70,0001.21× the same major nationally
Research in the field$25Ma year, NSF
Admit rate37%whole school

Around San Diego State University

Chapultepec Hall dorm at San Diego State University.
ChapultepecHallSDSUFeb07Photo: Nehrams2020 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
College West, San Diego, CA, USA
College West, San Diego, CA, USA - panoramio (3)Photo: Roman Eugeniusz · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Building on the campus of San Diego State University
ENS AnnexPhoto: TylerRogers · CC0 · source
Communication building on the campus of San Diego State University
Communication Building, SDSUPhoto: TylerRogers · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where biology happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Speech Language and Hearing Sciences Building, Exercise & Nutritional Sciences, Life Sciences North, Life Sciences South, Physical Science, Engineering and Interdiciplinary Sciences, Donald P. Shiley Bioscience Center.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 29 · Dorm 28 · Student housing 7 · Athletics 6 · Arts 3 · Dining 2.

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Nearby in the biology ranking

  1. Saint Anselm College 54
  2. Houghton University 54
  3. Rollins College 54
  4. University of Alaska Anchorage 54
  5. Ohio University 53
  6. James Madison University 53
  7. Old Dominion University 53
  8. University of Alabama in Huntsville 53

Other strong majors at San Diego State University

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares San Diego State University with every school we score in biology. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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