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Santa Cruz, CA · Biology

Biology at University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz graduates about 713 biology majors a year, 16% of its graduating class. That puts it 105th of 692 schools we score for biology, a strong program at 77 out of 100. Its current catalog lists 170 undergraduate courses in the field, more than 98% of the schools we've counted. Graduates in the major earn a median $65,000 four years out, 1.10× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $22 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

77/100Strong#105 of 692 for biology →
Graduates a year71316% of the class
Courses in the catalog170more than 98% of schools
Median pay 4 years out$65,0001.10× the same major nationally
Research in the field$22Ma year, NSF
Admit rate66%whole school

Around University of California, Santa Cruz

An open plaza at Science Hill, located between Thimann Labs (left) and Thimann L
UCSC Science Hill 2017-05-05Photo: Ponderosapine210 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Just one of many. In fact you can even see a second one in the bottom right. ^_^
Leaking roof in Science Library, UCSCPhoto: Mike Fernwood from Santa Cruz, California, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
The Science Hill Bridge is a steel truss footbridge over a ravine that connects
UCSC Science Hill BridgePhoto: Ponderosapine210 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The Main Stage of UCSC's Theatre Arts Center.
UCSC Main StagePhoto: Ponderosapine210 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where biology happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Earth & Marine Sciences, Environmental Health & Safety Trailer, Science & Engineering Library, Physical Sciences Building, Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Health and Safety Facility, Cowell Student Health Center, Natural Sciences 2 Annex, Social Sciences 1, Social Sciences 2, Natural Sciences 2.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 127 · Student housing 91 · Dorm 46 · Arts 15 · Library 6 · Dining 5.

Open the full-screen campus map →

Nearby in the biology ranking

  1. Providence College 78
  2. Lafayette College 78
  3. Washington and Lee University 78
  4. Colorado State University 77
  5. Indiana University–Bloomington 77
  6. University of Nebraska – Lincoln 77
  7. Creighton University 77
  8. Saint Joseph's University 77

Other strong majors at University of California, Santa Cruz

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares University of California, Santa Cruz 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.

See your odds at University of California, Santa Cruz Everything about University of California, Santa Cruz