Biology

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)
$34,773
Median Earnings
$57,754
Schools Offering
913
ROI Grade
C

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $51,290Median: $57,75475th: $64,110

Best Schools for Biology by Earnings

#School4yr Earnings
1Carlow University
PA · Private
$134,677
2Providence College
RI · Private
$93,757
3Seton Hall University
NJ · Private
$93,200
4College of the Holy Cross
MA · Private
$92,914
5University of Detroit Mercy
MI · Private
$91,888
6Yeshiva University
NY · Private
$90,456
7Ohio Dominican University
OH · Private
$90,431
8Marquette University
WI · Private
$88,921
9Union College
NY · Private
$87,208
10Dartmouth College
NH · Private
$87,026
11Bucknell University
PA · Private
$85,687
12Assumption University
MA · Private
$83,706
13Boston College
MA · Private
$83,614
14Muhlenberg College
PA · Private
$83,215
15Duke University
NC · Private
$83,192
16Auburn University
AL · Public
$83,053
17University of the Pacific
CA · Private
$83,012
18Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
PA · Private
$82,769
19Lafayette College
PA · Private
$82,109
20Marist University
NY · Private
$81,936
21Stonehill College
MA · Private
$81,361
22University of Rhode Island
RI · Public
$80,379
23Loyola Marymount University
CA · Private
$80,317
24New York Institute of Technology
NY · Private
$80,208
25Merrimack College
MA · Private
$79,581
26University of California-Berkeley
CA · Public
$79,163
27Southern Methodist University
TX · Private
$78,466
28Northeastern University
MA · Private
$78,327
29Misericordia University
PA · Private
$78,107
30Loyola University Maryland
MD · Private
$77,861
31Clarkson University
NY · Private
$77,791
32Le Moyne College
NY · Private
$77,609
33Georgetown University
DC · Private
$77,132
34University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
NH · Public
$77,076
35University of New Hampshire at Manchester
NH · Public
$77,076
36Tufts University
MA · Private
$76,782
37University of Massachusetts-Lowell
MA · Public
$76,149
38DeSales University
PA · Private
$76,125
39Mount St. Mary's University
MD · Private
$76,062
40Adelphi University
NY · Private
$75,921
41Dominican University of California
CA · Private
$75,913
42Westmont College
CA · Private
$75,889
43Touro University
NY · Private
$75,886
44Mount Saint Mary College
NY · Private
$75,798
45Barnard College
NY · Private
$75,696
46Lehigh University
PA · Private
$75,611
47The College of New Jersey
NJ · Public
$75,531
48Worcester Polytechnic Institute
MA · Private
$75,018
49Felician University
NJ · Private
$74,746
50University of Delaware
DE · Public
$74,535
Below Average Value

Is Biology Worth It?

Proceed With a Plan

The financial returns for Biology are below average. At $34,773 in average earnings four years out, graduates often face a long payback period, especially at higher-cost institutions. This doesn't mean the field is worthless - it means the financial math demands careful attention to school cost and debt levels.

With 913 schools offering this major, you have significant choice. That's good news - it means you can shop for the best ROI within the field rather than settling for whatever program accepts you.

The top school for this major by earnings is Union College, where graduates earn $87,208 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.