Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 178 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$61,770 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
13.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−24%Modeled 10-year ROI
$65,097Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$65,097Median reported earnings · year 4
$69,711Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,014Median federal debt
54thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
178Reporting programs
110With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,097
- Federal debt
- $23,014
- Reporting programs
- 178
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,755
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $123,814
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$60,501National median$65,09775th percentile$72,988
110 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, Santa Barbara$90,6942Northeastern University$90,6123University of California, Santa Cruz$88,3054University of New Hampshire-Main Campus$87,0755University of Massachusetts-Boston$85,2966University of San Diego$83,3807University of Kansas$81,5688Montclair State University$81,5199University of Vermont$80,59310University of Maryland-College Park$80,470Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1042 · 10 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 10 crosswalk linksBiochemists and BiophysicistsSOC 19-1021 · 6 crosswalk linksBiological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1029 · 6 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 4 crosswalk linksBiological TechniciansSOC 19-4021 · 2 crosswalk linksFood Science TechniciansSOC 19-4013 · 1 crosswalk linksMicrobiologistsSOC 19-1022 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $90,694 | $9,500 | +87% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $90,612 | $23,250 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of California, Santa CruzBachelor's Degree | Santa Cruz, CA | $88,305 | $18,959 | +72% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $87,075 | $27,000 | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $85,296 | $24,996 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | University of San DiegoBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $83,380 | $27,500 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of KansasBachelor's Degree | Lawrence, KS | $81,568 | $18,004 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $81,519 | $27,000 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $80,593 | $22,250 | +38% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $80,470 | $19,500 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $80,364 | $25,500 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $79,820 | $11,000 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $79,510 | $24,250 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $79,510 | $24,250 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $78,721 | $23,000 | +38% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $78,097 | $17,500 | +34% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $77,863 | Not available | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $77,853 | $25,916 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksBachelor's Degree | Reading, PA | $77,336 | $26,178 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 20 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $77,336 | $26,178 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $77,048 | $20,942 | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $76,134 | $15,675 | +36% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $75,765 | $25,000 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $75,493 | $19,250 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 25 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $75,274 | $19,000 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $74,190 | $25,334 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Stevenson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Owings Mills, MD | $73,584 | $26,750 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $73,506 | $14,920 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 29 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $72,988 | $20,948 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $72,940 | $22,250 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $72,491 | $17,500 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 32 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $71,136 | $23,028 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $70,754 | $11,208 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 34 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $70,343 | $25,620 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $69,875 | $17,750 | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 36 | University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $69,725 | $26,293 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $69,252 | $24,125 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $68,690 | $20,746 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $68,488 | $20,185 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | California State University, FullertonBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $68,170 | $17,200 | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $67,925 | $17,750 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $67,783 | $20,500 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $67,702 | $20,500 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $67,681 | $25,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $67,639 | $18,540 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $67,621 | $24,125 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Drake UniversityBachelor's Degree | Des Moines, IA | $67,547 | $20,375 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | California State University, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $67,441 | $16,730 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 49 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $67,381 | $18,500 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $67,202 | $26,300 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $66,885 | $16,500 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 52 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $66,862 | $18,349 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | University of Missouri-St LouisBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $66,483 | $27,316 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $65,479 | $16,666 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $65,122 | $27,500 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $65,072 | $21,626 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $64,830 | $22,750 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $64,737 | $18,139 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $64,521 | $19,980 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Cornell CollegeBachelor's Degree | Mount Vernon, IA | $64,510 | $27,000 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $64,492 | $24,225 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $64,145 | $19,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $64,112 | $26,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of Pittsburgh-GreensburgBachelor's Degree | Greensburg, PA | $63,707 | $26,558 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | University of Pittsburgh-JohnstownBachelor's Degree | Johnstown, PA | $63,707 | $26,558 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $63,707 | $26,558 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $63,419 | $22,774 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $63,291 | $12,000 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $63,239 | $15,368 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $63,026 | $19,477 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $63,013 | $25,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $62,440 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Duquesne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $62,319 | $27,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $61,940 | $21,625 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $61,349 | $23,850 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $61,122 | $21,000 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $61,010 | $20,500 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $60,988 | $22,875 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Central Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Britain, CT | $60,713 | $23,250 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $60,655 | $23,304 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Stony Brook UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stony Brook, NY | $60,648 | $18,968 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $60,501 | $20,250 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $60,501 | $20,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 84 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $60,367 | $23,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $59,549 | $17,250 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $59,534 | $24,804 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $59,476 | $26,625 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $59,079 | $16,250 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $59,054 | $26,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $58,818 | $14,814 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $58,818 | $14,814 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $58,268 | $15,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $57,246 | $3,750 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $57,065 | Not available | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $56,277 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $56,003 | $25,437 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $54,367 | $22,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $53,830 | $23,201 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Brigham Young University-IdahoBachelor's Degree | Rexburg, ID | $53,561 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Grinnell CollegeBachelor's Degree | Grinnell, IA | $53,105 | $16,549 | -68% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.