Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$120,514 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$120,514Median year-4 earnings
$22,539Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
How much do Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences doctoral degree graduates earn?
The national median is $120,514 four years after completion across reportable doctoral degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $84,844 to $123,231 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 10 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$120,514Median reported earnings · year 4
$106,455Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
71thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
163IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
4With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 4 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,786
- Federal debt
- $14,280
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,042
- Federal debt
- $20,422
- Reporting programs
- 41
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $299,873
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $120,514
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
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$84,844National median$120,51475th percentile$123,231
4 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
4 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Pennsylvania$139,9802University of California, Berkeley$123,2313Northwestern University$117,7974Johns Hopkins University$84,844Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →21%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Biological Scientists, All Other$98,920 median wage55,850 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1029+4.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,430–$168,010 10th–90th percentileBiological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$84,620 median wage50,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1042+7.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$52,150–$169,900 10th–90th percentileMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wage172,340 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1042+12.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$64,800–$177,780 10th–90th percentileNatural Sciences Managers$167,220 median wage108,690 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9121+8.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$79,710–$316,850 10th–90th percentileHealth Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$107,310 median wage221,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1071+17.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 24.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$59,270–$322,020 10th–90th percentileBiochemists and Biophysicists$127,410 median wage33,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1021+12.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$74,290–$201,110 10th–90th percentileMicrobiologists$87,990 median wage18,940 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1022+6.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$54,670–$150,000 10th–90th percentileEpidemiologists$87,220 median wage12,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-1041+18.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$61,270–$138,800 10th–90th percentileBiological Technicians$57,510 median wage69,620 U.S. jobs · SOC 19-4021+7.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 9.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$40,330–$84,940 10th–90th percentileMedical and Clinical Laboratory TechnologistsUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 29-2011
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of PennsylvaniaDoctoral Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $139,980 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $28,699 |
| 2 | University of California, BerkeleyDoctoral Degree | Berkeley, CA | $123,231 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,481 |
| 3 | Northwestern UniversityDoctoral Degree | Evanston, IL | $117,797 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $29,167 |
| 4 | Johns Hopkins UniversityDoctoral Degree | Baltimore, MD | $84,844 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $18,809 |
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.