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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General bachelor's degree at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, AR · Public

What this page covers

Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are below similar programs.

$12,341 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
45.4% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−101% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

What stays fixed$44,873 observed annual earnings · 4 years of study · $45,000 alternative annual earnings · ten-year horizonThe marked price is this college’s institution-wide average net price, not the exact price of this program category. This is a sensitivity test, not a tuition quote or earnings forecast.
OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$26,044 → Not available
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
29Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential
Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

149Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
15Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
110Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
74Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
9.8%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$31,625Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$44,873$13,248 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 15 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$14,027

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,375

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$44,873

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$216/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$14,027Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,951Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE75.3%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE48.8%Institution-wide completion rate
WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$26,044Year 1
$44,873Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.8% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,739
Estimated loan payment$216
29borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$44,873 vs. $57,214

$12,341 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$77,670 median wageAR estimate · 430 jobs · 25-1042$57,840–$95,120 middle 50% of AR wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$46,930 median wageAR estimate · 420 jobs · 19-4021$41,000–$61,280 middle 50% of AR wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$119,430 median wageAR estimate · 340 jobs · 11-9121$87,540–$170,890 middle 50% of AR wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$93,750 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$76,400 median wageAR estimate · 360 jobs · 19-1029$56,040–$97,470 middle 50% of AR wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$72,530 median wageAR estimate · 230 jobs · 19-1042$64,200–$94,590 middle 50% of AR wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,660 median wageAR estimate · 12,890 jobs · 25-2031$51,410–$62,270 middle 50% of AR wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$46,810 median wageAR estimate · 140 jobs · 19-4013$43,710–$55,820 middle 50% of AR wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$46,750 median wageAR estimate · 260 jobs · 19-4012$40,100–$55,880 middle 50% of AR wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeForensic Science Technicians$44,670 median wageAR estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4092$41,280–$50,520 middle 50% of AR wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degree
Possible alternatives

Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.

Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.

Russellville, AR

Arkansas Tech University

$4,967 higher earnings · $3,735 less debt · $1,057 lower annual net price

Earnings
$49,840
Debt
$16,640
Annual net price
$12,970
View outcomes →
Fort Smith, AR

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

$3,839 higher earnings · $3,294 less debt · $3,453 lower annual net price

Earnings
$48,712
Debt
$17,081
Annual net price
$10,574
View outcomes →
Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University

$9,568 higher earnings · $1,661 lower annual net price

Earnings
$54,441
Debt
$22,500
Annual net price
$12,366
View outcomes →
Conway, AR

University of Central Arkansas

$5,869 higher earnings · $605 less debt

Earnings
$50,742
Debt
$19,770
Annual net price
$16,511
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

Not reported observations in the earnings cohort

June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release

Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page

IS IT WORTH IT AT YOUR PRICE?

Your price and current earnings determine the result.

Add your grants, borrowing and current salary to estimate payment pressure, break-even time and ten-year payoff.

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