← Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at University of Southern California

Name: Biology, General Bachelor's Degree outcomes at University of Southern California
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · Federal field 2601

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$5,911 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 8.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $313 / year
10-year scenario: −42% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$1,250

$10,000Annual price−$38,750

$20,000Annual price−$78,750

$30,000Annual price−$118,750

$33,000Current college-wide context−$130,750

$40,000Annual price−$158,750

$50,000Annual price−$198,750

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+282%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$20,210 → $77,275

57Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

60Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

136Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

122Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$38,469Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

Not availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 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.

454Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

38Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

304Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

227Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,082Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$63,125$27,043 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 66 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.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$32,740

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

02 · BORROWING$5,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$63,125

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$58/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.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$32,740Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$90,300Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE9.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE91.8%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.

$20,210Year 1

$63,125Year 4

$77,275Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

1.1% 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$5,260

Estimated loan payment$58

122borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$63,125 vs. $57,214

$5,911 above 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$129,150 median wageCA estimate · 3,610 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$71,440 median wageCA estimate · 9,210 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$210,230 median wageCA estimate · 14,950 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$136,990 median wageCA estimate · 29,830 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$113,530 median wageCA estimate · 11,880 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$102,830 median wageCA estimate · 860 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$102,100 median wageCA estimate · 2,800 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$60,320 median wageCA estimate · 2,420 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeFood Science Technicians$54,200 median wageCA estimate · 3,990 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

Possible alternatives