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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General bachelor's degree at Murray State University

Murray, KY · 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.

$8,844 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
50.6% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−84% · 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$48,370 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.

+112%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$25,914 → $54,903
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
17Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
36Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
44Borrowers 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.

278Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
31Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
157Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
147Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
7.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 20 non-completers
25Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$48,370$14,312 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 20 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$9,096

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

02 · BORROWING$24,475

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$48,370

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$259/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$9,096Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$23,485Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE85.7%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE61.3%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.

$25,914Year 1
$48,370Year 4
$54,903Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.4% 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$4,031
Estimated loan payment$259
44borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$48,370 vs. $57,214

$8,844 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$70,630 median wageKY estimate · 470 jobs · 25-1042$58,220–$99,120 middle 50% of KY wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$48,910 median wageKY estimate · 260 jobs · 19-4021$40,360–$61,230 middle 50% of KY wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$126,440 median wageKY estimate · 400 jobs · 11-9121$86,560–$173,620 middle 50% of KY wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$79,400 median wageKY estimate · 260 jobs · 19-1029$63,130–$96,100 middle 50% of KY wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$77,580 median wageKY estimate · 670 jobs · 19-1042$65,020–$95,240 middle 50% of KY wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeLife Scientists, All Other$75,670 median wageKY estimate · 100 jobs · 19-1099$73,620–$79,160 middle 50% of KY wages+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$64,770 median wageKY estimate · 160 jobs · 19-4013$52,640–$80,490 middle 50% of KY wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,560 median wageKY estimate · 12,780 jobs · 25-2031$49,990–$75,290 middle 50% of KY wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$61,470 median wageKY estimate · 60 jobs · 19-4092$51,200–$67,760 middle 50% of KY wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$59,860 median wageKY estimate · 210 jobs · 19-4012$43,660–$72,510 middle 50% of KY wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate'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.

Highland Heights, KY

Northern Kentucky University

$8,629 higher earnings · $525 less debt · $905 lower annual net price

Earnings
$56,999
Debt
$23,950
Annual net price
$8,191
View outcomes →
Pikeville, KY

University of Pikeville

$22,855 higher earnings · $3,347 less debt

Earnings
$71,225
Debt
$21,128
Annual net price
$20,311
View outcomes →
Morehead, KY

Morehead State University

$17,254 higher earnings · $5,225 less debt

Earnings
$65,624
Debt
$19,250
Annual net price
$9,793
View outcomes →
Williamsburg, KY

University of the Cumberlands

$11,332 higher earnings · $4,157 less debt

Earnings
$59,702
Debt
$20,318
Annual net price
$14,107
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

36 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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