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Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Kentucky University

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

Bowling Green, KY · Public · 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 close to the same-degree benchmark.

$4,727 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 42.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −67% · 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−$105,130

$8,000Annual price−$137,130

$11,000Current college-wide context−$149,130

$16,000Annual price−$169,130

$24,000Annual price−$201,130

$32,000Annual price−$233,130

$40,000Annual price−$265,130

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+92%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,945 → $57,509

47Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

48Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

93Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

79Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

2Recent 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.

494Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

72Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

269Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

275Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,058Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$52,487$18,429 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 44 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$10,990

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

02 · BORROWING$22,500

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$52,487

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$239/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$10,990Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$24,188Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE93.9%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE55.6%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.

$29,945Year 1

$52,487Year 4

$57,509Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% 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$4,374

Estimated loan payment$239

79borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$52,487 vs. $57,214

$4,727 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+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$48,910 median wageKY estimate · 260 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$126,440 median wageKY estimate · 400 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$79,400 median wageKY estimate · 260 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$77,580 median wageKY estimate · 670 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeLife Scientists, All Other$75,670 median wageKY estimate · 100 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$64,770 median wageKY estimate · 160 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,560 median wageKY estimate · 12,780 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$61,470 median wageKY estimate · 60 jobs · 19-4092+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$59,860 median wageKY estimate · 210 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

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