Biology, General bachelor's degree at Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit
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 notably above similar programs.
$26,400 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
22.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$51,535 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
+11% · Positive 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.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$206,140
$14,000Annual price+$150,140
$28,000Annual price+$94,140
$42,000Current college-wide context+$38,140
$56,000Annual price−$17,860
$70,000Annual price−$73,860
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+108%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,592 → $80,29057Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort35Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort93Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median226Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$55,329Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot 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.
571Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment124Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers235Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count392Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
75Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$83,614$48,806 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 62 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$41,704
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$19,000
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$83,614
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$201/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.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$38,592Year 1
$83,614Year 4
$80,290Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
2.9% 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$6,968
Estimated loan payment$201
226borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$83,614 vs. $57,214
$26,400 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$105,050 median wageMA estimate · 2,060 jobs · 25-1042$78,980–$163,500 middle 50% of MA wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$62,070 median wageMA estimate · 8,430 jobs · 19-4021$51,190–$81,450 middle 50% of MA wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$267,290 median wageMA estimate · 10,590 jobs · 11-9121$214,550–$321,770 middle 50% of MA wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$128,210 median wageMA estimate · 17,100 jobs · 19-1042$97,520–$167,940 middle 50% of MA wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeLife Scientists, All Other$125,260 median wageMA estimate · 100 jobs · 19-1099$93,600–$177,250 middle 50% of MA wages+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$107,100 median wageMA estimate · 2,930 jobs · 19-1029$84,390–$162,180 middle 50% of MA wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$95,260 median wageMA estimate · 28,460 jobs · 25-2031$77,890–$102,530 middle 50% of MA wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$79,320 median wageMA estimate · 290 jobs · 19-4092$70,650–$97,360 middle 50% of MA wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$56,850 median wageMA estimate · 260 jobs · 19-4013$44,900–$63,170 middle 50% of MA wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$49,630 median wageU.S. estimate · 15,130 jobs · 19-4012+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.
Worcester, MA
College of the Holy Cross
$9,300 higher earnings · $2,922 lower annual net price