Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN · 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.

$2,984 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
43.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−41% · 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.

What stays fixed$60,198 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.

+55%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$37,216$57,625
77Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
70Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
108Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
107Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
Not availableAwarding-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.

494Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
59Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
200Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
318Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,491Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$60,198$23,707 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 29 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$19,139

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

02 · BORROWING$26,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$60,198

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$276/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$19,139Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$23,995Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE88.4%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE53.9%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.

$37,216Year 1
$60,198Year 4
$57,625Year 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$5,017
Estimated loan payment$276
107borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$60,198 vs. $57,214

$2,984 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$96,880 median wageMN estimate · 780 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$48,130 median wageMN estimate · 1,400 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$136,450 median wageMN estimate · 1,530 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$89,950 median wageMN estimate · 6,760 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeForensic Science Technicians$76,960 median wageMN estimate · 140 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$76,460 median wageMN estimate · 16,020 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$76,400 median wageMN estimate · 750 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$64,610 median wageMN estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$57,940 median wageMN estimate · 380 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$57,310 median wageMN estimate · 530 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k 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.

Moorhead, MN

Minnesota State University Moorhead

$4,257 higher earnings · $6,000 less debt · $1,142 lower annual net price

Earnings
$64,455
Debt
$20,000
Annual net price
$17,997
View outcomes →
Duluth, MN

University of Minnesota-Duluth

$3,119 higher earnings · $1,316 less debt · $396 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,317
Debt
$24,684
Annual net price
$18,743
View outcomes →
Minneapolis, MN

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

$2,934 higher earnings · $4,782 less debt · $2,361 lower annual net price

Earnings
$63,132
Debt
$21,218
Annual net price
$16,778
View outcomes →
Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud State University

$2,397 higher earnings · $1,550 less debt · $5,610 lower annual net price

Earnings
$62,595
Debt
$24,450
Annual net price
$13,529
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

108 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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