DegreeVerdict
ROI Calculator
← Program directory
COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General bachelor's degree at Carroll College

Helena, MT · 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 below similar programs.

$24,684 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
83.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−145% · 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$32,530 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.

+85%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$35,157 → $64,981
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
Not availableWorking in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
22Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
35Borrowers 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.

88Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
32Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
68Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$32,530$2,278 below 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$23,960

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

02 · BORROWING$27,000

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$32,530

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$286/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$23,960Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$55,626Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE70.9%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE69.3%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.

$35,157Year 1
$32,530Year 4
$64,981Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

10.6% 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$2,711
Estimated loan payment$286
35borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$32,530 vs. $57,214

$24,684 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$100,480 median wageMT estimate · 110 jobs · 25-1042$80,380–$125,910 middle 50% of MT wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$49,920 median wageMT estimate · 430 jobs · 19-4021$48,910–$56,930 middle 50% of MT wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$119,430 median wageMT estimate · 370 jobs · 11-9121$104,110–$145,270 middle 50% of MT wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$101,950 median wageMT estimate · 320 jobs · 19-1042$78,820–$104,660 middle 50% of MT wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeLife Scientists, All Other$93,750 median wageU.S. estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$91,560 median wageMT estimate · 550 jobs · 19-1029$73,320–$103,380 middle 50% of MT wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$82,200 median wageMT estimate · 60 jobs · 19-4092$61,630–$82,200 middle 50% of MT wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,990 median wageMT estimate · 3,670 jobs · 25-2031$47,420–$74,470 middle 50% of MT wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$52,130 median wageU.S. estimate · 14,600 jobs · 19-4013+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.

Billings, MT

Rocky Mountain College

$27,775 higher earnings · $4,337 less debt · $4,209 lower annual net price

Earnings
$60,305
Debt
$22,663
Annual net price
$19,751
View outcomes →
Bozeman, MT

Montana State University

$18,181 higher earnings · $2,250 less debt · $1,461 lower annual net price

Earnings
$50,711
Debt
$24,750
Annual net price
$22,499
View outcomes →
Missoula, MT

The University of Montana

$5,241 higher earnings · $282 less debt · $7,176 lower annual net price

Earnings
$37,771
Debt
$26,718
Annual net price
$16,784
View outcomes →
Detroit, MI

University of Detroit Mercy

$59,358 higher earnings · $5,500 less debt · $8,728 lower annual net price

Earnings
$91,888
Debt
$21,500
Annual net price
$15,232
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

22 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.

Calculate my payoff →