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Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at Montana State University

Bozeman, MT · 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 trail the same-degree benchmark.

$6,503 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 48.8% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −79% · 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−$122,890

$8,000Annual price−$154,890

$16,000Annual price−$186,890

$22,000Current college-wide context−$210,890

$24,000Annual price−$218,890

$32,000Annual price−$250,890

$40,000Annual price−$282,890

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+50%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$29,435 → $44,208

31Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

33Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

51Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

96Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$31,208Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

5Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$22,499

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

02 · BORROWING$24,750

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$50,711

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$262/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$22,499Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$25,905Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE82.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE57.1%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.

$29,435Year 1

$50,711Year 4

$44,208Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

6.2% 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$4,226

Estimated loan payment$262

96borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$50,711 vs. $57,214

$6,503 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+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$49,920 median wageMT estimate · 430 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$119,430 median wageMT estimate · 370 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$101,950 median wageMT estimate · 320 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k 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 · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$91,560 median wageMT estimate · 550 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$82,200 median wageMT estimate · 60 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$60,990 median wageMT estimate · 3,670 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k 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 · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$49,630 median wageU.S. estimate · 15,130 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

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