How much do Biology, General bachelor's degree graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia earn?

The reported median is $58,669 four years after completion.

How much federal debt do graduates of this program have?

The reported median federal debt among borrowers is $24,620.

Is this program above or below similar programs?

Reported year-four earnings are 3% above the national median for the same field and degree level.

← Program directory

COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General bachelor's degree at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public

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 close to similar programs.

$1,455 above the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings: 42.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff: Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff: −50% · 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.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price−$43,310

$8,000Annual price−$75,310

$16,000Annual price−$107,310

$23,000Current college-wide context−$135,310

$24,000Annual price−$139,310

$32,000Annual price−$171,310

$40,000Annual price−$203,310

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

+117%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$28,035 → $60,846

101Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

85Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

180Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

310Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$40,580Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

0Recent 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.

1,782Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

267Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

725Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

1,126Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

3.3%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 55 non-completers

155Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$58,669$25,680 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 252 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$22,811

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

02 · BORROWING$24,620

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$58,669

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$261/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$22,811Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$31,638Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE60.2%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE78.8%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.

$28,035Year 1

$58,669Year 4

$60,846Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.3% 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$4,889

Estimated loan payment$261

310borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$58,669 vs. $57,214

$1,455 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$82,300 median wageSC estimate · 750 jobs · 25-1042$62,100–$100,310 middle 50% of SC wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$53,040 median wageSC estimate · 550 jobs · 19-4021$48,470–$62,190 middle 50% of SC wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$169,440 median wageSC estimate · 7,460 jobs · 19-1099$136,990–$204,840 middle 50% of SC wages+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$131,140 median wageSC estimate · 780 jobs · 11-9121$96,700–$178,900 middle 50% of SC wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,020 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$91,560 median wageSC estimate · 240 jobs · 19-1029$76,400–$109,300 middle 50% of SC wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,580 median wageSC estimate · 16,080 jobs · 25-2031$55,790–$76,600 middle 50% of SC wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$51,830 median wageSC estimate · 160 jobs · 19-4092$45,990–$57,990 middle 50% of SC wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$41,290 median wageSC estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4012$37,450–$50,800 middle 50% of SC wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeFood Science Technicians$39,480 median wageSC estimate · 40 jobs · 19-4013$36,280–$51,940 middle 50% of SC wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS

Where graduates work five years later

The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 42.0%

Educational Services

about 12.5%

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 9.3%

Retail Trade

about 5.7%

Public Administration

about 5.0%

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.

Clemson, SC

Clemson University

$6,908 higher earnings · $1,370 less debt · $558 lower annual net price

Earnings: $65,577
Debt: $23,250
Annual net price: $22,253

View outcomes →

Spartanburg, SC

Wofford College

$2,815 higher earnings · $4,079 lower annual net price

Earnings: $61,484
Debt: $26,000
Annual net price: $18,732

View outcomes →

Newberry, SC

Newberry College

$1,791 higher earnings · $1,155 lower annual net price

Earnings: $60,460
Debt: $27,000
Annual net price: $21,656

View outcomes →

Charleston, SC

College of Charleston

$3,851 lower annual net price

Earnings: $55,342
Debt: $25,000
Annual net price: $18,960

View outcomes →

Compare these programs →

DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

180 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 →