COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology 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 notably above similar programs.
$6,251 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
- Debt as a share of earnings
- 34.3% of annual earnings
- Highest price with a positive payoff
- Not reached
- Modeled 10-year payoff
- −63% · 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−$79,070
$8,000Annual price−$111,070
$16,000Annual price−$143,070
$23,000Current college-wide context−$171,070
$24,000Annual price−$175,070
$32,000Annual price−$207,070
$40,000Annual price−$239,070
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
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.
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$32,989Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$55,093$22,104 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 33 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$18,896
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$55,093
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$200/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.
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
4.4% 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$4,591
Estimated loan payment$200
56borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$55,093 vs. $48,842
$6,251 above the national median for the same field and credential.
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 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 degreeBiological 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 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 degreeConservation Scientists$52,310 median wageSC estimate · 300 jobs · 19-1031$42,270–$69,020 middle 50% of SC wages+5.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeZoologists and Wildlife Biologists$64,090 median wageSC estimate · 250 jobs · 19-1023$53,290–$80,890 middle 50% of SC wages+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeEnvironmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary$99,540 median wageSC estimate · 130 jobs · 25-1053$76,840–$110,510 middle 50% of SC wages+2.7% projected U.S. growth · 600 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional 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 degreeEpidemiologists$84,660 median wageSC estimate · 50 jobs · 19-1041$69,010–$100,490 middle 50% of SC wages+18.7% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeHealth Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$82,480 median wageSC estimate · 1,030 jobs · 25-1071$63,830–$103,260 middle 50% of SC wages+17.9% projected U.S. growth · 24,900 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 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 degreeForestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,420 median wageU.S. estimate · 1,520 jobs · 25-1043+2.8% projected U.S. growth · 100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional 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
Educational Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Retail Trade
Public Administration
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.
Coastal Carolina University
$8,845 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $45,323
- Debt
- $26,000
- Annual net price
- $13,966
College of Charleston
$3,851 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $42,466
- Debt
- $25,000
- Annual net price
- $18,960
California State University, Chico
$9,181 higher earnings · $5,130 less debt · $8,331 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $64,274
- Debt
- $13,766
- Annual net price
- $14,480
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
$8,432 higher earnings · $5,146 less debt · $11,280 lower annual net price
- Earnings
- $63,525
- Debt
- $13,750
- Annual net price
- $11,531
DATA QUALITY
Check the evidence behind the estimate.
48 observations in the earnings cohort
June 10, 2026 College Scorecard release
Observed, estimated and contextual figures are labeled separately throughout this page
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 →