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Biology, General associate's degree outcomes at Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · 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 notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$15,591 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 24.2% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $31,745 / year
10-year scenario: +26% · Positive 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+$63,490

$10,000Annual price+$43,490

$16,000Current college-wide context+$31,490

$20,000Annual price+$23,490

$30,000Annual price+$3,490

$40,000Annual price−$16,510

$50,000Annual price−$36,510

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

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

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5Not available → Not available

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

Not availableYear-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

20Borrowers 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

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$15,911

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

02 · BORROWING$14,625

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$60,349

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$155/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$15,911Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$21,277Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE96.3%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE42.6%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.

Not availableYear 1

$60,349Year 4

Not availableYear 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.1% 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$5,029

Estimated loan payment$155

20borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$60,349 vs. $44,758

$15,591 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$76,570 median wageSD estimate · 160 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$41,300 median wageSD estimate · 230 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$128,140 median wageSD estimate · 180 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's 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 degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,890 median wageSD estimate · 140 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$73,920 median wageSD estimate · 170 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$51,690 median wageSD estimate · 30 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$51,050 median wageSD estimate · 3,360 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$48,760 median wageSD estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$41,420 median wageSD estimate · 350 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree

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