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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General bachelor's degree at Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · 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 below similar programs.

$16,247 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
65.0% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−117% · 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$40,967 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.

Not availableEarnings growth, year 1 → 5$33,518 → 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
39Borrowers 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.

188Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
24Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
91Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
119Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
9.5%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$36,067Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$40,967$4,900 above the preliminary benchmark

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$15,911

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

02 · BORROWING$26,613

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$40,967

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$282/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.

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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.

$33,518Year 1
$40,967Year 4
Not availableYear 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.3% 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$3,414
Estimated loan payment$282
39borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$40,967 vs. $57,214

$16,247 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$76,570 median wageSD estimate · 160 jobs · 25-1042$62,120–$102,280 middle 50% of SD wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$41,300 median wageSD estimate · 230 jobs · 19-4021$40,720–$51,930 middle 50% of SD wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$128,140 median wageSD estimate · 180 jobs · 11-9121$106,470–$151,830 middle 50% of SD wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 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 · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,890 median wageSD estimate · 140 jobs · 19-1042$64,420–$89,220 middle 50% of SD wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$73,920 median wageSD estimate · 170 jobs · 19-1029$61,110–$91,170 middle 50% of SD wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$51,690 median wageSD estimate · 30 jobs · 19-4092$43,680–$62,310 middle 50% of SD wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,050 median wageSD estimate · 3,360 jobs · 25-2031$48,180–$59,500 middle 50% of SD wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFood Science Technicians$48,760 median wageSD estimate · 100 jobs · 19-4013$41,190–$52,750 middle 50% of SD wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeAgricultural Technicians$41,420 median wageSD estimate · 350 jobs · 19-4012$37,300–$49,500 middle 50% of SD wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 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.

01

Health Care and Social Assistance

about 35.5%
02

Educational Services

about 20.6%
03

Public Administration

about 9.7%
04

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

about 9.3%
05

Accommodation and Food Services

about 4.4%

How to read this: This is an observed industry mix, not a list of job titles or proof that every graduate worked in the field studied. Counts and shares are approximate because Census privacy protections add statistical noise.

Coverage is limited to institutions and states participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program. These figures do not affect DegreeVerdict ROI calculations.

Download the official Census source file →
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.

Aberdeen, SD

Northern State University

$29,578 higher earnings · $1,313 less debt · $99 lower annual net price

Earnings
$70,545
Debt
$25,300
Annual net price
$15,812
View outcomes →
Sioux Falls, SD

Augustana University

$26,663 higher earnings · $613 less debt

Earnings
$67,630
Debt
$26,000
Annual net price
$23,894
View outcomes →
Vermillion, SD

University of South Dakota

$17,132 higher earnings · $3,363 less debt

Earnings
$58,099
Debt
$23,250
Annual net price
$19,858
View outcomes →
Brookings, SD

South Dakota State University

$13,479 higher earnings

Earnings
$54,446
Debt
$27,000
Annual net price
$19,841
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

Not reported 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.

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