Program directoryPROGRAM-CATEGORY PAYOFF

Biology, General bachelor's degree outcomes at University of California, Merced

Merced, CA · 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 close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,035 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure
30.9% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling
Not reached
10-year scenario
−37% · 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.

What stays fixed$59,249 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.

+86%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$36,140$67,342
110Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
134Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
164Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
358Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median
$15,663Awarding-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$11,983

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

02 · BORROWING$18,325

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$59,249

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$194/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$11,983Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$39,665Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATE90.5%Institution context
COMPLETION RATE68.7%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.

$36,140Year 1
$59,249Year 4
$67,342Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

3.9% 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$4,937
Estimated loan payment$194
358borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$59,249 vs. $57,214

$2,035 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$129,150 median wageCA estimate · 3,610 jobs · 25-1042+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$71,440 median wageCA estimate · 9,210 jobs · 19-4021+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$210,230 median wageCA estimate · 14,950 jobs · 11-9121+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$136,990 median wageCA estimate · 29,830 jobs · 19-1042+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$113,530 median wageCA estimate · 11,880 jobs · 19-1029+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$102,830 median wageCA estimate · 860 jobs · 19-1099+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$102,100 median wageCA estimate · 2,800 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$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$60,320 median wageCA estimate · 2,420 jobs · 19-4012+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeFood Science Technicians$54,200 median wageCA estimate · 3,990 jobs · 19-4013+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3k openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degree
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.

Sacramento, CA

California State University, Sacramento

$2,526 higher earnings · $3,306 less debt · $2,645 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,775
Debt
$15,019
Annual net price
$9,338
View outcomes →
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

$2,439 higher earnings · $325 less debt · $452 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,688
Debt
$18,000
Annual net price
$11,531
View outcomes →
Long Beach, CA

California State University, Long Beach

$2,243 higher earnings · $5,325 less debt · $1,543 lower annual net price

Earnings
$61,492
Debt
$13,000
Annual net price
$10,440
View outcomes →
Berkeley, CA

University of California, Berkeley

$19,914 higher earnings · $4,325 less debt

Earnings
$79,163
Debt
$14,000
Annual net price
$13,481
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

164 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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