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COLLEGE + DEGREE OUTCOMES

Biology, General associate's degree at Texas State Technical College

Waco, TX · 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.

$12,732 below the national median for the same field and degree level.

Debt as a share of earnings
34.1% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
Not reached
Modeled 10-year payoff
−211% · 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$32,026 observed annual earnings · 2 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.

+75%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$21,288 → $37,230
Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
18Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort
32Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median
78Borrowers 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.

366Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment
Not reportedFederal-aid completers2024–25 program completers
278Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count
119Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
22.4%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 156 non-completers
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$33,298Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$32,026$1,272 below 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$13,508

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

02 · BORROWING$10,913

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$32,026

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$116/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$13,508Institution-wide annual figure
COST OF ATTENDANCE$20,752Institution-wide annual budget
ADMISSION RATENot availableInstitution context
COMPLETION RATE45.5%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.

$21,288Year 1
$32,026Year 4
$37,230Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.3% 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$2,669
Estimated loan payment$116
78borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$32,026 vs. $44,758

$12,732 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$82,470 median wageTX estimate · 3,840 jobs · 25-1042$62,210–$105,370 middle 50% of TX wages+7.3% projected U.S. growth · 4,700 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeBiological Technicians$50,130 median wageTX estimate · 2,730 jobs · 19-4021$40,130–$61,610 middle 50% of TX wages+7.4% projected U.S. growth · 9,400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNatural Sciences Managers$129,960 median wageTX estimate · 7,470 jobs · 11-9121$91,950–$165,800 middle 50% of TX wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeLife Scientists, All Other$81,230 median wageTX estimate · 510 jobs · 19-1099$45,430–$99,650 middle 50% of TX wages+6.3% projected U.S. growth · 400 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeBiological Scientists, All Other$80,870 median wageTX estimate · 2,480 jobs · 19-1029$64,400–$105,560 middle 50% of TX wages+4.7% projected U.S. growth · 4,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeMedical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,470 median wageTX estimate · 11,920 jobs · 19-1042$67,010–$106,110 middle 50% of TX wages+12.6% projected U.S. growth · 10,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$63,590 median wageTX estimate · 111,660 jobs · 25-2031$61,390–$73,720 middle 50% of TX wages-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63,500 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeForensic Science Technicians$59,870 median wageTX estimate · 1,900 jobs · 19-4092$49,460–$70,130 middle 50% of TX wages+13.3% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAgricultural Technicians$50,270 median wageTX estimate · 120 jobs · 19-4012$41,190–$75,460 middle 50% of TX wages+5.4% projected U.S. growth · 2,800 openings/yrTypical entry: Associate's degreeFood Science Technicians$47,760 median wageTX estimate · 900 jobs · 19-4013$40,040–$57,120 middle 50% of TX wages+4.8% projected U.S. growth · 3,000 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.

San Antonio, TX

San Antonio College

$19,398 higher earnings · $1,413 less debt · $8,923 lower annual net price

Earnings
$51,424
Debt
$9,500
Annual net price
$4,585
View outcomes →
San Antonio, TX

Northwest Vista College

$15,160 higher earnings · $205 less debt · $8,983 lower annual net price

Earnings
$47,186
Debt
$10,708
Annual net price
$4,525
View outcomes →
McAllen, TX

South Texas College

$5,263 higher earnings · $4,311 less debt · $11,757 lower annual net price

Earnings
$37,289
Debt
$6,602
Annual net price
$1,751
View outcomes →
San Antonio, TX

St Philip's College

$27,718 higher earnings · $9,235 lower annual net price

Earnings
$59,744
Debt
$12,718
Annual net price
$4,273
View outcomes →
Compare these programs →
DATA QUALITY

Check the evidence behind the estimate.

32 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 →