Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$123,814 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$123,814Median year-4 earnings
$16,142Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$123,814Median reported earnings · year 4
$111,435Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
74thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
7Reporting programs
7With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,097
- Federal debt
- $23,014
- Reporting programs
- 178
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,755
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $123,814
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$108,451National median$123,81475th percentile$126,758
7 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
7 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$174,114Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$19,0662University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$134,860Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,5483University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$126,758Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,3544Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$123,814Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,3395University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$116,369Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$13,1386University of California, DavisDavis, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$108,451Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$14,7417Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$108,169Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$18,809
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Harvard University$174,1142University of California, Los Angeles$134,8603University of Wisconsin-Madison$126,7584Ohio State University-Main Campus$123,8145University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$116,3696University of California, Davis$108,4517Johns Hopkins University$108,169Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1042 · 10 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 10 crosswalk linksBiochemists and BiophysicistsSOC 19-1021 · 6 crosswalk linksBiological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1029 · 6 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 4 crosswalk linksBiological TechniciansSOC 19-4021 · 2 crosswalk linksFood Science TechniciansSOC 19-4013 · 1 crosswalk linksMicrobiologistsSOC 19-1022 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard UniversityDoctoral Degree | Cambridge, MA | $174,114 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,066 |
| 2 | University of California, Los AngelesDoctoral Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $134,860 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonDoctoral Degree | Madison, WI | $126,758 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,354 |
| 4 | Ohio State University-Main CampusDoctoral Degree | Columbus, OH | $123,814 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,339 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborDoctoral Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $116,369 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,138 |
| 6 | University of California, DavisDoctoral Degree | Davis, CA | $108,451 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,741 |
| 7 | Johns Hopkins UniversityDoctoral Degree | Baltimore, MD | $108,169 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,809 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.