Biological/Biosystems Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 9 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$112,829 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
6.8 yrsModeled economic break-even
+46%Modeled 10-year ROI
$80,732Observed earnings · year 4
$44,330Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $28,207 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Biological/Biosystems Engineering
How much do Biological/Biosystems Engineering bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $80,732 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $23,013. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Biological/Biosystems Engineering?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $76,741 to $89,799 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Biological/Biosystems Engineering?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 4 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
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+$177,320
$12,000Annual price+$129,320
$16,000Current college-wide context+$113,320
$24,000Annual price+$81,320
$36,000Annual price+$33,320
$48,000Annual price−$14,680
$60,000Annual price−$62,680
Observed national outcomes
$80,732Median reported earnings · year 4
$75,010Average reported earnings · year 5
$23,013Median federal debt
75thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
9With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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$76,741National median$80,73275th percentile$89,799
9 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.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$93,156Observed year-4 earnings$74,411
University of California, San Diego$12,470 price · $111,677 earningsUniversity of Georgia$13,936 price · $93,156 earningsUniversity of Florida$6,541 price · $89,799 earningsUniversity of Missouri-Columbia$20,268 price · $86,844 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $80,732 earningsUtah State University$14,936 price · $78,233 earningsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln$17,747 price · $76,741 earningsUniversity of Arkansas$18,209 price · $75,596 earningsAuburn University$24,323 price · $74,411 earnings
$6,541Annual college-wide average net price$20,268
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
9 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, San Diego$111,6772University of Georgia$93,1563University of Florida$89,7994University of Missouri-Columbia$86,8445University of Arizona$80,7326Utah State University$78,2337University of Nebraska-Lincoln$76,7418University of Arkansas$75,5969Auburn University$74,411Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileEngineers, All Other$122,930 median wage154,070 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2199+3.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$66,810–$189,950 10th–90th percentileBioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$109,370 median wage23,480 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2031+7.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$71,850–$168,180 10th–90th percentileEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$109,270 median wage40,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1032+7.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$61,550–$210,370 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $111,677 | $14,933 | +190% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $93,156 | $25,091 | +104% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $89,799 | Not available | +117% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $86,844 | $24,500 | +60% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $80,732 | Not available | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $78,233 | $12,000 | +39% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $76,741 | $21,525 | +26% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $75,596 | Not available | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $74,411 | $25,747 | +6% | Positive payoff |
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.