BACHELOR'S DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 2612

Biotechnology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?

National picture across 19 reporting college programs.

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$62,897 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.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

8.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
+25%Modeled 10-year ROI
$76,622Observed earnings · year 4
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$76,622Median reported earnings · year 4
$78,735Average reported earnings · year 5
$20,618Median federal debt
70thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
19Reporting programs
13With year-4 earnings
COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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.

CURRENT VIEW

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$76,622
Federal debt
$20,618
Reporting programs
19
13 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings
$87,068
Federal debt
$22,000
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$113,231
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
15
15 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$73,152National median$76,62275th percentile$87,406
13 programs report year‑4 earnings.
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Worcester State University$90,5652Rutgers University-New Brunswick$87,6003Syracuse University$87,5964University of California, Davis$87,4065University of Houston$78,7506Endicott College$78,7357California State University, San Marcos$76,6228Rochester Institute of Technology$74,6139California State University, Northridge$73,54210California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$73,152

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1042 · 1 crosswalk linksBiological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1029 · 1 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 1 crosswalk links
BEST COLLEGES FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY

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.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debt10-year ROIVerdict
1Worcester State UniversityBachelor's DegreeWorcester, MA$90,565$22,056+95%Positive payoff
2Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's DegreeNew Brunswick, NJ$87,600$26,686+53%Positive payoff
3Syracuse UniversityBachelor's DegreeSyracuse, NY$87,596$27,000+27%Positive payoff
4University of California, DavisBachelor's DegreeDavis, CA$87,406$11,985+77%Positive payoff
5University of HoustonBachelor's DegreeHouston, TX$78,750$19,250+42%Positive payoff
6Endicott CollegeBachelor's DegreeBeverly, MA$78,735$27,000-2%Negative payoff
7California State University, San MarcosBachelor's DegreeSan Marcos, CA$76,622$18,500+43%Positive payoff
8Rochester Institute of TechnologyBachelor's DegreeRochester, NY$74,613$24,125-7%Negative payoff
9California State University, NorthridgeBachelor's DegreeNorthridge, CA$73,542$20,618+37%Positive payoff
10California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's DegreePomona, CA$73,152$18,500+24%Positive payoff
11Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's DegreeOrem, UT$67,603$16,500+10%Positive payoff
12James Madison UniversityBachelor's DegreeHarrisonburg, VA$65,893$20,209-24%Negative payoff
13Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's DegreeFort Collins, CO$55,981$17,594-59%Negative payoff
14University of Central FloridaBachelor's DegreeOrlando, FLNot available$25,498WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$10,411
15University of KentuckyBachelor's DegreeLexington, KYNot available$23,180WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$18,851
16University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's DegreeDurham, NHNot available$27,000WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$23,805
17University of New Hampshire at ManchesterBachelor's DegreeManchester, NHNot available$27,000WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$9,992
18Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-AreciboBachelor's DegreeArecibo, PRNot available$13,779WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$11,117
19Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PonceBachelor's DegreePonce, PRNot available$13,779WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive$13,192

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.